2012 NSW IAME TaG Challenge

press release

THERE WERE MANY WINNERS CROWNED AT THE DEBUT OF THIS ANNUAL EVENT, HELD AT OAKBURN PARK RACEWAY IN TAMWORTH, NEW SOUTH WALES ON THE 19TH - 20TH MAY

The first ever 2012 NSW IAME CHALLENGE turned out to be a beauty!  Drivers from all over the State and interstate attended this first time event. We had drivers from Canberra, Lithgow, Coffs Harbour, Newcastle, Sydney and QLD.

All classes had top quality fields and driver skills came to the fore. The event also featured on NBN News and random prize draws throughout the meeting were donated by our sponsors.

Plans are already underway for the 2013 NSW IAME CHALLENGE and sure to be bigger and better than this year.


Above: Chris Sunter grabbed second in TaG-R Light

Michael Hazelton commented on the event, “I just want to say well done to all the competitors, Tamworth officials and members on a very enjoyable weekend of racing. A special thanks to Max Thornhill for putting in an immense amount of effort to make this meeting happen”

Chris Sunter also commended Max for putting on a great event “You did a great job and I will endeavour to make the event in 2013, thanks to all the generous sponsors for their support we really appreciate it, and thanks to all my Precision Energy brothers, always good for a laugh”

“It was my first trip to Tamworth and what a great track and facility”, Chris said.  “I thoroughly enjoyed myself at this meeting. A special mention to my fellow competitors in TAG light, everybody shakes hands on the grid. The racing was hard and fair with respect given (mostly) for racing room” Chris said.

Barry Fisher owner of Lismore Kart Centre and one of the many businesses who supported the event with prizes said, “The quality of drivers and the sportsmanship was really good to see.”
“I had drivers coming up to me and thanking me so I would feel everyone went home very happy. I believe this event will only get better as the drivers go home and tell their friends”.

IAME SPORTSMAN 170KGS CLASS
This class was RED HOT with talent. Fastest qualifier was State Champion, Daniel Stein who has done this many times before. He was just under 0.3 of a second in front of MIKRACE’s Michael Hazelton, with Klinton Hancy, Phill Curran and Garnet Patterson, all under 0.2 of a second behind Michael.

In the heats Daniel won fairly comfortably with the action behind him between Michael and Garnet. Michael ended up on grid 2 for the Pre final beside Daniel, with Garnet on grid 3, Klinton Hancy from QLD was on grid 4 but unfortunately had a DNS. Gridded up behind them were Phil Curran, Gary Ellis, Chris Goodman and the over 50 Paul Hull who put in a good show.

With the number of laps increasing through the finals, it took its toll. At the end of the pre-final the first home was Michael followed by Garnet and Phil taking out the first three positions. Unfortunately, Daniel Stein had a DNF.

In the 20 lap final only counts, Daniel started at the rear of the field and with the extra laps he managed to show us some excellent driving skills to get to the front of the pack and eventually home for a comfortable win, with Garnet Patterson 2nd, Gary Elis 3rd, Michael Hazelton 4th and Phil Curran 5th.

CROWNED the 2012 NSW IAME Challenge Winners in IAME Sportsman Class
DANIEL STEIN crowned the NSW IAME Challenge winner for IAME Sportsman Class
GARY ELLIS crowned the Over 40’s the NSW IAME Challenge winner for IAME Sportsman Class
PAUL HULL crowned the Over 50’s the NSW IAME Challenge winner for IAME Sportsman Class

IAME TAG RESTRICTED 170KG CLASS
This was the biggest field of the event and it was very hotly contested. The Precision Motorsport Energy Team entered a team of 8 drivers into the large field of competitors, but when they were racing there were no team tactics here.

These guys race just as hard against each other as they would any other driver, if not harder, with a couple of them coming out worst for wear.

From a spectator point of view it was great racing as it was happening and the officials were watching very carefully.   Chris Sunter had the heats sewn up followed closely by Paul Craddock. In the pre final these positions changed around which put Paul on poll and Chris in grid 2 for the final.

Through the heats the minor placing’s were all over the place but by the time the final came around we had Steve Hartelust on grid 3 with Michael Booth beside him in 4, followed by Richard Forrester and Michael Heywood. Unfortunately Paul Craddock had a DNF which left the final placing’s open for a dark horse to emerge.

Across the line in 1st place was Steve Hartelust followed in 2nd by Chris Sunter. After a complaint was upheld we had Michael Heywood in 3rd place, 4th was David Strickland and 5th was Rodney Goodman. 

CROWNED the 2012 NSW IAME Challenge Winners In IAME TAG Restricted 170KG
STEVE HARTELUST
crowned the NSW IAME Challenge winner in IAME TAGR Class
MICHAEL BOOTH crowned the O/40 NSW IAME Challenge winner in IAME TAGR Class
STEVE HARTELUST crowned the O/50 NSW IAME Challenge winner in IAME TAGR Class

IAME TAG RESTRICTED 190KG CLASS
The IAME Restricted 190kgs class was down a bit in numbers but still provided some good entertainment and driving from the big boys. The fastest Qualifier was Phillip Middleton followed by Charlie Vera, David Robison and Oren Bulley.

Phillip had the heats and finals in the bag but behind him a real battle was going on between David Robison and Charlie Vera. These guys were swapping their positions numerous times during every race all day. The grid for the final had Phillip on poll with Charlie finally managing to get on 2 and David on 3.

The racing in the Final saw Phillip take the lead and head off on his own but behind him the battle continued between Charlie and David with their positions swapping until Charlie tried a little too hard and lost his nosecone and scored a DNF. First over the line was Philip Middleton, 2nd David Robison with Charlie Vera and Oren Bulley DNF.

CROWNED as the 2012 NSW IAME Challenge Winners In IAME TAG Restricted 190KG
PHILIP MIDDLETON
crowned NSW IAME Challenge winner in IAME in TAGR 190kg Class
DAVID ROBISON crowned Over 40’s NSW IAME Challenge winner in IAME TAGR 190kg
PHILIP MIDDLETON crowned Over 50’s NSW IAME Challenge winner in IAME TAGR 190kg 

The TAMWORTH KART RACING CLUB would like to say a BIG THANK YOU to all the helpers, Officials and Sponsors for making this event possible.

A special thanks to our club secretary, Cathy Patterson, who did and always does a fantastic job organising trophies, being race secretary and the hardest job of all “trying to find out drivers ages for the O/40s and O/50s trophies”.  Also, a big thank you to Peter and Marea Bell for getting the canteen up and running otherwise we all would have starved.

AROUND THE PITS

  • The only sad bit of the weekend was that poor Dave Austin was not able to race due to the pro weight, as Dave would have had to carry 30kg of lead on his kart. But one good thing from that was about a dozen other drivers used his kart for spares!!
  • Another bit of goss was that one driver had 70 hours run time on his motors bottom-end and it is STILL running competitively, which say’s a lot for the extraordinary IAME X30 engine!


 

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