Dean Thompson posted Thursday February 5, 2009.
Drouin Speedway was once again full noise on Sunday 1st of February with the annual Riley Memorial for 6 Cylinder Standard Saloons sharing the limelight with the visiting SDAV Hot Rod’s who travelled to Drouin for the first time in more than 25 years.
Six heats were on the cards to determine whom was going to be top qualifier and defending champion Paul Cadle from the Rosedale Speedway club in a XF Falcon began his title defence well with victory in heat one after starting at the rear of the pack. Jaryd Hooper came second and Shane Ardley third. Matt Jones from the front row took victory in heat two from Jason Lennard and John Watson who pushed forward from fifth.
Cadle again won in heat three from Jason Nash and Scott Randall whilst Lennard took the win in the fourth heat from Watson and Langston who started eighth. The final two heats two offer qualifying points began with Hooper victorious over Jones and Watson and Cadle taking a clean sweep when he won the last ahead of Ardley and Randall.
The feature field lined up with the following order: Cadle, Jones, Hooper, Ardley, Watson, Lennard, Randall, Andrew Morris, Jay Miles, Nash, Lachie Lebrun, and Wayne Tooze.
At the drop of the green Cradle asserted authority to lead from Hooper and Jones. The race was fast at the front with some passing moves taking place before Nash became the first major casualty in the event to pull infield as a non finisher. The minor placings changed a number of times and Lennard was a serious challenger for a top three place before finding himself at the rear of the field. Cradle took the win from Jones and Drouin Speedways Hooper. Randall, Tooze, Morris, Miles and Lennard all finished.
The thunderous SDAV Hot Rod’s set Drouin alive with the roar of their V8’s and they dished up plenty of action in their three heats and a final. From seventh place on the grid Alan Pitcher stormed through the pack to take the lead on the 7th lap from Phil Jenkins and go on to win with Jason Kavanagh in third ahead of Maryknoll’s Dean West then Rod Smith & Vaughan Matthey.
The second heat gifted an all the way victory to Kavanagh whom started pole and led home Pitcher, West and Matthey. Smith and Jenkins didn’t finish when Smith spun in turn 3 and 4 and Jenkins with no room ploughed into him.
The final heat Smith didn’t make the field as he was still repairing massive front end damage and Kavanagh led the complete race from the front with Pitcher second again then Kali Hovey who drove fantastically well, West, Ray Welsh and Matthey.
The grid for the feature race began with top qualifiers at the rear of the field and Welsh on pole. Smith was alongside, then Hovey and Matthey, Jenkins and West and Pitcher and Kavanagh on the last row. Smith made the field with assistance from Hovey who lent him a beam to help fix front end damage. Fellow car owner Ron Jones chipped in to help as did Mattheys crew.
Old timer and legend of the sport Ray Welsh must have thought he was at Tracey’s Speedway in a field of dreams as the 70 year old led the first three laps ahead of Jenkins and Smith before Jenkins grabbed the lead. Pitcher got past Welsh around lap 7 and jumped in the lead on lap 9. Welsh held the pack at bay as he chased Jenkins for second and when the chequer dropped it was Pitcher, Jenkins, Welsh, Kavanagh, Smith, West, Hovey and Matthey finishing the 15 lap feature.
Also on the program the ladies Standard Saloons once again provided a great battle between Anne Gooding and Teagan Bullard with Gooding taking the spoils with Darlene Parkinson third.
Division 2 Hot Rods heat race victories went to John Dike Jnr and Craig O’Connell whilst the feature was won by Dike Jnr in a hard thought victory ahead of O’Connell, Gavin Allman, Trish Dike, Rob Tatterson and Ame O’Connell.
V8 Standard Saloons feature race went the way of Leigh Gooding from Terry Bullard and Justin Low. Junior Standard Saloons once again attended with a healthy field of cars and after Cameron Dike’s seat belts came undone and forced him infield Cindy-Lee Drewery went on to take the win from Justin Smith and Anthony Brennan. At one stage Mal Brennan had the race shot to pieces before an accident and spins forced him to the very back of the field.
Next event at Drouin Speedway is February 14th for those whacky racers from Crash and Bash with support from the Nagambie Modifieds.
Drouin Speedway wish to thank all their valuable sponsors especially:
- Ramsdale Wreckers
- Logues Wreckers
- Drysdale Chaff mill
- Victory Lane Racegear
- West Gippsland Welding Supplies
- Moe Grain & Farm
- J & J Printing
- Ampworks
- Westy’s Dairy Farm
- Keena Fencing