STKC Tasmanian Rising Star 2013
| words: Eammon O'Connor pics: Tabatha Badger Photography |
24 July 2013 |
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The 2013 Rising Star meet was one that had everything for the judges to decide the new 2013 Tasmanian Rising Star.
Across the fields of juniors there were some fantastic efforts by the drivers and teams to show that they have what it takes. With the wonderful ongoing support of the Harrington family and a host of great local companies there was a bumper prize pool with the big prize not only being the title of Tasmanian Rising Star for 2013, but also entry to both closed and open series for 2014 along with the Ian Harrington Memorial Trophy.
Above: Tasmania's Rising Star field for 2013
pic - Tabatha Badger Photography, 0448812281
The best of Tasmanian racers had travelled down to Hobart for a fun weekend and it was great to see the pull this title has among the young drivers. Local karter and EURO-NASCAR driver Josh Burdon (www.joshburdon.com.au) headed to the track on Sunday after travelling over 24hrs to give his support and words of encouragement to the young drivers. Leading the Open division all season and with 2 more rounds to go at Imola and Le Mans, we hope that Josh can keep up the great results he has had with the Scorpus Racing team.
The racing started on Saturday with beautiful winter sunshine and not a hint of the forecast cold/wet weather. The weather changed for the worse over night and continuous rain and cold winds did not help but added spice to the action on track. The facilities are in great condition and a big congratulation to the committee and STKC members who worked hard over the previous weeks to get it ready.
Above: Ethan Wyllie in Cadets
pic - Tabatha Badger Photography, 0448812281
The program gave us plenty of exciting racing with five random drawn heats and a final plus the special “Junior Shoot out” for the all important pole in JNL & JNH finals. So with a bumper field it was on with the action and the start of the racing.
The Cadet field was a great mix with William Reeves controlling things for a great weekend’s racing at the front from the hard charging Ethan Wyllie and Jesse Keeling. Good luck to the Wyllie’s in their racing on the mainland. A highlight of the weekends racing was Declan Sherburd fantastic move from forth to first into the sweeper. Great control and skill from all and a great sight to see the cadets having fun.
Rookies was a battle between Red plate holder Jackson Callow and local racer Brock Lamont. Both lead the field with Lachlan Dalton rounding off the podium. Tate Frost had an unfortunate weekend with 3 DNF’s - one in the final along with Kurtis Love.
Junior National Light was a field of future stars with Lachlan Newman showing a fantastic pace and race craft across the weekend, closely followed by Zevie Eisentraut in his $250, 10 year old Gumtree Hasse kart. Sam Jackson in the Tas Autosport backed Monaco had a fantastic handling kart for all conditions across the weekend and was closely chased by the fast femme Brianna Hobden. Brodie Sward was always in the mix until the final where brake failure put him out and into the woodchips and Cameron Kuc was in contention until an unlucky spin put him at the tail of the field. Tori Hildyard showed true determination in very tricky conditions and Talon Genge showed great potential in only his second event. Lachlan Newman had the final until an off into the horseshoe bend left him to watch his friends battle it out. Lachlan is definitely one to watch in the State titles this year in November.
Above: Cameron Kuc JNL
pic - Tabatha Badger Photography, 0448812281
Junior National Heavy was a very close field. Red plate holder Morgan Jakobovski had a battle on his hands all weekend with the returning Wade Mclean showing no rust in his race craft after a long layoff and Thomas Clark and Liam O’Connor both showing speed in differing conditions. In the final it was a very close battle between Jakobovski and Mclean with Clark holding third in very wet conditions. A great battle between Thomas Pyke and Liam O’Connor enthralled the crowd over the last half of the final with it only being decided in Liam’s favour at the line.
A weekend to forget for Steve Crocker in the Over 40’s Pro with 3 DNF’s in the heats but was still able to snatch 2nd in the final behind a victorious David Jackson. Andrew Kuc and Andrew Butler rounded out the runners with Terry Pinfold taking the heavy section.
In TAG it was a battle of the brothers as the Muskett brothers of Sam and Josh took on the Cleary’s of Alan and Ashley. Josh pushed his Kosmic kart to the front and stayed there from the Viper Engineering backed Alan Cleary and brother Ashley. Sam showed great pace while still on his P’s.
Seniors had the 2012 Tasmanian Rising Star Bodie Reading leading from Gemma Wyllie and Joshua Hardy with the lead Heavy drivers of Scotty Hildyard, James Pinfold and Daniel Newman coming good in the wet Sunday conditions. The final was held in very wet conditions and the crowd watched as the borrowed Tas Autosport Monaco of Hildyard got within 2 second of the Reading at the end.
Above: Scotty Hildyard in the TAS Autosport Monaco had the goods to win
pic - Tabatha Badger Photography, 0448812281
A new Junior Shootout qualification was a great success in very wet conditions with both Zevie Eisentraut and Morgan Jakobovski taking out the poles and trophies. A great idea and one for the future.
And so with the 2 days of racing over it was to the prize giving. A very hard decision for the judging group as there had been so many standouts among the young racers over the event and it was only by a very small margin that the 2013 Ian Harrington Memorial Tasmanian Rising star was awarded too... Zevie Eisentraut
Zevie has been a star on the Tasmanian karting scene for the last 3 years. On a limited budget ever since he started Cadets in the STKC cadetship in 2010. He has been racing at the front across the state in cadets, rookies and now juniors with great skill and speed, while also showing great sportsmanship and is a credit to his family and the whole of the Tasmanian karting community.
Above: Zevie Eisentraut and family after a well deserved weekend result
pic - Tabatha Badger Photography, 0448812281
With the close of the event plans are afoot to make it bigger and better in 2014, a huge thank you again to the Harrington family and the sponsors and club who made it possible and finally a huge thanks to Adrian “Mozza” Morrisby for an excellent call on Sunday.
Above: SNH winner Scotty Hildyard and daughter Tori
pic - Tabatha Badger Photography, 0448812281
Above: Steve Crocker and family
pic - Tabatha Badger Photography, 0448812281
Above: Bodie Reading was the 2012 Rising Star, leading in SNL
pic - Tabatha Badger Photography, 0448812281
Above: Zevie Eisentraut, JNL
pic - Tabatha Badger Photography, 0448812281
Above: Wade McLean, JNH
pic - Tabatha Badger Photography, 0448812281
Above: Alan Cleary, TaG Restricted Heavy
pic - Tabatha Badger Photography, 0448812281
Above: Brock Lamont, 2nd in Rookies
pic - Tabatha Badger Photography, 0448812281
Above: TaG R Heavy winner Joshua Muskett
pic - Tabatha Badger Photography, 0448812281
Above: JNL take a start, Lachlan Newman (99) and Zevie Eisentraut on the fronat row ahead of Brodie Sward (45) and Cameron Kuc (90)
pic - Tabatha Badger Photography, 0448812281
Above: Kurtis Love in Rookies after an unfortunate off in very trying conditions
pic - Tabatha Badger Photography, 0448812281
Above: Party atmosphere in the pits
pic - Tabatha Badger Photography, 0448812281
Above: Liam O'Connor in JNH
pic - Tabatha Badger Photography, 0448812281
Above: Brianna Hobden, JNL
pic - Tabatha Badger Photography, 0448812281
Above: Starters at the ready
pic - Tabatha Badger Photography, 0448812281
pic - Tabatha Badger Photography, 0448812281
Above: Morgan Jakowbovski leads Wade McLean at the front of JNH
pic - Tabatha Badger Photography, 0448812281
Above: Jesse Keeling at the front in Cadets
pic - Tabatha Badger Photography, 0448812281
Above: Thomas TC Clark practicing his drift action to a third in JNH
pic - Tabatha Badger Photography, 0448812281
Above: Gemma Wyllie (34) and Joshua Hardy (88), both made the SNL podium
pic - Tabatha Badger Photography, 0448812281
Above: Jackson Callow 3-wheels to victory in Rookies
pic - Tabatha Badger Photography, 0448812281
