OGKRC’s starter Paul Griffiths has filed the following race report following the April 2013 Club Day.
Oakleigh’s April Club Day began on a mild but overcast Sunday morning with 127 karters set to do battle. The Restricted classes provided the usual number of high entries, and good to see Junior National Light and Junior National Heavy particularly well supported. We got underway with:
TAG 125 Heavy
Heat 1 began with Richard Camilleri off pole – returning from a break and not having done much testing on the Dunlop tyre – Vern Kranz beside him in P2. Time out of the seat didn’t hold Camilleri back, pulling to the lead from Rhys Hunt with Kranz 3rd then Greg Smart, Chris Dudfield and Andrew Yuill. In the end Camilleri went away to record a comfortable win, Hunt and Kranz putting on a good battle for 2nd and 3rd, with Hunt holding on by a couple of tenths in the end.
Yuill away to the lead at the start of Heat 2, then Hunt and Dudfield, until the familiar “barrrrp” of a dropped header pipe saw Dudfield’s race run, so Camilleri through to 3rd and after the lead pair. He was soon on them and looking to make a move on Hunt. With 4 to go he did and was after Yuill – the field bunching up behind them. Finally Camilleri through into the Dipper and Hunt through with him and they pulled away from Yuill – Camilleri the win, Hunt and Yuill 2 and 3.
Heat 3 saw Camilleri off to a good start, clear of Hunt and Kranz, then Yuill and Smart. From then on these 5 karts completed 10 laps without a single overtaking move being made. Unbelievable! Let’s hope the rest of the Final Heats are more exciting.
All points result for the day: 1. Camilleri 2. Hunt 3. Kranz
Clubman Light
Trevor Allen and Jordan Poxon the front pair and they led them away with Matt McLean and Matt Lane into 3 and 4 after a lap. Before long these 2 were past Poxon and had sights set on Allen, with Tim Holowell coming through to 4th behind them. A lap later Lane was through to the lead, Holowell 2nd and McLean 3rd. Holowell kept coming and got through to 2nd with Mark Appleby also coming through into 3rd with 3 to go, McLean then Allen behind him. Lane the victor in the end, then Holowell and Appleby.
Mark Appleby the leader after a first lap which saw a couple of retirements, John Reynolds through to 2nd then Holowell, Nicholas Bates and Caleb Citrine. By Lap 3 Holowell to the lead, Appleby, Reynolds and Bates lined up behind him, with Matt McLean gaining on this group. Holowell pulled away ever so slightly, but the 4 behind him were nose to tail, then there were 5 as Matt Lane joined the gang. Eventually Holowell, Appleby, Lane and Reynolds the first 4.
Holowell and Lane away at the start, then a huge tangle at Tony Kart turn taking out Poxon, Turnbull, McLean, Salatas, Bates and Huergo – an unfortunate end for all of them and a much reduced field left on track. Once they settled it was Holowell, Lane and Appleby, then Allen, Reynolds and Citrine. By Lap 5 Holowell and Lane had cleared out and a lap later Lane went to the lead, but Holowell stayed glued on his crashbar, then had a big look at MKC Corner that continued through to Arrow Corner – the karts rubbing tyres as they bobbled through the 2 high speed bends. A lap later Holowell was under Lane’s numberplate but couldn’t get a look, and all this dicing was bringing Appleby onto them. In the end they were the first 3, not 2 tenths covering all three of them – well done to Lane to hang on.
All points result for the day: 1. Lane 2. Holowell 3. Appleby
Cadets
Pole man was Josh Troiani and Braydon Callaghan beside him for Heat 1. After a few laps, Callaghan to the front and Kai Upiter through to 2nd, Troiani back the 3rd. For the last few laps Upiter was right on Callaghan, but otherwise the race was a spread out affair – in the end Callaghan held on by less than a tenth, Upiter right beside him as they crossed the line.
Upiter, Joshua Hocking, then Callaghan the first 3 after a few laps with Troiani joining on the back of them in 4th. By halfway Upiter and Callaghan had cleared out, but they were locked in a close battle for the lead – Callaghan to the front with 4 to go and stayed there until the flag, Upiter 2nd.
Callaghan and Upiter again the combatants out front, Hocking and Troiani not far behind them, then Michael Horner and P Platers Matthew Stanic and Joshua Gillick. After 4 laps Callaghan had cleared out but Upiter fell back into the clutches of Hocking and these 2 scrapped for a while until Upiter seemed to come to life and found a small gap, but Callaghan, who’s not very big even when he’s up close, was by now just a speck in the distance. The rest followed them unchanged so in the end Callaghan by over 8 seconds from Upiter, another 4 seconds back to Hocking.
All points result for the day: 1. Callaghan 2. Upiter 3. Hocking
Sportsman Restricted Light
Zac Cerato, Nathan Grover, Andrew Thomas then Andrew Latimer the first 4 in S125 Light. Grover to the lead, Cerato 2nd then Latimer, Simon Gipp, Simon Byrne then Sameera Vithanage behind then. By halfway Grover had established a good lead and went away to a comfortable win, Cerato and Latimer behind him.
Just a sprinkle of rain for the start of Heat 2 and Edward Moreno to the front, Simon Byrne next, then Cerato and Nicholas Clarke, but after 4 laps Grover was the big mover, through to 3rd and after the leaders. When Moreno and Cerato tangled, Grover pounced and pulled a good gap straight away, the order behind him now Moreno, Byrne, Sean Barnardo, Clarke and Mark Barlee. In the end Grover, Barnardo, Clarke and Barlee the top 4 – I couldn’t keep up with the position changes and karts going out of this race.
Grover off like a shot, clear of Clarke and Cerato, then Latimer and Gipp, and Grover looked like he would dominate. The battle for 2, 3 and 4 was where the action was: Clarke, Cerato and Latimer locked together in combat, Clarke eventually pulling slightly clear until a problem with 4 to go saw him retire, handing 2nd to Cerato, Latimer 3rd and Barnardo up to 4th. Grover had to deal with some lapped traffic on the last couple of laps but sailed through to win, Cerato and Latimer behind him.
All points result for the day: 1. Grover 2. Barnardo 3. Cerato
Junior National Heavy
Nicholas Floodstrom and Todd Sparey the front row and Sparey to the lead for the first few laps but Dylan O’Keefe worked his way through after starting 7th to go to P1, Sparey to 2nd and Jamie Westaway 3rd, Kyle Hunt and Hirotaka Chong behind them. With 4 to go Sparey had found his way back into the lead, but O’Keefe wasn’t going away and got back to the front as they began the last lap, holding on by half a tenth in the end – good job by both of them – then Westaway, Hunt and James Barnes.
Thomas French and James Barnes first away, but Justin Carless and O’Keefe soon through to 2nd and 3rd and O’Keefe to the lead on Lap 2. Hunt joined the fight in 4th and Westaway 5th as they settled down to race – Sparey the other big mover, up to 3rd from 10th. By halfway O’Keefe was gone, Westaway and Sparey close together in 2 and 3, then Hunt, Carless, Barnes and Chong, but Westaway and Sparey looked like turning on the action, nothing between them as the laps wound down, Sparey into 2nd with 3 to go. O’Keefe the winner in the end, then Sparey and Westaway.
O’Keefe and Sparey away at the green from Westaway and Hunt, Barnes and Carless. Soon the front 3 were locked together and had pulled away from the rest. Sparey into the lead on Lap 4 and Westaway followed him, relegating O’Keefe to 3rd but the battle was a long way from over – behind this group still Hunt and Carless. Ever so slowly Sparey and Westaway seemed to pull a gap on O’Keefe, then Westaway went to the lead at JSKC and O’Keefe was brought right back onto the two of them as a result of the pass – then O’Keefe into the lead at the Dipper on the same lap – one minute he’s dropping off, then next he’s leading. Then Sparey back to the lead at Grid Hairpin – things hotting up now! One lap to go and Sparey led them across the line then kept his head for the last lap to take the win – a great race from the first 3 and well done to Sparey.
All points result for the day: 1. O’Keefe 2. Sparey 3. Westaway
Rookies
Blake Kolar off pole, Jai Sparey beside him and the 2 of them diced away with Benjamin D’Alia joining the battle after a lap or two, Jordan Dudfield back in 4th and Mathew Steel 5th. Kolar and Sparey was where all the action was at the front, less than a tenth between them with 3 to go, Sparey to the lead after another lap but nothing in it, Steel through to 3rd. At the flag Sparey had finally pulled small gap on Kolar and took the win; Steel, Dudfield and D’Alia behind them.
Steel to the lead of Heat 2, then Maximmo Torcasio, Dudfield and D’Alia. Steel disappeared into the distance but Torcasio, Dudfield and D’Alia were in a much closer battle for the next 3 spots, and Kolar and Sparey had joined the fray too. These 5 formed a train for a few laps until Dudfield and D’Alia pulled clear, but out front it was all Steel, 5 seconds ahead by halfway. Sparey meanwhile was working his way up in 4th, closing on D’Alia and Dudfield, passing Dudfield with 3 to go. Then 2 to go and D’Alia was in Sparey’s sights and he got him as they began the last lap. No one was getting Steel though, victorious by over 7 seconds from Sparey then D’Alia and Dudfield.
Sparey and Steel off the front row for Heat 3 and Steel got the better of the start, D’Alia through to 2nd, then Kolar, Sparey getting going in 4th after a slow beginning. Sparey through to 3rd on lap 2 but Steel looked racy out front and was pulling away. Sparey picked up another spot on Lap 3 to move into 2nd ahead of D’Alia and set his sights on Steel. Further back Dudfield was the big mover making his way into 3rd and leaving Kolar and D’Alia to battle it out for 4th and 5th. With 2 to go Steel looked safe, Sparey 2 seconds behind, Dudfield 2 seconds behind him, and they greeted the flag in this order.
All points result for the day: 1. Steel 2. Sparey 3. Dudfield
Clubman Heavy / Clubman Super Heavy
The 2 Clubman classes joined again, Heavy beginning with Anthony Westaway and Jason Sidwell, Super Heavy Steve Polak and Mal Hunt. Sidwell got the front at the start and then Westaway went around and out at Tony Kart turn, but it wasn’t long before Lachlan Citrine worked his way through to the lead and took off, then Sidwell, Thomas Martin, and then the Super Heavys; Mal Hunt and Mick Fisher (back after a long break) and Polak back in 3rd. By halfway Citrine had bolted on them, 4 seconds ahead of Sidwell who was being harassed by Martin. In Super Heavy Fisher had gone to the front, then Hunt and Polak. As they began the past lap Martin got under Sidwell and held on for 2nd, Citrine already across the line 1st some 7 seconds earlier, and Fisher, Hunt, Polak the order in Super Heavy.
A small class got even smaller when Sidwell expired on the roll arounds in Clubman Heavy, so Martin to the lead, Citrine then Westaway, and in Super Heavy Fisher, Hunt and Polak. Citrine to the lead soon after and pulled away from Martin, Westaway coming under pressure from Fisher, the Super Heavy only half a second off Heavy times. Then disaster struck Citrine, coming to halt at JSKC corner while leading – Martin inheriting the lead ahead of Westaway. These DNF’s meant that P Plater John Stafford would rise through the Heavy field just by finishing; meanwhile Fisher, Hunt, Polak still the order in Super Heavy, and apart from a DNF for Polak, in a spread out affair that’s how they finished.
Martin from Citrine and Westaway, as Sidwell again rolled to a halt before the green, and Fisher, Hunt and Polak in Super Heavy. Citrine to the lead on Lap 2 and drove away from Martin, while Westaway gained on him. Eventually Westaway gained enough on Martin to be right on him, but Citrine was disappearing fast out front. At the flag it was Citrine, while Westaway couldn’t find a way past Martin, so settled for 3rd: Fisher doing it easy in Super Heavy, Hunt and Polak well behind him.
All points result for the day CH: 1. Martin 2. Stafford 3. Citrine
All points result for the day CSH: 1. Fisher 2. Hunt 3. Polak
Junior National Light
Cody Donald, Lucas Filikotzias, Nicholas Sims then Lachlan Fitchett the front 2 rows of a good size Junior Light field, but it was Nicholas Steel through to the lead from 5th after half a lap, Donald and Filikotzias behind him, and before long Donald back to the lead, then Sims and Mathew Iredale through from 6th, Luis Leeds in 4th and Sims back to 5th, so changes all through the field. After 3 laps it was Donald, Steel and Iredale who settled out front and the 3 of them pulled small gap on the rest. Then Sims started to come on and was right on Iredale in 4th and looking to elevate himself up the order. Donald was also starting to look comfortable out the front, inching away from Steel in 2nd. Just as quickly Leeds was through on Sims for 4th so it was still a juggling act back in the pack – Jack Bell was also gaining in 6th so quite a train of karts, but out front still Donald, then Sims back into 3rd passing Leeds at JSKC corner and Bell into 5th. In the end Donald victorious from Steel, Sims and Leeds, then Bell and Iredale the first 6. Quite a race!
Bell, Steel, Leeds and Michael Smith away at the green, and Bell well away, while Steel and Leeds battled, until on Lap 2 Steel rolled to a halt exiting Tony Kart turn, and Donald came through on Leeds for 2nd, Nicholas Sims shadowing them in 4th. By halfway Sims was through to 3rd, Bell looking smooth out front and Donald clear in 2nd. As the laps wound down that’s how they stayed, Sims maybe gaining on Donald but not enough to trouble him, Bell the winner in the end.
Bell off like a shot at the green, Donald close behind, then Sims and Iredale, with Steel taking to the air on Lap 1 as he went up on another kart, but rejoining OK, albeit well back. Sims through to 2nd on Lap 2 and putting pressure on Bell, passing him at Arrow a lap later, then Donald going around by himself at JSKC and losing a heap of places, the order now Sims, Iredale, Leeds, Bell and Filikotzias. A lap later Sims had powered away, the gap now over a second from Iredale and Leeds, then the recovering Bell, Donald back in 9th. Leeds and Iredale looked like they might put on a show, but all Sims at the front and eventually a comfortable victory went his way, Iredale 2nd closely followed by Leeds in 3rd.
All points result for the day: 1. Sims 2. Donald 3. Bell
Sportsman Restricted Heavy
Paul Barlow and Richard Matera the front 2 as they got away and Matera first across the line and away from Barlow, Jason Sheales, Chris O’Connor and Michael Maruszak while a number of them spun and tangled in front of the lap scorers box at the green, Steve Barlee and John Casamento out as a result. Matera was racing away, 7 seconds ahead by halfway from Maruszak and Barlow. In the end Matera an easy win, Maruszak and McGregor Dixon through to 3rd.
Barlee the leader after a lap, Vince Tucci, Chris O’Connor and Matera behind him, but Matera battling with a kart problem of some sort and dropping back, then recovering to hold on to 4th ahead of Adam Gillick and McGregor Dixon. Out front Barlee, Gucci and O’Connor pulling away, then the recovering Matera moved into 3rd ahead of O’Connor with 3 to go. In the end Barlee the winner and disaster for Gucci expiring with half a lap to go while in 2nd, so Matera into P2, O’Connor and Dixon the final order.
Matera a 1.5 second lead after 1 lap so looked promising for him, behind him Tucci, Barlow, Barlee and Gillick. By lap 3 Tucci had a gap in 2nd and Barlee was clear in 3rd, so things starting to spread out – Barlow and Gillick the first pair running close together in 4th and 5th and Dixon and Maruszak were queuing up behind them, both passing Gillick by halfway. Matera continued to lead but Tucci was now gaining on him and Barlee wasn’t right out of it in 3rd either. Dixon and Barlow were 4th and 5th, with Gillick getting back past Maruszak for 6th when he tangled with another kart. In the end a comfortable win to Matera, Tucci and Barlee 2nd and 3rd.
All points result for the day: 1. Matera 2. Dixon 3. Barlow
TAG Light
Fastest Qualifier Michael Carless, then Shane Alabaster, Alan Zammit and Wayne Morgan and at the green and that’s the way they were after a lap, then Ben Freemen through to 4th ahead of Morgan, but Carless motored away in the lead from Alabaster and Zammit who were much closer together in 2nd and 3rd. Carless didn’t look like being threatened for the lead, most interest centred on whether Zammit could get ahead of Alabaster for 2nd, behind them Freeman, Morgan, Robert Barnes and Imran Khan. Gradually Alabaster pulled clear of Zammit, so now it was all about how far Carless – how far proved to be nearly 6 seconds in the end as Carless won comfortably.
A clean getaway in Heat 2 for all except Freeman who executed a 360 at Arrow Corner then continued, while Carless, Alabaster and Zammit filled the front 3 spots, then Morgan, Barnes and Khan. Almost unbelievably, ten laps later there had not been one change of position – that’s how they finished, Freeman’s pirouette the outstanding moment of an otherwise highlight free race. Can’t wait for the Final!
Carless to the lead, Alabaster then Freeman, Barnes and Khan, as Zammit and Morgan tangled at JSKC on lap 1 and both went out. After 2 laps it started to look like the procession the 2nd heat had been and eventually I found I was slowly dropping into a deep….. Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz – Oh – Sorry! It’s the chequered flag and Carless has won from Alabaster and Freeman, then Barnes and Khan – so no change in the order from Lap 1. Good win for Carless, but snoozarama racing otherwise.
Final result: 1. Carless 2. Alabaster 3. Freeman
Junior Clubman
Ashton Andoloro then Adam Capek the front row of Junior Clubman and Andoloro away at the green, Dylan Slits and Jordan Holowell behind him, then Justin Carless and Capek after a lap. Thus they continued for a number of laps, Capek moving back to 4th but Andoloro looking smooth out front, until Slits started to slowly reel him in at the halfway mark. Then just as quickly Slits stopped reeling him in and he and Andoloro maintained a steady gap for the rest of the race, with Holowell the big mover almost passing Slits at the chequered flag – Andoloro already across the line for the win.
Slits to the lead this time as they got away for Heat 2, then Andaloro and Holowell, but Andoloro back to the lead at JSKC on Lap 2 and Carless through on Holowell for 3rd. Holowell back under him a few laps later but Andoloro and Slits were disappearing into the sunset out front. Eventually Andoloro started to pull clear of Slits and Holowell began moving forward leaving Carless and Capek behind, Slits looking like he would be in trouble if Holowell kept coming on like this. Andoloro doing it easy out front, but with 3 to go Holowell was noticeably gaining on Slits – would he have time? Start of the last lap and Holowell was right on Slits – getting past might be another matter. In the end Andoloro the winner and Slits hung on by a tenth from Holowell for 2nd.
Andoloro away but Slits and Holowell weren’t letting him drive off – right on his crash bar for the first few laps, Capek and Carless not far behind them. On Lap 2 Holowell to the lead, Slits 2nd and Andoloro back to 3rd, now battling with Carless as Capek retired after a tangle with Andoloro who was now dropping further back, maybe some damage to the kart. Out front Holowell had a kart length on Slits and these 2 were well clear of Carless. Holowell continued to lead from Slits as the laps wound down, Carless back in 3rd and Andoloro now not losing any ground, but not making any either in 4th. In the end Holowell the victor, Slits half a second behind in 2nd, then the recovering Andoloro just sneaking under Carless on the last corner to take 3rd.
Final Result: 1. Holowell 2. Slits 3. Andoloro