Cooloola's Return From The Floods
| from Ralph van Doorn | 16 April 2013 |
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After three underwater adventures in the last five months, and numerous hours cleaning up - having to redo the cleaning up - Cooloola Kart club finally got back to racing condition last weekend.
The feature event, sponsored by Yamaha Australia and ALM Dunlop Tyres, looked like being another flipper, goggles and snorkel affair on Saturday morning with rain falling, and forecast for the weekend. Nature was kinder this time and the weather cleared up on mid Saturday afternoon to allow some needed practice sessions.
Sunday saw some excellent and much needed sunshine to cater for the 87 who turned out for the event.
It’s been hard work for the club and its members get the track ship shape after nearly two meters of water covered the circuit and filled up the tech inspection facilities and grid. It is a credit to the Cooloola members who gave their time and effort to assist in this process and unfortunately scant assistance from outside of the club membership.
The racing however was competitive. The National class did not disappoint the spectators and crew as the qualifying and heats can attest, providing some close tussles in competition between Jay Schrodter, Matt Lowrie and Chris Reid, with Todd Stevens and Paul Jenkinson all in the mix. The eventual winner was Jay Schrodter.
Above: Senior National feature podium
In the prize draw for a Yamaha Easy-Up, Chris Reid was the lucky recipient and the Dunlop sponsored set of SL1As went to Chris Doyle with both acknowledging the sponsors.
The Cadet class was well supported and Broc Feeny took the win from a much improved Declan Matthews and Michael Philp. The two young ladies in the event, Jacinta Hoey and Holly Espray, also showed improvement.
Restricted Light saw a field of 19 participate and eventual winner Darren Rayment held top task by Brian Calabria and Matt Yates. Club President Dale Coomber polled in qualifying and made no mistake in the first heat but fell away with set up and mishaps during the remaining heats to come back with good lap times in the final, but all too late. There were good performances by Aaron Gardiner, Jayden Snell and Georgina Taylor.
Above: Cadet podium
Rookies was a small affair in entries but not in quality competition, with Harry (get a haircut) Hoey and Jace Matthews being the pace. An eye blink separated these two all day, followed up by Jarrod Costello and Josh Radford. Newcomer Luc Hamilton did well for his maiden event at Cooloola.
Junior National Light and Heavy saw a combination of drivers deliver good performances and close racing throughout the day. Harrison Oddie, Joshua Davey and Joel Phillips did the best work in Light while Tai Maree Duncan outperforming all others in the Heavy category.
Above: Junior National Light placings
Tag Light /Heavy saw Benjamin Harm take the podium from Sharon Jaenke and Jeremy Vieritz. Klinton Hancey did the best work in the Heavy group. The TAG-R event had David Johnston take 2 heats wins but unfortunately fail to make the grid for the final.
All in all, the programme ran smooth and concluded with presentations and some lucky winners of the Yamaha Australia - Easy Up Cover and the ALM Dunlop supported set of Dunlop SL1A tyres.
Above: TaG R Heavy
Next race meeting is the 4th & 5th May for the following classes
Rotax Light, Rotax Heavy, Restricted 125 Light, Restricted 125 Heavy, TAG 125 Light, TAG 125 Heavy
Open Performance–(Engine Eligibility–As per rule 42.02.8-Rotax DD2 @ 173kg,Tyres-MOJO D3)
Senior National Light, Senior National Heavy, Qld Inc. Sportsman Light, Qld Inc. Sportsman Heavy,
Qld Inc. Sportsman Super Heavy.
Free practice 8.30am to 11.00am on Saturday 4th May . drivers briefing followed by Qualifying for all classes.
Above: Junior National Heavy
