Drouin Speedway raced its second meeting since Christmas this past weekend when the annual 6 Cylinder Standard Saloon feature was held with current Victorian Champion Dale Morrison winning a cracker against Matt Nelson to be the inaugural ‘Robin Hood Cup’ winner in the event supported by the ‘Robin Hood Hotel’. On the same race program Jesse McKinnell kept Cameron Pearson at bay who was gunning for a third straight feature win in his division and Owen Milton showed he will be the favourite to win the upcoming Victorian Mini Sprint Championship with a dominate display.
The ‘Robin Hood Cup’ began with a win of son over father in heat win with Matt Nelson beating dad Wayne whilst the Victorian Champ Morrison trailed in third place. Matt Nelson then took out the second heat from Morrison with Nick Chrystie in third. Nelson made it a heat race clean sweep by defeating Morrison again in the last heat with Chrystie once again third.
Matt Nelson and Morrison lined up on the front row together for the twenty lap final with Chrystie and Wayne Nelson right behind. Nelson and Morrison swapped the lead before Nelson held onto it for the majority of the race. As the two worked through lapped traffic Nelson washed towards the wall in turn one and two and Morrison pounced. Morrison took the lead and Morrison came back at him. It was close and never a forgone conclusion with Morrison coming home the victor from Nelson, Wayne Nelson, Chrystie and Joseph Lia.
The SSA Juniors have really taking over in recent meetings as the strongest division appearing at the Drouin venue. The Alexandra Speedway Club members and the Nyora members have really enjoyed coming to the Drouin and experiencing a new venue. Pearson was as mentioned aiming for a third feature win in a row at the venue and started off with a heat win over Jack Van Breman & Jesse McKinnell before he was black flagged in the second heat for a racing incident with McKinnell. McKinnell reinstated at the front took the win from Van Breman and Dean Burton.
Pearson returned to win heat three from McKinnell and Van Breman and the scene was set for a great feature race battle. Jesse McKinnell took the lead early in the final. Van Breman and Pearson were right behind and swapping positions early before a race incident forced Van Breman to the rear of the field in results on the last lap and McKinnell took the win from Pearson, Dean Burton, Megan McKinnell and Shona Bent.
The Mini Sprintcars are one of two feature events at the upcoming February 10th race meeting and it was Owen Milton taking two heat wins and Matt Parsons one before Milton blasted away in the final to win from Wayne Hurford and Parsons.
In Ladies Standard Saloon racing the club point score looked as if it could be heading Anne Gooding’s way at the end of the season. She won all three heats and then the final against Tegan Bullard and Sonia Nelson.
Anne’s husband Leigh then won a declared final in the V8 Standards just as a really close battle was occurring with Russell Hill. An incident back in the pack whilst the two leaders were closed resulted in a declared result with Gooding, Hill and then Victor the Benson securing the three placings.
In VSC Open Sedans a small field entertained with the returning Rick McCormack throwing a cat amongst the pigeons by getting in amongst the leaders straight away. Matt Nelson won two heats and his father Wayne the other before Matt clinched the final win from McCormack and Sonia Nelson.
Adrian Lawrence and Michael Suckling were great in the Junior Standards and whilst Lawrence was first across the line they were before winners in the eyes of the fans.
Drouin Speedway thanks its supporters:
Wayson Oil’s
Ampworks
Robin Hood Hotel
Monarch Power Sweeping
RMS Line marking
Moe Grain & Farm
B.O.C Tyres
Viking Rentals
Polish N Shine
Brimstone Fire
Victory Lane Racegear
Ramsdale Wreckers
Laser Electrical
Sensations Adult Store
Southern Star Automotive
Pakenham Automatics
Pakenham 4 x 4 Wreckers
Densu Group Promotions
Inaction Photos
Written by DMT Media’s Dean Thompson
on behalf of Drouin Speedway club