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Country Series Mid-Point This Weekend


press release 13 May 2013
 

The Austrans Victorian Country Series is set to reach its half way point at Cobden Park Raceway this weekend, and the dairy farming town will come to life, to the sound of screaming two stroke kart engines.

The South West Kart Club have been busy preparing the 966m circuit, ready for their club heroes to take on the converging racers.

The SWKC is noticeably a family club with many surnames appearing in the results more than once. Jaymi & Mitch MacKay, Jerome & Jett Speed, Carly & Blake Walsh, Joseph & Barry Clough and Ben & Darcy Micallef add to the list of immediate family racers to have represented the club. Whilst Kyle Rethus, Michael Geist and Nicholas Matthews are now sole representatives after their family members have ceased racing in the series.


Above: Darcy Micallef

Camperdown based Ben and Darcy Micallef are two young men in a hurry, both looking to emulate their father Phil’s achievements in speedway. Phil Micallef is a well credentialed sedan driver, and currently competes in the Wingless Sprint class. It is no surprise to find that both boys are gunning for dirt track careers.

After a few seasons of battling each other in the Cadets class, 10 year old Ben has moved to Rookies. He carries the number 48 of his hero Jimmie Johnson, and dreams of NASCAR, but understands his other choice, open wheel speedway racing may be more in his budget. Now into his fifth year of competition, he is concentrating on round podiums and a top five series result. Ben rates his toughest competitor as Warrnambool’s Jay Coul, and they look set to do battle again this weekend. Yet when the helmets come off, Ben gets on with his favourite part of karting, meeting new people and making new friends.


Above: Ben Micallef aboard his 'Jimmie Johnson' #48

Hard charging Darcy will be looking for a big weekend at his home track, after nearly pulling off a big win in the corresponding event last year. A last corner passing attempt wasn’t to be, finishing a solid second place. The 9 year old is a big Sprintcar fan, naming Robbie Farr as his motorsport hero. Formula 500’s are his career goal, but for now it’s all about getting back on the podium and recording a top five result in the series. Darcy is looking forward to renewing acquaintances with his toughest competitor, George Gower, and both these pocket rockets are set to be amongst the pacesetters.

Kyle Rethus has a series record which would be the envy of the Micallef brothers and most junior racers. Kyle has competed in all the junior classes on his way to his current Clubman Light and Tag Light events. His series championships in Cadets, Rookies and Junior Clubman are a chance to be added to, judging by his position as point’s leader in Clubman Light. The 17 year old Cobden student rates his best achievement as an Australasian Title win in Cadets, and has fond memories of his battles with former National Champion Anton De Pasquale, the man he respects most on track. Kyle will put his home track experience to good use this weekend, as he looks to continue his winning streak in Clubman Light, whilst maintaining a top three position in Tag Light.


Above: Kyle Rethus

The Cobden circuit is one that is known for its variety of corners and different challenges. So it is no surprise that all three of the young men name a different part of the circuit as their favourite. The perfect mix of fast and slow corners, it’s a driver’s track and is sure to reward the competitor with the best skill set. And of course there’s the early morning challenge of negotiating the back end of the track, where the pines shade the circuit and catches out many victims due to the slippery surface.

These three SWKC members, their club mates and more than a hundred other karters will be in action from 9am on Sunday Morning, and there will be no shortage of excitement on this sensational track.

The Austrans Victorian Country Series is proudly brought to you by major partner Austrans Container Services, and associate sponsors, Remo Racing, Yes Optus Warrnambool-Portland-Hamilton, All Star Graphics, Shamick Racing and Yamaha Australia.

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