The Kings & Queens of Dalby

by Kev ‘The Noise’ Davies

Another fabulous out of COVID meeting at the Yumborra Raceway this time, home of Dalby Kart Club.

All COVID regulations again adhered to by the western down club with security guards employed to police all entrants and visitors with strict controls.

Open performance:

The racing once again was exciting and fun opening up with the biggest class of the day the Open Performance group where 14 karts took to the track. Aaron Proud, after showing early promise, ended the day on the bottom of the points. Dan Welke was in p13 just behind Gab Clift who was having technical issues. Mark Michels was a lowly 11th for him, also having dramas.

In the top ten then was Jack the Mac, returning to Dalby for the first time in a long time. Tom Dyke drove well to grab himself a 9th place finish. Cody Grande was 8th while the xxxx driver Russel Martin came home 7th. Another returning driver, Blake Evans, had some really tough battles and secured 6th, while Troy Kubecek once again drove consistently to grab 5th. An amazing effort for girl racer Hollie Evans to finish 4th.

So on to the podium positions, Carl Solomon was at the pointy end all day and deserved his 3rd place. James Evans was once again bang on form to grab second, but no one could stop the unstoppable force that is Elliot Thompson with a faultless performance to take the win.

4-Strokes:

Once again the 4-bangers gave us drama, excitement and tension! Mal Rochford was busy trying to get that perfect set up all day coming home 7th. Rob Carrol unfortunately broke the new kart, having shown early promise to take the racing to the usual leading pair. James Crawly was once again consistent coming home 5th, while newcomer Mick Ried had a great days racing to secure 4th. It was first time on the podium for the flying #26 of Luke Munoz, but once again the days racing was dominated by the top two; in second Micah Rodriguez, and the win taken by Craig Taylor.

Beginners:

A karter began her karting career on this day and little 5 yr old Emily Welke was given two runs in this race meeting, having a blast on track in the #32 kart – a proud dad moment! Sam Grande came home in third with some great driving peering over the nassau panel. Ashton Dendle drove really well all day to grab 2nd but he was no match for the eventual winner, Riley Grande, who blitzed the field all day.

Clubman Heavy:

In the pie eaters, city slicker Rodney Rudy Farkas came with the intention of taking top spot, but an incident on Dalby Trailers hairpin, coming together with Prince Albert, unfortunately put him out of the meeting with a broken kart, so Rudy was 7th. In sixth it was Wayne Gilby, who had a couple of fantastic races. ( El-presidente) Tim Bliesner came home 4th.

The front three slugged it out all meeting long and (showbag) Scott Hudson eventually got third just behind (Prince Albert) Josh Betts, but what a win it was for the king, Fast Freddie Shepherd!

Clubman Light:

Tom McInnerney had his first run at Dalby and finished this one in 4th, while Nathan Winning took a well earned podium in third. Fabulous hard racing from Tom Darlington secured him second place, and the winner, once again unstoppable, was Craig Taylor.

Comers:

The Comers were once again on show with Aston Whitbread having a couple of great heats coming home 3rd. In second was young Ben Shepherd, and the win went to the pocket rocket Danny Betts.

Juniors:

In this class, newcomer Seth Proud recorded 7th place just behind another newcomer Jack Green in 6th. Fifth place went to the determined Freddy Junior Shepherd, while Lucas Eelke had a great meeting dispite missing one heat to come home 4th. Girl racer Lily Shepherd was a stand out performer to come home 3rd while the battle at the front was at times intense; showbag junior Lachlan Hudson was second with a fabulous win going to the hang ten king, Lukas Bliesner.

Teenagers:

Jackson Wenham was the lone 4-stroke racing with the two strokes and raced well for 6th. In 5th, with technical dramas all day, was Stephanie Dyke. Another girl racer was just above her in the standings, that being Abbey McDonald who came home 4th. Brody Putsey was really competitive to take 3rd, just behind Isaak Bliesner in second, but all hale the king of the teenagers, Hunter Smith!