All Action At Horsepower Heaven

'Horsepower Heaven' burst into action in hot and sunny conditions in Melbourne today. For many competitors, it was the first time they had turned serious laps on the track after yesterday's showers.

National Titles are on the line in Formula 100. In the Light division, Queenslander Tyler Greenbury qualified his Tony Kart fastest, but the heat wins have gone to Daniel Richert (Kosmic) and David Sera (Arrow). Sera DNF'd the first heat after breaking a reed valve. Defending champion Adam Hughes qualifed third and has a 3rd and 7th in the heats.

Above: If it's not one Sera, it's the bloody other! Those must be the thoughts going through Tyler Greenbury's mind as he battles David (above) in F100 and James in Leopard.

Matthew Wall (Arrow) comfortably qualified fastest in Formula 100 Heavy. He has won both heat races, but only by a small margin to Dominic Albanese with Brad Fitch and Mathew Mills next.

In the Leopard Grand Final Shootout classes, Tyler Greenbury and Adam Hughes continue their stoush in the Light division, but also have James Sera to contend with. Sera went fastest of everyone in qualifying, planting the Azzurro on pole. However, it's been Hughes who has come through to win both heat races.

Above: Leopard Heavy winner will get all this!

Leopard Heavy has been very close, Brad Fitch qualifying fastest and sharing the heat wins with Matt Greenbury.

At this meeting, the support classes are generating huge interest. Kiwi Ryan Grant is showing the Aussies how to race KZ2. The Maranello driver is unbeaten so far, however Arrow's Bart Price is not far behind. BRM's Justin Ruggier is in remarkable form considering how little karting he has done recently. BRM's young UK driver Daniel Borton is also doing well with solid top-5 placings.

Above: New Zealand's Ryan Grant. Can anyone challenge him on Sunday?
pic - photowagon.com.au

The KZ2s are doing standing starts. After a practice start in the morning warmup, it was decided to grid up on every second row to help eliminate nose-to-tail collisions if a driver stalls off the line.

The brutishness of the 200cc Open class has popped open a lot of eyes as this category is rarely seen in Victoria. A swag of Tasmanians bolster the field and there is a huge variety of engines - air-cooled, water cooled, rotary, reed and piston valve motors. After today's racing it seems that local Dominic Albanese will be one to catch on Sunday. After qualifying P2, The Dom has carded two wins.

Above: The Dom-inator; 2 x water-cooled TM reeds on the latest Arrow for Dominic A.

Queensland's Gerry Brookes dragged some old Parilla air-cooled engines to pole position (on a chassis that is said to be from the mid 80s!) but broke a reed in heat one (a rogue nut was found floating around the inlet) and seized a motor in heat 2.

Tassie duo Jason White and David Catchpole (both Swiss Hutless) have been awesome off the line and in the opening laps (although Catchpole crashed out when Brookes seized), however Albanese has the pace over race distance.

Pre-finals and Finals begin Sunday around 9am.

Full results from all sessions are posted on mylaps.com HERE.

Above & Below: There's almost a trade show happening at Todd Rd over the weekend with various racing-related organisations having their wares and merchandise on show and for sale. Time to make a deal?

Above: Up Periscope.
pic - photowagon.com.au

Above: The sweet smell of elf lingers in the air even before you drive into the circuit. Mmmmm
pic - photowagon.com.au

Above: BRM has a large team in attendance running several classes.

Above: Twins are strong in Tasmania. This is David Catchpole's ride.

Above: James Sera, Leopard Light
pic - photowagon.com.au

Above: Defending F100 Light champion Adam Hughes. Can he win it 2 years in a row?
pic - photowagon.com.au

Above: How good is this? KZ2 ready to launch.
pic - photowagon.com.au

Above: Wall-e has been The Man in F100 Heavy so far.
pic - photowagon.com.au

Above: Brad Fitch is strong in Leopard Heavy
pic - photowagon.com.au

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