News - Modified Production Number 8
Gympie - Rd 4 Qld Series - 30/30 Race
It was a massive week for Rodney to pull the engine out of #8 and get the old engine back in and dyno'd. Although the old engine is down on horsepower at least Rodney is still able to compete. After last weekend's round at Charlton he is sitting in 6th place in the points. A top 10 finish would be fantastic.
Round 4 at Gympie was combined with a 30/30 race. Rodney teamed up with Shane Langton to do battle on the challenging Gympie circuit. Rodney loves the challenge of the track, however, going into the night, Shane was never a fan after struggling to come to grips with the track on his last meeting there, quite a few years ago. There is a lot more clay in the track now however, making it a better racing surface, and by the end of the night, Shane was a newly converted Gympie fan.
The co-drivers were given a few hotlaps to get used to the different cars, then Shane had to turn around and start heat 1 off of the front row. After a few attempts at a start, Shane got the jump around the outside and going into Pagel's corner was in the lead. He led the race till around 3/4 distance, when local master Gary Pagel got past him. Shane settled into 2nd place and had the chance to watch, and follow the lines Pagel was taking on the track. It was a great drive by Langton to bring #8 home in 2nd.
Rodney's first heat saw him start out of 3. With Doyle & Pagel behind him and Learoyd & Baxter in front - all Gympie locals, it was quite an intimidating race. Doyle got past Rodney in the first few laps and Rodney then held onto 4th until 2 laps to go when Pagel got underneath Rodney. Not to be defeated though, Rodney fought on and got back under Pagel, in Pagel's corner on the last lap to get back his 4th position where he finished.
Shane's 2nd heat saw him start off the back. It was almost impossible to move forward through the field of experienced drivers. He drove well and finished in 8th spot.
Rodney's 2nd heat saw him also start off the back. Again, a quality field of drivers meant that it was difficult to move forward many positions. He finished in 7th.
Rodney decided to do the first 30 lap feature race seeing as he was hoping to stay in the points for the series. His aim was simply to finish the race. He qualified out of 8 and had all the Gympie locals in front of him. Turn one he went a bit low and his front lefthand wheel caught on the tyres that are dug into the track outlining the infield and it broke the z-bar. Lap 1 and he was out of the race. Luckily the cars were allowed off the track, so he returned to the infield to get it repaired in time for Shane's feature.
After the first 30 laps were finished, the cars pulled up on the track and had 10 minutes to make any changes that were required. Unfortunately there was only about 7 cars left on the track, with all the others returning to the pits at various times through-out the first 30 for repairs. Shane was to start out of 18, but with some cars retired due to damage, he started out of 12. He again drove well and bought the car home in 7th position. Shane Macdonald, who finished in 3rd was coming around to lap Shane Langton as the race was completed. Todd Doyle, the race winner, and Glen Pagel in 2nd were coming around to lap Shane Macdonald - the 3rd place getter. They are true masters on their home circuit. It's quite amazing just to watch Aidan Raymont, Baxter, Doyle, Lorensen and Pagel on their home track. They really are in a different class, just brilliant.
Thanks to our sponsors The Open Range, NB Refrigeration, S & S Genrich Painting Contractors for all their support this season. After a busy month we can now take a few weeks break before Cathy has another run at Charlton on 13th March. Rodney's next meeting will be 10th April for the final round of the Queensland series at Maryborough.
Cathy