Team Torismo At the Over 40s Titles
| press release | 13 June 2013 |
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You know the Over 40s is getting serious when the pit area is half full on the Tuesday before the race meeting. With the new section of the Coffs Harbour Kart Track being officially opened at the Over 40s Titles, everyone wanted to be ready.
This year three Team Torismo karts powered by the Gen III CHEETAH engines entered the Coffs Harbour Kart Club Over 40s Titles, with Martin Brien in TAG Restricted Light and Heavies, and local karting identity Scott Hargans celebrating 30 years in karting with his first Over 40s meeting, entering in TaG Open Heavy.
Above: Scott Hargans leading the 3rd heat of TaG Open Heavy
pic - Cooper's Photography
Scott Hargans was the youngest of the old timers being just 40 years 3 weeks, and most would remember Scott as the grid marshal from many previous events. The Hargans Family have a long association with the Coffs Harbour Kart Club - in fact from its inception, with his father being a life member - and was honoured by having the new double right, square corner, being named “ Hargans Corner “.
Scott pulled pole, and was overtaken twice and recovered both times to win the first heat. In the 2nd heat on a wet but drying track, Scott really showed off his local knowledge with a very convincing win by more than the entire length of the back straight. With some minor changes to the chassis in heat 3, Scott was not challenged again for the lead and clean swept the event.
Above: Hargans took a clean sweep of TaG Open Heavy
pic - Cooper's Photography
Martin Brien again this year won TAG-R Light, in a very close battle with local Michael Booth, and even in the prefinal - which Michael won by 0.076 seconds - it was neck and neck the whole way. Michael got pole with Martin 2nd. Martin won each heat; Michael won the prefinal, so it was ON for the final.
Above: Martin Brien defending the #1 Plate from local pole sitter Michael Booth in TAG/R Light
Michael was close enough to challenge for the top spot on the last lap of the final but Martin won out taking the win. Martin said: “Michael was like a shadow he was right there the whole time. He was right there this year and was right there last year.. very close and clean racing .. great fun." Whilst Martin and Michael battled every heat, the rest of the placings swapped in some very close racing.
Above: Martin Brien taking the TAG/R Light win
pic - Cooper's Photography
TAG /R Heavy wasn’t to be, with the win in 2011 and a DNF last year running a close 3rd.. 2013 saw Martin qualifying, 2nd and 2nd in the heats and prefinal. His only chance was to jump the 4 times Over 40s Champion Phil Curran in the first few laps of the final, but a first lap crash further back in the field, saw two drivers re-joining (about to be lapped) just in front of Martin and Phil’s battle. These drivers didn’t realise it was the lead pack, and Phil got around and pulled a lead that Martin could not bridge.
Phil just proved just too fast again, even though Martin was able to set the new lap record for TAG / R Heavy with 46.512 in heat 1 against Phil Currans best of 46.624, the machine like precision of Phil Currans in his X30 Powered Energy Kart from Precision Motorsport won out in the end.
Above: Martin Brien (in red) 1st TAG/R Light and 2nd TAG/R HEAVY with Scott Hargans 1st TAG Heavy
In the last 3 years Team Torismo has won: 2011 - TAG/R Super Heavy and TAG/R Heavy, 2012 - TAG/R Light, and in 2013 - TAG/R Light and TAG Open Heavy
A complete kart package for only $ 4,499. For more information and youtube race video’s www.torismokart.com.au
