Open Wheel festival.
Just nine days after the winged warriors hit the Simpson Clayway, another all open wheel extravaganza awaits this Saturday January 6th with the headlining Victorian Speedcar Championship presented by Morris Transport also doubling down as round 3 of the Pro Speedcar Week (PSW), a huge round of the Wingless Sprints Summer Slam Series and the final of the fiercely contested Preston Rowe Paterson Formula 500 Speedweek.
Nick parker PSW Points leader. Photo Aidan Freeman Photography
29 of the country’s best Speedcar drivers will assemble to have their chance of becoming Victoria’s newest Number 1 Speedcar driver with cars and drivers from every state and territory, yes that’s right EVERY state and territory all while adding points to their PSW accounts. The only proviso is that they all need to get through the previous night’s action at Portland’s Southern Speedway.
Heading the list would have to be former Aussie Champion and December 28 winner at Mt Gambier, Kaidon Brown.
Last start Simpson winner and Round 1 PSW winner Nick Parker has now shot into contention having defeated a quality field mid-week at Murray Bridge Speedway.
Luke Storer, Matt Jackson, Jay Waugh, Kaleb Currie, DJ Raw and the impressive Brendan Zadow amongst others will throw out big challenges as will Dillon Ghent who had a blistering run going at the Mount recently until an engine problem sidelined him.
Murray Bridge Sprintcar standout Ryan “Angry” Jones has traded a wing and about 600 horsepower to steer the N24 machine while veterans Norm Moore and Dave Lambert will be part of the ensemble clicking off more laps in their long careers.
Tim Rankin currently 2 round wins Speedweek. Photo Aidan Freeman Photography
39 drivers have nominated for the final round of the Preston Rowe Paterson Formula 500 Speedweek and based on his form in the opening round on this very track, they may well all be chasing Tim Rankin in the rapid #47. Rankin backed up his round 1 win with a victory in round 3 at Portland’s Southern 500 speedway just days later.
This field will again have an international flavour with Americans Stan Yockey and Koen Shaw (Ken Willsher Classic winner @Laang) expecting even better things on their second visit to the tricky venue.
Add in dual Aussie Champ Dylan Beveridge (round 2 winner at Laang), Angus Hollis, a couple of Jetts in Speed and Hart, the consistently quick Max Owen, Daniel Burleigh, Jesse Ellston and others and it is far from a forgone conclusion.
As an added bonus the presentation to the top three finishers in the 1 Stop Construction Junior Formula 500 Speedweek will be made also.
Travis Millar taking the chequered flag for a victory lap last month. Aidan Freeman Photography
Numerically the biggest field of the night will be the 60 Wingless Sprints competing for the Summer Slam Series round headed by Current Australian Champion Todd “Toddler” Hobson.
Christopher Temby, Mitchell Broome and Blake Walsh all were winners in the Northern Territory recently while Hobson was off racing 410 Wingless cars in the USA and will be out to knock Hobson off his perch. Who doesn’t like to beat the current Aussie Champ? No doubt they will all be pushing extra hard to do so.
Don’t forget that Travis Millar is a frequent wingless winner and won here just over a month ago and a couple of dark horses to keep an eye on will be Tim Van Ginnekin in the V44 and Brad Warren in the VX62 as will the ageless veteran Peter Logue.
