We begin the September Club Day report by welcoming new Oakleigh President David Bell. At the recent AGM David nominated for President and so takes over from the retiring Adam Bourke, who should be acknowledged for the tireless contribution he has made to the Club over the last few years. Adam would also want to thank, among many other people, retiring Vice President John Chapman who has also done just about every job going at the Club over the years he has been involved. John’s VP position is taken over by Sam Sera, so congratulations to Sam too.
The AGM also saw two new Life Members inducted in Steve Carless and Gary Weickhardt – well done to both of them for all they have contributed to the club, particularly in maintenance of the track and grounds. While everybody here today began their association with the club because they wanted to race go karts, there is an enormous amount of work that goes on behind the scenes to make all this happen. Don’t be shy about offering to do a bit around the place – come to a General Meeting and see what makes the place tick. With the number of members Oakleigh has we should be awash with volunteers, yet often it falls to the same group of people to get it all done. Why don’t you get involved?
Editorial over, racing begins:
Clubman Heavy / Clubman Super Heavy
Reynolds off to a flyer in Heavy followed by Sidwell then Poon and in Super Heavy it was Chase followed by Kemp and Polak. 3 laps in and Reynolds was gone, then Sidwell and Mastorakis now through from the rear, but still well behind Reynolds. Meanwhile Kemp was through to the front of Supers, Polak and then Chase. With 3 to go Mastorakis was making some ground on Reynolds, but needed to get up there earlier to have a chance of catching him – maybe in Heat 2 where positions would be reversed. In the end Reynolds, Mastorakis and Sidwell; Supers Kemp, Polak and Chase.
Mastorakis off like a shot this time as they began Heat 2, Sidwell out at Tony Kart turn on Lap 1, Poon 2nd then Reynolds, and in Supers Polak and Chase went around side by side for a lap or so, with Polak eventually pulling to the front, Kemp well back after losing time avoiding Sidwell earlier. Reynolds got through to 2nd ahead of Poon, but Mastorakis was having a lonely drive in the lead. Back in Supers it was Polak ahead of Chase, and Kemp now closing up on them. 3 to go and Kemp got through on Chase at MKC for 2nd – no change in Heavy, Mastorakis still a comfortable leader and that’s how they finished: Heavy was Mastorakis and Reynolds, Super Heavy Polak and Kemp.
Heat 3 and Mastorakis and Reynolds away well, Poon behind them, then French and Sidwell who tangled at the first oportunity and both dropped back. Polak led the charge of the Super Heavy brigade, from Kemp and Chase. Reynolds was chasing Mastorakis hard – a 3 kart length gap was all that was in it, but lap after lap it wasn’t getting any smaller. Finally with 3 to go Reynolds was up on the back of Mastorakis – now to find a way past. Elsewhere Kemp had passed Polak for the Super Heavy lead and Sidwell had caught and passed French way back in the Heavy field. Mastorakis hung on well from Reynolds in the end, and Kemp led Polak over the line in Super Heavy.
All Points – Heavy 1. Mastorakis 2 Reynolds 3. Poon
All Points – Super Heavy 1. Kemp 2. Polak 3.Chase
Junior Clubman
Piastri off 2nd and straight to the lead from Frencham then O’Keefe, Griffin and Hunt. Soon to be Europe bound, Piastri had the Oakleigh Club Day to worry about first, but looked like he was in for a good result as he established a solid lead clear of Frencham. Back in 3 and 4 O’Keefe and Griffin were having a closer duel, with Hunt a distant 5th. 2 to go and O’Keefe was dropping back with a problem of some sort. Griffin was a clear 3rd and Hunt now through to 4th, as perhaps a continuation of O’Keefe’s troubles in the carbie session returned. Piastri in the end a comfortable winner ahead of Frencham.
O’Keefe and Piastri away here in Heat 2, Griffin back to 3rd, then 4th as Frencham came through, Hunt back in 5th. O’Keefe’s woes of Heat 1 clearly cured as he and Piastri raced away, Piastri though to the lead with 6 to go, then Frencham through to 2nd under O’Keefe, but O’Keefe back under him a few corners later, allowing Piastri to clear out even more. Now Griffin getting in on the action, pressing Frencham for 3rd but out front it was all Oscar as Piastri drove away to take the win from O’Keefe, Frencham hanging on for 3rd.
Piastri and Frencham off the front, and Piastri to the lead as they spread out behind him, O’Keefe into 2nd, Frencham, then Griffin and Hunt. Other than the possibility of Frencham passing O’Keefe, very little looked like changing in this race. In the end, very little did – Piastri a clear winner.
All Points: 1. Piastri 2. Frencham 3. O’Keefe
Sportsman Restricted Heavy
Gigis away well from Lucas, Hewett and Seward, Dorning through to 5th as they settled for the run. Payne lost a nosecone further back in the pack, but out front it was Gigis, Seward now gaining in 2nd, but these 2 well clear of the rest. With 3 to go Seward was going to present a problem for Gigis, now only a kart length clear, well back to Lucas in 3rd then Hewett and Todd. Start of the last lap and Seward under Gigis at JSKC for the lead and he pulled away for the win.
Todd and Payne the front row and away in this order, Heat 1 winner Seward then up a spot and through from 4th, then Dorning and Hewett, Seward now into 2nd and pressuring Todd in the lead and going under him at the Grid Hairpin on lap 3. All was going well until Jackson and Smith came together in the Carousel resulting in a spectacular roll over for Smith – all were OK, but the race was red flagged and declared with Seward, Todd and Payne the top 3.
Seward off pole and away well from Gigis then Lucas and Todd, then Dorning and Payne. Seward and Gigis were having a race all to themselves at the front, Todd now through to 3rd then Lucas, but the front 2 well clear. 4 to go and Seward continued to lead, but Gigis right in his mirrors as it were, these 2 still well in the lead. Todd, Lucas, Dorning and Payne the next group, then Jackson, Church, Caspersz and Hewett. Dorning through to 4th as Lucas dropped back, but Seward now driving away in the lead and went on to win from Gigis.
All Points: 1. Seward 2. Gigis 3. Todd
TAG 125 Light
Edwards and Slits off the front row and away, then Reynolds, and Carless through from the rear – Carless 3rd after a lap and soon right on the tail of Slits, while Edwards had a small gap in the lead. Carless into 2nd on Lap 4 at JSKC and set out after Edwards. Halfway and it was Edwards, Carless, Slits, Reynolds, Kranz, Kovacs, and rounding them up Cerato. The only challenge looked to be Kovacs threatening Kranz for 5th, everyone else seemed comfortable in their position, Carless’ charge to the front had slowed and Edwards looked safe. Safe he was as he crossed the line 1st, Carless 2nd and Slits 3rd.
Carless to the front with Kranz alongside, but after a couple of wild and woolly laps it was Edwards who popped out in front, Kranz still 2nd then Kovacs, Slits and Reynolds, then Carless – not going so well this time – and Cerato. Edwards now gone out front as Kovacs closed on Kranz, Carless retired as his problems became terminal, and Slits moved through to 3rd. Cerato then expired coming into the Dipper with 4 to go, so only 5 left and still Edwards the best of them. He was still the best of them at the chequered flag, Kovacs and then Slits well behind him.
Slits and Edwards off like a shot and went around side by side for a few corners, then settled with Slits in the lead, but only narrowly from Edwards, Kovacs, Carless, Kranz, Cerato and finally Reynolds, who then retired a couple of laps later. Slits meanwhile held onto the lead, but Edwards always shadowing him and looked like it would go down to the wire. Then Edwards under Slits at the Dipper with 5 to go, so now the job ahead of Slits – Kovacs still lurking in 3rd. However Edwards pulled away once he got past Slits, so it was the battle for the minors hotting up – Slits, Kovacs and Carless all a tight bunch. 2 to go and Kovacs went under Slits at JSKC but Slits back past at the Dipper and they bumped and ground their way through the next few corners until Carless emerged in 2nd, Kovacs and Slits continuing their boxing match now in 3 and 4 respectively and that’s how they crossed the line, Edwards victorious.
All Points– 1. Edwards 2. Slits 3. Kovacs
Junior National Light
Piastri off pole and off to a good lead from Pancione then D’Alia, Mouzouris and Forrester. Mouzouris and Forrester the best battle out there for 4 and 5 as Piastri drove away out front. Forrester got the upper hand in the end and went to 4th, otherwise things looked remarkably settled. 3 to go and Mouzouris went back under Forrester at the Dipper – elsewhere no change, although D’Alia was perhaps gaining on Pancione for 2nd. In the end Piastri, Pancione who was closely followed by D’Alia, and Forrester who had gotten back under Mouzouris.
Mouzouris got the jump on them in Heat 2 and led D’Alia, Piastri and Forrester after a lap, then Piastri through to 2nd at the Dipper putting D’Alia back to 3rd. Now Piastri had Mouzouris in his sights as he looked to go to the lead – and he did on lap 3. Forrester also moved up a spot, going into 3rd ahead of D’Alia. While they bunched up in the middle, Piastri was stretching his legs out front and drove away. Forrester was putting Mouzouris under the pump further back, and moved into 2nd through the Dipper with 3 to go. Now D’Alia on Mouzouris looked like the next move, but Mouzouris came to life a lap later and was squeezing Forrester. In the end, despite all this action, they stayed as they were: Piastri, Forrester, Mouzouris and D’Alia.
Heat 3 and Piastri away from Pancione and D’Alia, then Forrester and Mouzouris, Harewood and Pasek, but 2 laps in and Piastri was well clear. D’Alia and Forrester had a ride together through MKC and a few corners later Forrester ran wide out of the Dipper and dropped back, leaving Mouzouris hot on the heels of D’Alia for 3rd, but there was no catching Piastri and Pancione who were going away at the front. Mouzouris eventually got D’Alia to go to 3rd and then on the last lap at the Grid Hairpin Forrester went under D’Alia who found himself in the tyre bundle and out of the race, but otherwise no positions changed, all Oscar at the front.
All Points: 1.Piastri 2. Pancione 3. Forrester
TAG O40’s
Dvorak away best from Gillick then Alabaster, Hunt and Smith. A cracking first few laps with the lead group all a tight bunch, until Alabaster went to go under Gillick at JSKC and they touched, sending Gillick back to 4th and Alabaster right to the rear. So Dvorak clear in the lead now from Smith and Hunt, then the recovering Gillick, and Baldacchino now 5th. Alabaster was now reeling them in and looking to make up the spots he lost in his passing move – under Baldacchino at the Grid Hairpin and after Gillick. Smith was also now closing on our leader Dvorak – it was building to a tight finish. Last lap and Smith had a look at Dvorak in the Dipper but pulled out – Alabaster still lurking but couldn’t get past Gillick, while Smith slipped by Dvorak right at the death as they swept through Arrow corner to take the win.
Griffin led them away for Heat 2, Smith and Alabaster duking away behind him, then Thornton, Hunt and a gap back to Gillick , Dvorak and Baldacchino. 3 laps in and Alabaster was on Griffin’s crashbar but Griffin held on to the lead as the laps unfolded – until with 5 to go Alabaster got under him at JSKC and began to pull away. From there it looked like threatening a procession – Hunt drawing closer to Smith for 3rd, but otherwise all well spaced out except for Baldacchino and Dvorak back in 7th and 8th. Finally Alabaster, Griffin and Smith crossed 1, 2 and 3.
Alabaster the best of the start from Dvorak then Smith and Gillick, Hunt’s race over on Lap 1 as he rolled to a stop out of the Carousel. A few laps in and Alabaster pulled a gap as Smith closed on Dvorak for 2nd, Gillick watching close behind. Smith under Dvorak entering the Dipper and so to 2nd, Alabaster though well gone out front. Now Gillick looking at Dvorak to take 3rd and Thornton and Griffin not a million miles behind them either. 2 to go and Gillick needed to make a move – they were banking up behind Dvorak and him. Dvorak held on for 2nd in the end, Alabaster an easy winner.
All Points: 1. Smith 2. Alabaster 3. Dvorak
Clubman Light
Morgan making a return to racing and away well from Khan, then McLean through from 4th with Appleby right on his tail. McLean had a look at Khan into the Dipper on Lap 2 but Khan not going to just let him drive past and held on, Morgan still leading. McLean another look at MKC and got past Khan this time, so sets out after Morgan, Appleby now pressing Khan for 3rd. With 3 to go McLean got through to the lead from Morgan and started pulling away, while Khan still held on in 3rd. At the flag it was McLean from Morgan, Khan and Appleby.
Bad luck for Morgan who didn’t finish the roll arounds, so Appleby away best ahead of McLean and Khan. Start of Lap 3 and McLean through to the lead, so Appleby and Kahn 2 and 3, and further back O’Connell then Shaw and Hewavisse. McLean was having no trouble though and pulled even further clear in a race where pretty much nothing else was happening. In the end, nothing else did happen and McLean won.
McLean again off to a good start with Appleby behind him, then Morgan recovering from his DNS in Heat 2, Khan O’Connell and Shaw. They soon spread out and McLean was leading a procession, but a procession were everyone was well apart from each other, so not the most riveting race we’ve had today. Finally Khan looked like he might catch Morgan for 3rd nothing else looked like it would change the order – McLean, Appleby, Morgan, Khan, O’Connell it was going to be, unless….Yes! Start of the last lap and Khan under Morgan at JSKC and held on for 3rd.
All Points: 1. McLean 2. Appleby 3. Khan
Sportsman Restricted Light
Finnigan and Bird away at the green, the rest a gaggle of karts behind them but they circulated without incident for a lap or 2. Bird through to the lead at JSKC a lap later, 3rd was Carless then Moreno, J. Barnes and Anagnostiadis behind them. Lots of dicing behind this group but all seemed to stay on track. Carless retired with what looked like a mechanical problem and then Anagnostiadis was threatening for 5th place, otherwise the top group looked settled. Finally Finnigan closed in on Bird for the lead and with 2 to go we looked like we might see a tight finish, J. Barnes also there in 3rd. In the end Bird hung on for the win ahead of Finnigan and J. Barnes.
After a few hiccups in the roll arounds we got away and Male the best of them, while back in the pack Pancione was out after a tangle at Tony Kart turn. Carless through to the lead on Lap 3 then Anagnostiadis 3rd and Bird following her in 4th. Further back J. Barnes moved into 5th ahead of O’Connor and Spencer behind them, but out front it was all Carless. Male was under pressure from Anagnostiadis as she tried more than once at JSKC to get past. Carless was enjoying a sunny Sunday drive in the lead while Male, Anagnostiadis, Bird and J. Barnes gathered themselves together well behind him, Anagnostiadis finally getting past Male at JSKC but then dropped 2 spots in a duel at the Carousel, leaving J. Barnes 2nd, and Male 3rd but Carless already over the line and home.
Great start for Bird (he flew away!) then J. Barnes, Anagnostiadis and Male as the biggest class of the day got their 3rd Heat underway. Moreno in 5th, then Finnigan, Carless and Pancione. Halfway and Bird and J. Barnes locked together, but now a gap back to Male and Moreno in 3 and 4 who promptly tangled going into the Dipper, Male out and Moreno a modified Nassau Panel but continued, so now Carless 3rd and Anagnostiadis 4th . Meanwhile J. Barnes to the lead ahead of Bird, Carless now a clear 3rd and Anagnostiadis 4th with a big gap back to Pancione in 5th. In the end Carless a late run at Bird for 2nd but J. Barnes had crossed 1st and Anagnostiadis followed these 3 in 4th.
All Points: – 1. J. Barnes 2. Bird 3. Anagnostiadis
TAG 125 Heavy
R. Hunt the best of them at the green after Grech-Cumbo expired in the roll arounds, Kranz scything through to 2nd in no time, then Baldacchino and Lawrence, M. Hunt and Fisher. Kranz was closing on R. Hunt for the lead and these 2 were well clear of the pack, where Lawrence was now at the front in 3rd, Baldacchino and M. Hunt right on him. Baldacchino then dropped a wheel out of Tony Kart turn allowing M. Hunt through to 4th. Meanwhile R. Hunt still leading, but with Kranz on him and had a look at JSKC with 3 to go, but they remained as you were. M. Hunt now through to 3rd at the head of the second pack, Lawrence and Baldacchino behind him. At the flag R. Hunt ahead of Kranz, then M. Hunt the top 3.
M. Hunt away well as Maruszak dropped back allowing Lawrence and Kranz through to 2 and 3, then R. Hunt back in 5th. Out front Kranz was ranging up on the back of M. Hunt, but lap 4 M. Hunt still held sway as the whole field seemed to be queuing up behind the lead pair – Lawrence, Maruszak and R. Hunt now the back of a tight 5 kart chain. R. Hunt moved into 4th ahead of Maruszak and just at the worst possible moment (then again, there’s never a good moment) M. Hunt seemed to have a seize in front of the starters box and a collision was only just avoided as those behind went around him – out the other side it was Kranz in the lead, Lawrence R. Hunt and Maruszak. Kranz took advantage of this and pulled a small gap and went on to win from Lawrence and R. Hunt.
R. Hunt ahead of Kranz, Lawrence, Baldacchino, Maruszak and Grech-Cumbo recovering from a couple of dirty Heat results. Kranz now to the lead, Lawrence 2nd and R. Hunt back to 3rd. With 3 to go they had started to spread a bit, but the order up front remained unchanged and Kranz looked like he would go on with it, which he did.
All Points: – 1. Kranz 2. R. Hunt 3. Lawrence
Cadets
Upiter away best at the green, Williams through to 2nd, then Hocking from way back, and Stephenson also through from the rear as Williams dropped to 4th and Jackson dropped a chain entering the Dipper so all over for her. Upiter, Hocking and Stephenson at the pointy end, and Upiter had a good break from the rest, Callaghan now joining on in 4th after starting last, so chances are this 4 would all close up and put on a show at the end. Callaghan through to 3rd with 4 to go, then 2nd a lap later as he made a pass at JSKC, Upiter still out front, but Callaghan closing, in fact Hocking closing too as the first 3 turned into one big Cadet kart, Callaghan through to the lead at MKC as they began the 2nd last lap. From then on a great display of the sort of racing Cadets can put on – move after move, ducking and diving, but all of them stayed on track – no rubbing, no paint swapped. Finally Callaghan, Upiter Hocking and Stephenson the finishing order – a great race.
After some drama on the grid, Callaghan took his place on pole and got away at the green to lead, followed by Hocking and Stephenson, then a gap back to H. Occhipinti and Upiter, L. Occhipinti and Mastroianni. Halfway and Stephenson was making some ground on Callaghan, Hocking back in 3rd was not going away, but would have to be closer to threaten. Would Stephenson catch Callaghan seemed to be the main question – in the end he would only just fail, Callaghan crossing half a length ahead of Stephenson for the win.
A hornet’s nest of Cadets led away by Callaghan off pole then Upiter, Stephenson and Hocking as they completed a circumvolution and settled in for the run. Stephenson started piling on the pressure, moving through to 2nd and onto the back of Callaghan, then moving past him for the lead on Lap 3. Upiter dropped back to 5th as Mastroianni went into 3rd ahead of Hocking 4th, then Williams moved into 5th as Upiter’s woes continued. Stephenson wasn’t exactly driving away with it, but Callaghan could not seem to latch back onto him as the laps wound down, so they continued to circulate, Mastroianni and Hocking well back now in 3 and 4. That’s how they crossed the line in the end, Stephenson a worthy winner.
All Points: 1. Callaghan 2. Stephenson 3. Hocking
Junior National Heavy
D. Frencham to the lead from Kugimiya, then Bell through on him for 2nd, and Adolph as well, seeing Kugimiya back to 4th, then Stackpole and D’Alia. 3 laps in and D. Frencham and Bell had pulled a good break while Adolph was at the head of the big group from P3 backwards. With 4 to go D. Frencham had established a gap on Bell and looked like he might go on with it, behind these 2 a freight train led still by Adolph then Kugimiya, K. Frencham and D’Alia. Kugimiya through to 3rd with 2 to go, D. Frencham looking untroubled in the lead. Then Kugimiya back to 5th as Adolph and K. Frencham took over 3 and 4. At the flag D. Frencham, Bell, Adolph and Kugimiya back to 4th .
A great start for D’Alia, not so for Stackpole who ended up in the trap at Arrow corner, Bell into 2nd and D. Frencham 3rd and then these 2 swapped a bit of paint from JSKC down to Tony Kart as they argued over the same bit of track, which gave D’Alia an even bigger gap. Back in 4th it was Kugimiya then K. Frencham and Adolph. Still going at it several laps later were Bell and D. Frencham in 2 and 3, Bell holding on to 2nd, then D. Frencham got past, but Bell not letting him get away. At the flag it was D’Alia comfortably, then D. Frencham, who got under Bell last lap at the Grid Hairpin, were 2 and 3.
D. Frencham and Bell to the front here and a gap already back to Kugimiya, then D’Alia, Scanlan and K. Frencham. Soon D. Frencham had pulled clear to be all on his lonesome out front, Bell a lonely 2nd, and then the rest, where D’Alia now led Kugimiya, K. Frencham and Scanlan. 3 to go and Bell had started to gain on D. Frencham who was falling back – maybe a change for the lead approaching? 2 to go and Bell was right on him, then last lap Bell seemed to drop off a bit so maybe D. Frencham was safe? At the end he made it across with a kart length to spare, Bell and D’Alia the minors
All Points: 1. D. Frencham 2. Bell 3. D’Alia
Rookies
Rookies the feature class this month and Potter the fastest qualifier from McGovern, Allan, Mastroianni and James. At the green light McGovern got away best but Potter was right on him and Mastroianni in 3rd, until he had a look for 2nd and lost a nosecone, so all over for him. Potter now through to the lead while all this was happening, but McGovern still with him – these 2 looked like they were well matched. A few laps later and Potter had carved out a lead of sorts, pulling clear of McGovern, while James was through to 3rd. In the end Potter a comfortable winner, McGovern and James well behind him.
Potter got the jump on McGovern this time and led them away with Mastroianni 3rd then Allan and James behind these 2. Potter was waltzing away and Mastroianni made a nice move on McGovern at MKC to take 2nd. 3 to go and nobody was going to catch Potter, while Mastroianni and McGovern were still putting on a show for 2 and 3, but at the end that’s how they crossed the line.
Potter off pole from McGovern, Allan, Mastroianni and James and that’s the order as they settle down. With a 12 lap final we had plenty of racing ahead, but Potter was racing away with it in the lead, McGovern clear in 2nd and then Allan, Mastroianni and James bunched at the rear. Potter was still walking away with it with 5 laps remaining – a breakdown the only chance of him not taking the win. No such misfortune came his way and he duly saluted ahead of McGovern and Mastroianni.
Final: 1. Potter 2. McGovern 3. Mastroianni