Dirt Karters Do It ‘One Last Time’


from David Rea 24 June 2016

The Sunraysia Dirt Karters rounded out their racing season with last weekends "One Last Time" meeting.

Good fields for all classes greeted the starter’s flag, with the regulars welcoming several visiting drivers, who made the trip from the southern parts of the state.

The Standards provide some of the most heavily contested racing on the day with heat wins going to Mitch Gladman, Tyson Martin and Melbourne’s Corey Clifford.  Clifford showed no signs of his roll over at last month’s All Power Nationals as he pushed the locals hard all day.  Darryn Loughnan, also from Melbourne, made good showing in the heats with consistent placings.  Local Wingless Sprintcar racer, Travis Beasley, had a taste of racing with the ‘little’ boys of speedway, enjoying his day, although he suffered from repeated mechanical gremlins.

Corey Clifford (12) and Darryn Loughnan (31) bring the field around to the starter
Above: Corey Clifford (12) and Darryn Loughnan (31) bring the field around to the starter
pic - SDK

As is a regular feature at the end of season meeting, the senior’s finals take the form of a ‘Black Flag’ race, where the drivers start in reverse order – lowest points on the day from the front, then battle it out to avoid being in the last position on track as the driver brining up the rear is eliminated each lap until the only driver remaining is declared the winner.  Needless to say, there is much interest in NOT bringing up the rear!

After an indifferent showing in the heats, Liam Aunger made his way from mid field to take a handy lead early in the final, but was to surrender this to a fast finishing Tyson Martin with a lap to go.

In the All Powers, Graham ‘Gumby’ Thomas made a welcome return to racing after a couple of seasons out of the seat and proceeded to show all that he had not lost anything with consistently good placings in the heats in a Bob Latta supplied drive.  The heats went to Latta and Gladman.  Lone lady in the field, Kelsey Allen was relegated to spectator after she had both of her available motors fail on her. 

All Powers finished the day with their ‘Black Flag’ race and this was taken out by a jubilant Jamie Nichols, who managed to find some late form after a lack lustre run in the heats, holding off Bob Allen.

The Junior heats were the scene of some of the more heavily contested races on the day with the heat wins going to Todd Martin and Melbourne Kart Club’s, Tyler Scott.  Brodie Adams ran consistently in the heats and was rewarded with an outside front row start alongside Martin in the Junior final. 

The final was to produce the drive of the day as Jake Adams, starting from the rear, doggedly picked off all of his fellow competitors one by one, taking the lead with a couple of laps remaining to take out his first final win since moving up from Sub Juniors at the start of the season.  Todd Martin was forced to fend off a late run by Lachlan Barbary to take second place.

Sub Juniors witnessed the debut of two new drivers from established racing families as Drew Latta and Darcy Aunger took to the track.  Both showed good speed for first timers and drove well, but the day was taken out by Hopetoun’s, Dane Hakopa.

New to Junior Standards, Brodie Adams had a good day leading home fellow new comer, Jack Sylvia.

The club would like to congratulate all drivers and thank all Officials, Sponsors and families on another successful season and looks forward to welcoming all back in October to start the 2016/17 season with a bang.

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