Jenke Classic & Sportsman 125 Cup
Tweet| 31 October 2012 |
by Danny Somerville
The Barossa Go Kart held its annual event for the seniors, the Jenke Over 40s Challenge and the Sportsman 125 Cup, recently.
The Jenke is one of the premier events in South Australia for the more senior drivers in S.A and the racing is always red hot for the wine. The Jenke Vineyards group, who donate a bucket load of wine for the event every year, has proudly sponsored the event for many years.
The Jenke Classic has been won for the past few years by gun driver Simon Layne and he knew he would have a huge fight on his hands to keep the title in 2012 from the likes of Steven Blee and John Ellis. The Sportsman Cup would be hard fought for as well with the class moving to a middle weight of 170kgs for the event with some cracking drivers in the field.
The day was well supported by the support classes and everyone was in great spirits for the final race in the valley for 2012. The day got off to flying start with qualifying for the 2 title classes for the day.
Qualifying Sportsman 125 was tense with a very close qualifying session with only a few tenths separating the field.
Banging it on pole was the Arrow kart of Brandon Stillwell who set a time of 24:88; this would be tough to beat.
Second fastest and only a tenth down was Danny Somerville who set a time of 24:98 but was disqualified and sent to the back of the pack after a penalty for over exuberance with his tires on the opening lap. This then moved David Rinaldi up to second with a time of 25:01 and Nathan Burgess into 3rd with a 25.02. The qualifying session was hot to trot and looked like Brandon would be tough to beat in the mixed weather conditions of the day.
Qualifying Clubman Over 40s Jenke Classic was all about the driver who wanted it more and the honors went to a blindingly fast Steven Blee with a time of 25:56 who scorched the track with some masterful driving. Lining up next to Steven was defending Jenke Classic champion Simon Layne who chased hard to second with a strong time of 25:69 on his second flying lap. The big man himself John Ellis put in a screaming lap to qualify third with a lap of 25:98 and really put the pressure on the boys upfront. The Over 40s racing was going to be one for ages with 3 drivers closer than ever and wanting the win. So that was the qualifying for the 2 premier classes and it was time for the support classes to warm the track and get the action rocking.
The Cadets:
This class was one of the highlights of the race day with some of the closest battles not only up the front but also in the mid pack that we have seen in a while. With a field of 14 these little legends of racing were driving the wheels off their machines and were having an absolute blast in the tricky conditions. The honors went to the black plate 88 of Cooper Hay who was a measure of consistency for the day and showed his natural driving talent and took the top step of the podium. Coming home second was Jackson Rees who again drove a brilliant weekend and showed why he is an elite driver in this level with a smooth as ever drive. Third went to a hard charging Jason Bowyer in the 4 kart who chased the top two all day and kept them very honest. A great drive was had by the 22 kart of Riley Matheson, 43 Sam Henderson and the 10 Kart of Alex Montague who have come along brilliantly this year and ones to watch in the next couple of seasons.
Above: Cooper Hay on his way to taking the top step of the podium in the Cadets
pic - Danny Somerville
Clubman Light:
The sensational form of Tony Kart driver Damon Goode was on display again with another exhibition of masterful driving around the Barossa raceway. Damon who won every heat by about half a lap looked like he got some good testing in for the State titles, which he will be one to watch in the Clubman Light class. A stellar drive by second place getter P-plater Shaun Emery who showed he can certainly pedal a kart and looks like he will be one to keep an eye on next year as he gets a few more laps under his belt. Emery finished every race in the second position and a great effort to be on the podium. Tom Gurr continues her improvement and drove impressively to third place on the podium for the evening. The Clubman Light is slowly getting momentum in SA again and we look forward to more runners next year.
Above: Shaun Emery takes a sensational 2nd at the Jenke in Clubman Light
pic - Danny Somerville
Restricted 125 Light and Restricted 125 Heavy:
The two classes were combined for the evening with a great inter battle happening between the two weight divisions. The man with the best name and leather race suit in SA, Giuseppe Caon took out the lights. Caon drove a brilliant race weekend and was hard to catch in every race. He seemed to have the Tony Kart on rails for the day and really enjoyed the celebrations at the end of the evening in the clubhouse. Micah Montgomery had a mixed bag for the day with a couple of strong performances and a DNF and a DSQ but somehow managed to finish a strong second for all the hard work. The highlight of the day was a newcomer the number 53P of Michael Ferro who drove brilliantly for the day and set a new lap record in this class at the BGKC. Ferro looked like he could turn it on when he wanted and we look forward to watching him flying around the BGKC next year.
With all the excitement of the lights going on the heavies was dominated by the ever-fast Gary Owen who took a clean sweep to take a great win for the event. Gary looked in total control all day and didn’t look like he would put a step wrong even fighting with the light drivers ahead. Second went to the 18P of Peter Busch who drove a sensational weekend and looked to be enjoying the run up the front chasing Gary. These classes battled hard with each other all day and think they battled just as hard at the bar at the end of the evening.
Above: Matthew Ferro set a new lap record in Restricted 125 Light
pic - Danny Somerville
Above: The Master Gary Owen wins Restricted 125 Heavy
pic - Danny Somerville
Junior National Heavy:
With only 3 in the field the one to beat would be newly crowned Festival State Cup champion Scotty Matheson.
Scotty showed why he is one of the premier junior drivers in SA and streaked ahead and was never challenge for the weekend. Scott used the day as a test session for the upcoming State titles, which he looks to be very strong.
Hamish Blair brought his kart home to second position and Jordan Tasker looked great all day to come home in third. The club looks forward to seeing this class fill up next year with some drivers making the step up over the summer, which will increase the numbers.
Above: Scotty Matheson wins Junior National Heavy
pic - Danny Somerville
Rookies:
Pure Brilliance was a word I heard on the performance of little superstar Jacob Dowsen. Dowsen drove the marbles off the kart to win every race for the weekend and push newly crowned club champion Josh Montague back to second spot. Dowsen did not put a foot wrong and with the new good luck number change to 78 look out for him next year. Josh Montague again drove brilliantly for the weekend and will be one of the favorites for the upcoming state titles in Mt Gambier. Drive of the day came from Kustom Karts driver Jade Morrison who kept everyone on their feet and brilliantly took the third step on the podium to the delight of her dad Phil and pop Bob. Keep your eyes glued on this class next year, as there is some of Australia’s best talent on display in this class.
Above: Jade Morrison drove brilliantly to 3rd place in the Rookies
pic - Danny Somerville
Clubman Heavy:
Great support for the event by the Clubman Heavy drivers, with a field of 8 blessing the grid and action was sure to happen. It was a clean sweep by the local boy Clancy Venables who had the measure of the rest of the field for the day with some very aggressive driving. Clancy took all 4 heats to finish on the top step and win some wine for his old man Barry. Simon Granfield finally found some luck this year and stayed out of trouble to drive an absolute brilliant day and finish on the second step of the podium. Simon was over the moon with the result and celebrated at the bar after with a couple of Jenkes. Third went to Tristan Gray who was as strong as ever and almost had Venebles measure a few times over the day but just didn’t have enough. The Clubman Heavies put on a hell of a show and were one of the favorite classes in the evening.
Above: Simon Granfield drove brilliantly to 2nd in Clubman Heavy
pic - Danny Somerville
Clubman Super Heavy:
With four in the field the man to catch would be the big man John Ellis. Ellis was having an absolute ball out on track and driving like an 18 year old on his way to the prom. Johnny looked like he was preparing for the big Jenke race to come up and was all smiles after his great driving performance. Dale Proven got a race win in race 1 when Ellis was DSQ for not eating enough and came under weight. Dale drove great for the rest of the event to claim second spot. Third went to Rachel Ford who kept the fellas honest with some great driving for the day.
Above: John Ellis wins Clubman Super Heavy in a canter
pic - Danny Somerville
Sportsman 125 Cup 2012:
The time had come for the feature classes for the evening to strut their stuff and the Sportsman 125s were the first to bless the track. With Brandon Stillwell starting from pole it was never going to be an easy task for the others to reel him in. Brandon drove a brilliant weekend and won every race to take a straight sets victory and win the 2012 Sportsman Cup. Brandon set fastest lap for the evening in the final and was unstoppable in the end. Second went to a Danny Somerville with a hard fought weekend after starting from the back of the grid for race 1 and then being taken out of the race to DNF. Somerville then drove hard for the next 3 heats to finish second in these behind Brandon to take a second place for the evening. Third went to a hard charging Sam La Vista in the Tony Kart who was chasing all day but just didn’t have enough laps in the end to take the second from Somerville. Sam really had his kart working in the final and looked as if he had got the setup for the track perfect. There was plenty of argy bargy going on in the field with Rinaldi and Burgess having a coming together which then ended Burgess night with a smashed radiator. Hard luck was also had by Neil Jonsson who popped an engine in race one. Overall the racing was as fast and furious as ever and the class put on a great show for the crowd.
Above: Winner Sportsman 125 Cup 2012 Brandon Stillwell.
pic - Danny Somerville
Above: Runner-up Sportsman 125 Cup 2012 Danny Somerville.
Jenke Vineyards Over 40s Classic:
It was time for the silver foxes of SA karting to come out to play for the other feature event of the evening. This battle was going to be hard fought for these drivers with the best of the senior drivers contesting for the trophy and of course the spoils of the wine. Hot favorite and multiple winner Simon Layne had a lot of work to do to hold back the superfast Steven Blee. Steven Blee drove the absolute melons off his Tony Kart for the entire day and won the first three heats of the day. Simon Layne was struggling with either a setup issue or engine issue and just didn’t have the package to defend his title in 2012. Blee then cruised in the final to third to take the Jenke Vineyards Title for 2012 after being the bridesmaid for many years. Layne came home second and enjoyed some of sponsors product. The big boy John Ellis had a cracking race and was over the moon with third place and was a barrel of laughs as usual at the after race presentations. Colin Gray drove and excellent race to fourth and James Gorman was strong in his first over 40s race.
The Jenke has again shown what a great event it is and a special thanks goes out to Kim Jenke for his sponsorship and support for this great event.
Above: 2012 Winner Jenke Over 40s Challenge Steven Blee
pic - Danny Somerville
Above: 2012 Runner-up Jenke Over 40s Challenge Simon Layne.
pic - Danny Somerville
Another great event and season comes to an end for the BGKC. The club would like to thank all the drivers’ officials, volunteers and everyone who have been a part of a sensational 2012 season of racing. The club also values all its current members and look forward to seeing you on board next year. We also look forward to seeing many new members at our great club in 2013. Please contact our membership secretary for details of next years racing in the Barossa and how to become a member.
The club would like to thank our track sponsors for the year and look forward to their support for 2013. These include:
