News - Modified Production Number 8
Charlton Raceway - Ian Moncrieff Memorial Race
I found a problem with the oil pickup that may have started the problems with the engine at Maryborough, but given the damage that it caused, it will take a while to get some new parts together to rebuild my race engine. Rather than sitting on the sidelines I decided to put together a standard engine so I could go out and have some fun in the meantime. I wanted to be part of the Ian Moncrieff Memorial Race. Ian had a long standing association with the Charlton club beginning as a competitor and then continuing his involvement as a Chief Steward for many years. We had 19 cars nominate for his memorial race.
Heat 1 we had a wet, greasy track. I started out of 9 and made my way up to 3rd for the finish.
Heat 2 I started out of 2 beside Paul O'Neil. I got the jump on the start and led into the first corner and held onto a sizeable lead for the entire race to take the win. The new engine is down on power to my race engine, but once I can get the momentum on the track, it seems to be quite good and certainly had the goods in this heat with an open track in front of me.
Heat 3 I started out of 9 again. I worked my way up to 3rd behind Robert Trapp. I had to close a length of the straight lead that he had on me, and the car was carrying considerable speed so I was able to do it within only a few laps. On the last lap I had more speed than Trappy going into turn 3 and was able to get up beside him when going through the corner my front right hand wheel rode up and over his front left and my car sustained suspension damage which then caused the car to turn hard right into the wall. I dnf'd the heat, losing valuable points.
I started out of 9th for the feature. The pace was fast and the field close for over 10 laps. I eventually managed to work my way up to 4th when on the restart the panhard-bar broke forcing me to slowly circulate to the checkered flag in 10th place.
Steve Price took home the win from Mark Raymont and Gavin Fletcher in 3rd. The feature race was action packed with plenty of bicycle action happening throughout the field. The 2 most noteable ones being Mark Raymont at the start of the feature and Gavin Fletcher towards the end of the feature, with both catching the turn 3 rut.