Juniors Collect Plenty Of Gold At Cooloola
press release
The inaugural Caloundra Body Works supported “Cooloola Junior Gold” Karting event held at Cooloola Coast Kart Club’s Gympie Gold Raceway on Queen’s Birthday weekend was simply an outstanding success.
Blake Worboys (JPro) was the proud winner of the Yamaha Australia J Motor and Jacob Jolley (JNL) was the winner of the Ross Kaminski Karting Arrow Chassis.
Above: The start of the Junior National Light Final on Sunday
pic - Harrington Doyle
The generous Autobarn Caboolture, Castrol, Bendix, Dunlop Kartsport and Yamaha prizes also flowed in both the Saturday and separate Sunday prize draws. Every competing Karter was a winner. In fact many were multiple winners.
72 entries had arrived for Friday’s practice from as far as Rockhampton and Port Macquarie. Five of the 7 Junior classes on offer were well supported. Key Event Sponsor, Michael Gee from Caloundra Body Works, was a little disappointed in the level of Nominations for Junior Clubman and JMax. He said, “The Cooloola Coast Kart Club has produced a terrific Junior meeting with a good format, good laps and in our own back yard. The Prize Pool on offer this weekend is exceptional and the event promotion has been terrific. I’m unsure what else it takes to get more performance class entries.”
Above: Just part of the great Promotion at the 2010 Cooloola Junior Gold Titles was Associate Event Sponsor’s, Autobarn Caboolture’s V8 Supercar Display vehicle
pic - Harrington Doyle
Saturday’s two busy Qualifying sessions were followed by two Heats of racing. The Fastest Qualifiers for the event were Chris Burley (JNL 42.685), Ryan Suhle (Midgets 45.497), Mitchell Gee (JNH 43.181), Jack Wood (JMA 38.289), Cody Cidoni (Rookies 43.940), Sam Taylor (JC 39.158) and Christopher Sharples (JPro 43.398).
Heat Racing was intense across all classes and the longer multi lap race format was proving to be popular. With the program running smoothly, racing was complete mid afternoon and Team’s were enjoying the social atmosphere the event had successfully achieved through great event planning.
Saturday night’s buffet dinner and Live Band at the track for competitors and their crews was well supported with the catering for 300 people falling just short of the demand. Some quick steaks on the grill ensured that everyone was well fed whilst some locals practiced their “air guitar” moves and the live band played well into the night.
Above: Junior National Light competitors race through Turn 1 in Sunday’s Final
pic - Harrington Doyle
Sunday’s carburettor session started right on time and was followed by the PreFinals and Final for each of the classes. On several occasions competitors brought spectators to their feet and to the fence, as the race for the lead in most classes was changing every lap of the longer 18 lap Finals.
Podium Winners were;
Junior National Light (JNL) – 17 competitors
- Scott Hynes
- Chris Burley
- Lachlan McHugh
- Jack wood
- Brady McHugh
- Ryan Kennedy (1st C Grader)
Midgets – 14 competitors
- Harrison Oddie
- Ryan Suhle
- Quintin Slabbert
- Nicholas James
- Dakoda Daniels
- Natasha Herne (1st C Grader)
Junior National Heavy (JNH) – 13 competitors
- Mitchell Gee
- Benjamin Harm
- Ethan O’Farrell
- Jeremy Landt
- Blake Worboys
- Liam Astley (1st C Grader)
Formula Junior Max (JMA) – 4 competitors
- Jai Olsen
- Jack Wood
- Sam Taylor
- Ryan Sponseller
Rookies – 14 competitors
- Jordi Marcon
- Cody Cidoni
- Russell Whittaker
- Dylan Overland
- Thomas Steele
- Jack McKay (1st C Grader)
Junior Clubman (JC) – 3 competitors
- Sam Taylor
- Trent Rudzinski
- Benjamin Harm
Junior Pro (JPro) – 7 competitors
- Jordan Conder
- Blake Worboys
- Christopher Sharples
- Jeremy Landt
- Joel Miller
- Mitch Condon (1st C Grader)
In addition to the “Gold Rush” of prizes and trophies on offer, a new hot shower and 2 new shade sails were also well received by the competitors and their families who had travelled for the 2010 Cooloola Junior Gold event.
Above: The Top 4 Junior National Heavy freight train that race millimetres apart for most of the weekend.
pic - Harrington Doyle
“It was a great meeting and one of the less stressful we have had that's for sure. We’re already trying turn up the heat for next year, as well as more great prizes and sponsors. It was good to see so many families enjoying dinner Saturday night and some great socialising,” said Junior Vice President, Dale Coomber. “It was great to see the groups enjoying themselves in the camping area around the campfire when we left Saturday night. From what we hear the new shower is a ripper. There certainly are some brave Karters though. One Team camped in their pit shelter. When the temperature dropped to 3 degrees on Sunday morning, I’m sure that it wouldn't have been pleasant, but they were still smiling. It really was an enjoyable family weekend and we thank all the Junior Karters and parents for attending.”
“It seems that our Sponsors are keen to do it all over again next year and make it bigger and better”, said Club Secretary, Kym Coomber. “Thank you to all the volunteers and sponsors that helped out over the weekend, without them it would have not been the meeting it was. Hopefully we can come up with a date next year in the warmer time of year.“
Above: 12yo Mitchell Gee was victorious in Junior National Heavy and celebrates his win here with his Grandparents
pic - Harrington Doyle
Please visit the Cooloola Coast Kart Club Website at www.cckc.org.au or contact the Club Secretary sec@cckc.org.au for more details about the event and stay tuned for Cooloola Junior Gold 2011.
