Murphy, Bricknell, Wrigley and Pinfold Take The Spoils At Legends/Daniel Johnson Memorial Meeting


by Johnathan Males 17 June 2013
 

It was certainly a weekend of contrasts at the North Western Kart Club’s Legends/Daniel Johnson Memorial race meeting held at their Highclere circuit on the 16th of June 2013.

The feature classes saw some of the youngest drivers (Rookies) vying for the Daniel Johnson Memorial trophy and also some of the oldest drivers competing to add their name to the winners list of the Over 40 and Over 50 Feature. And although the meeting was held under blue or slightly cloudy skies the temperature proved to be quite cold. The cool track conditions played havoc with a lot of the competitors kart setups with most looking to find grip on the slippery surface.

The Cadet and Rookie drivers were racing for the Daniel Johnson Memorial. Here they are pictured with Steve Johnson
Above: The Cadet and Rookie drivers were racing for the Daniel Johnson Memorial. Here they are pictured with Steve Johnson
pic - Keenan Slater

The Rookies class in Tasmania has suddenly become the class to watch with no less than nine drivers making legitimate claims for the win on the day at Burnie. In form Jackson Callow was looking like the man to beat after charging through the field in the first race until a last corner coming together saw him sail head first into the catch fencing in what was a very big impact. His day looked all but over but thanks to some excellent work from both the first aid officers and his pit crew he just made it out for the second heat in his patched up kart. Whilst all this drama was unfolding two other drivers were consistently finishing up the front and accumulating the points required for ultimate success at the end of the day. Both Justin Murphy and Tate Frost managed to finish in the top two and top four respectively in all five races. After his first race DNF, Callow then won the next three races to suddenly put him back in contention and in with a small chance of taking the win on the day if he won the final and if one of his rivals faltered. This didn’t occur and Murphy aboard his Wrigley Karts and Parts OK1 chassis took a very close win on the track but a healthy margin in the points over Callow in second place and Tate Frost in third. Local Brock Evans finished up in fourth place from Lachlan Dalton in fifth.

Rookies winner Justin Murphy #22
Above: Rookies winner Justin Murphy #22
pic - Keenan Slater

Senior National Over 40’s Pro saw the comeback kid Stephen Bricknell take on the established front runners of the class. Having not raced for several years he had his work cut out for him but fortunately he had his son Jamie on hand to set his kart up for him and provide driver tuition. This was enough to see him take the title with four wins and a second placing over the days racing. STKC member Glen Newman was his nearest rival and he took second place from Stephen Johnstone. Tim Hinds and Ian Stewart finished fourth and fifth respectively.

Bricknell’s dominant display also ensured that he took home the trophy for first place in the Senior National Over 50 Pro category which was held in conjunction with the other Over 40’s racing.

Steve Bricknell, 1st in Senior National Over 40s
Above: Steve Bricknell, 1st in Senior National Over 40s
pic - Keenan Slater

Senior National Over 40’s Super Heavy saw the much anticipated return of Scott Wrigley and he picked up where he left off, at the front of the pack. The expected challenge from Troy Sheahen, who had just returned from an excellent second placing at the recent Over 40’s Coffs Harbour meeting just didn’t eventuate and Wrigley took the win despite one DNF during the day. Sheahen finished second two weekends in a row ahead of the much improved Rick Davies in third. Alistair Fairley came home fourth ahead of John Lee in fifth.

Terry Pinfold rounded off an excellent day for the Pinfold family by matching his son’s effort and taking a class when he won the Senior National Over 50’s Super Heavy category.

Scott Wrigley, Senior National Over 40’s Super Heavy
Above: Scott Wrigley, Senior National Over 40’s Super Heavy
pic - Keenan Slater

Matthew Clark took the win in TAG Restricted Heavy after recording a third and two first places across the days racing. A DNF in the final race cost Brodey Lovett any chance of recording his second podium placing for the day after solid results in the first two races. This allowed Adrian Mitchell to come through to take second placing in his new Azzurro machine from the resurgent Peter Wagner.

The recent graduation of many of the competitors to the Rookies class resulted in only one driver facing the starter in the Cadets class. Young Ethan Wyllie tagged himself on to the rear of the Rookies field and set about finishing as high up the order as he could. Ethan plans on heading to Melbourne later in the year to test himself against the best in the business and should acquit himself quite well.

Clubman Heavy saw a battle between the team mates to see who was going to take the top position on the podium. Tassie Karts and Parts CRG pilots Jack Pickett and Troy Stone battled it out all day with Stone getting the job done when it mattered most. Local Mathew Coates made a welcome return to the sport and he took third on the day.

Troy Stone edged out fellow CRG driver Jack Pickett for the Clubman Heavy win
Above: Troy Stone edged out fellow CRG driver Jack Pickett for the Clubman Heavy win
pic - Keenan Slater

Gemma Wyllie and Keenan Slater were the class of the field in Senior National Light with both drivers running nose to tail for the entire three races. Results were tied one  win apiece going into the final race with Wyllie taking the early lead. However at mid race distance Slater made his move and then went on to hold of Wyllie by a mere 0.196 of a second. Thomas Stewart had a race long battle with recent junior graduate Jordan Smith for third place with Stewart finally coming out on top.

Keenan Slater leads Gemma Wyllie, SNL
Above: Keenan Slater leads Gemma Wyllie, SNL

Jade Waddington and Steven Wrigley made the switch to Arrow chassis’ with great effect in the Senior National Heavy class with both running at the front of the class for the majority of the day. Waddington in particular was right on the money and was racing with the front runners of the light class. The extra grip the heavy class drivers generate when the track is very cold at Burnie can often see them be as fast if not faster than their lighter counterparts, and this was certainly the case on this occasion. Unfortunately a first corner melee in the final saw Waddington, Wrigley, Alastair Lee and Allan Sheahen relegated to spectator status and this allowed young James Pinfold to scythe though the carnage and take his first meeting win in dominant style. Brodey Lovett got the better of his duel with the returning Ben Davey to take second and third respectively.

Shane Bray often features prominently in the results of the Clubman Light class around the state and at his home track he is normally the one to beat. This once again proved to be the case with the young North West coaster proving too good for Gemma Wyllie who is improving with every outing in her Wyllie Tiles/Carpet Call Tony Kart. Making it an NWKC trifecta was Marcus Johnson who took third place.

Junior National Heavy turned out to be an entertaining affair with S & A Mechanical BRM driver James Fitch spending the entire day fighting off the charge of a determined Lachlan Cruse. This he achieved and took the top step of the podium and was joined by Cruse in second place.

Junior National Light saw local hotshot Brodie Evans demonstrate why he is the current statewide series champion in this class by taking the win over fellow NWKC member Johnah Slater. Hobartian Lachlan Newman managed to stay with the leaders for the majority of the racing and he was rewarded with third.

The next race meeting in Tassie will be another memorial race with the Southern Tasmanian Kart Club hosting the annual Ian Harrington Memorial Rising Stars meeting which will be held on the 13th and 14th of July at their AWC Kartway complex. Ian was a well known motorsport identity and long time supporter of the STKC and Tasmanian karting in general and also father of one of the states pre-eminent drivers, Samm.  

Cadets
1st        Ethan Wyllie

Rookies
1st        Justin Murphy
2nd        Jackson Callow
3rd        Tate Frost
4th        Brock Evans
5th        Lachlan Dalton

Senior National Over 40’s Pro
1st        Stephen Bricknell
2nd        Glen Newman
3rd        Stephen Johnstone
4th        Tim Hinds
5th        Ian Stewart

Senior National Over 50’s Pro
1st        Stephen Bricknell

Senior National Over 40’s Super Heavy
1st        Scott Wrigley
2nd        Troy Sheahen
3rd        Rick Davies
4th        Alistair Fairley
5th        John Lee

Senior National Over 50’s Super Heavy
1st        Terry Pinfold

Junior National Light
1st        Brodie Evans
2nd        Johnah Slater
3rd        Lachlan Newman

Junior National Heavy
1st        James Fitch
2nd        Lachlan Cruse

Senior National Light
1st        Keenan Slater
2nd        Gemma Wyllie
3rd        Thomas Stewart

Senior National Heavy
1st        James Pinfold
2nd        Brodey Lovett
3rd        Ben Davey

Clubman Light
1st        Shane Bray
2nd        Gemma Wyllie
3rd        Marcus Johnson

Clubman Heavy
1st        Troy Stone
2nd        Jack Pickett
3rd        Mathew Coates

TAG Restricted Heavy
1st        Matthew Clark
2nd          Adrian Mitchell
3rd        Peter Wagner

 

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