The Bairnsdale Open

The Bairnsdale Kart Club in eastern Victoria conducted their annual 'Open' race meeting last Sunday, May 11. Results of the day were:

Rookies: 1st Mathew McLellan, 2nd Justin Francis, 3rd Aaron Cohen
Clubman Over 40s: 1st Geoff Sharp, 2nd Mick Dyke, 3rd Frank Schena
Junior National Light: 1st Jack Wynack, 2nd Reece Wade, 3rd Curt Sera
Junior National Heavy: 1st Jayden Borg, 2nd Mathew Graham,  3rd Christopher Thomas
Leopard Pro: 1st Dean Watchorn, 2nd Micheal Schena, 3rd Geoff Wyhoon
Rotax Light: 1st Steve Tomlinson, 2nd Adam Louch, 3rd Kevin Barton
Clubman Heavy: 1st Nick Stray, 2nd Roger Polak, 3rd Grant Wicks
Clubman Light: 1st Nick Stray, 2nd Trevor Allen, 3rd Angelo D'ettorre
Midgets: 1st Damon Strongman,  2nd Jake Klien, 3rd Jordan Carusso

Above: Adam Louch (4) and Kevin Barton (5) battle it out in Rotax Light
pic - Grant Wicks

Above: Angelo D'Ettorre ahead of Dominic Lostich, Trevor and Mark Appleby, Clubman Light
pic - Grant Wicks

More photos below, plus HERE.

Report provided by Roger Polak, Melbourne Kart Centre

As part of Melbourne Kart Centre's new program of customer support at race meetings far and wide MKC's Race Director Roger Polak and Chief Spanner Man Josh Brooker went racing at the Eastern Victorian Bairnsdale circuit last weekend. Roger was climbing back into the Clubman Heavy class after nearly a year away from the seat and Josh was once again back in the Leopard class.

Rolling up at the track one thing that stood out was the amount of people who had travelled from our local Oakleigh club. "Man, this looks like clubday!" said Josh as the karters flowed into the Bairnsdale track. Also good to see was a large tribe of MKC customers who we would endeavour to help out across the weekend, while also having some top fun racing too.

Hitting the track for the first time (having never been to the place) and checking out the flowing circuit showed that this was a place where some good racing would take place. There are several passing opportunities and a good mix of slow and fast corners.

We practiced for most of Saturday and Roger was pleased with the pace, although getting near the local Clubman guru Nick Stray and his Kosmic kart would be hard. Josh also got going fairly well and was looking forward to driving the track with some decent tyres on the next day.

Sunday morning's carby session gave each driver a good six minutes of track time and Roger wished he'd used that time to scrub in some tyres in hindsight, his new rubber would be very slippery for the first few laps of race one.

Roger started off pole for the first race and managed to lead for a couple of laps in his Monaco GP5 before Nick Stray took the lead and went on to take the heat by half a dozen kart lengths. In heat two Nick and Roger started from the back row and cut through the traffic until they caught up to Grant Wicks in his Tony Kart. Nick and Grant were having a really good scrap, which became a three way battle when Roger tacked on. Nick passed Grant, Grant passed him back, Roger passed Nick then on the second last lap they went three wide into turn one! Roger grabbed the lead on the last lap but Nick used his local knowledge to get a pass in to win the heat from Roger with Grant Wicks in third.

Above: Roger Polak leads eventual winner Nick Stray, Clubman Heavy
pic - Grant Wicks

"We had a great race" said Roger after the event. "But as we pulled up at the scales several stewards came straight up to us and I thought we were in trouble. But no! They just wanted to say how much they enjoyed the race!"

Heat three of Clubman Heavy didn't have the same close racing as Nick shot off into the lead with Roger Polak in second and I think Grant in third.

In Leopard Pro MKC's Josh Brooker had got his weight calculations wrong and found he couldn't make the 170kg Pro weight after all. He would hit the scales at 177kg, giving him a weight penalty. In the first heat Josh stormed home to a 3rd placing, behind eventual class winner Michael Schena. Then Josh's luck came to an end as his engine picked up some metal (a little end roller needle) from the track that crunched its way through his piston and ended his day. This is a good argument for screens and filters being used on Leopards too! A mention goes to MKC P plate customer Duncan who did a great job to bring his Monaco Leopard home ahead of some regular punters.

In the Over 40's class Jeff Sharpe had the class under the control as he finished second in heat one, then went on to comfortably win the next two races and get the 1st place trophy on the day.

In Clubman Light Dominic Lostich had the pace and won the first heat, however a dropped chain ended his race in the second heat. Clubman Heavy winner Nick Stray also lined up in Clubman Light and won the second heat, with Angelo D'ettore, Trevor Allen and MKC's Mark Appleby making up the places. Early on Graham Pain was running as high as fourth, but contact at the end of the straight saw him spin and drop down the order. Heat three saw Dominic get the win with the bunch of Nick Stray, Angelo, Trevor and Mark scrapping throughout the 12 lap final.

Sadly we didn't see too many other races. The Bairnsdale club ran a fantastic event and is easily one of the friendliest clubs in the sport.

* Look for MKC customer support at the track at Oakleigh Club days, the Power Series, Country Series, All Star Series, C Grade Titles and various Superkart events during 2008.

Above: Jack Wynack leads on his way to winning JNL
pic - Grant Wicks

Above: Grant Wicks, Clubman Heavy
pic - Angelo D'Ettorre

Above: If the bolt fell out, one would think it was because the nut had come off - so how the heck did this end up on the track?
pic - Grant Wicks

Above: Over 40s winner Geoff Sharp, nervous before the final!
pic - Grant Wicks

Above: Frank (left) and John Schena DNF
pic - Grant Wicks

Above: Clubman Heavy form up, 74 Nick Stray, 11 Max O'Connor
pic - Grant Wicks

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