Preview: Vic Country Series Round 4
| by Andrew Hayes | 15 July 2013 |
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After an eight week break from competition, The Austrans Victorian Country Series is set to light up Portland for round four this weekend.
The Portland District Kart Club are ready to roll and have done a tremendous job completing their recent work on the track and its surrounds. The new V8 Supercar tyres which line the circuit look superb and the improved catch traps and run offs should help the unfortunate few.
The Yarraman Park Layout, which is 752m in length, is a challenge to even the most experienced of competitors. A long straight, and a range of fast and slow corners ensures drivers are always on their game. The spectrum of weather normally seen at the coastal venue just adds to the Portland experience.
The Portland club has produced some great drivers over many years, and 25-year-old Scott King is one of its finest. An engine builder by trade, King has a decorated resume, headlined by being the current holder of a Victorian Open and Closed Championship. He has also been voted the VKA Karter of the year on numerous occasions, and is a multiple series champion in clubman heavy and sportsman heavy.
Above: Scott King leads the pack
King’s involvement in motorsport was inevitable considering his family’s passion for the sport. His father Terry was a regular in speedway circles, and coincides with Scott’s brother Adam currently being an up and coming sprint car driver, after starting in karts.
Scott is renowned for his aggressive style of driving, a trait he has built from his start in rookies in 1997, through juniors and into his senior classes, Clubman Heavy and TaG/Leopard heavy. Whilst it’s all business when the helmet is on, Scott rates the friendships he’s made as the best part of karting.
King is set to do battle in TaG Heavy this weekend, a class in which he’s won the final at each of the first three rounds. Joining him will be his fellow club members Daniel Rethus and Kevin Hitchcock. 46 year old Hitchcock is well known as one of the genuine characters of the series, his sticker kits famous amongst the series family.
Kevin was drawn to the sport when his step daughter, Megan Vallance, decided she wanted to race. It didn’t take long before he decided to join her, filling in time between her races with his own ventures. 2012 was a good year for the boiler maker, finishing third in the sportsman heavy class of the country series, His SQ kart looking sharp in the colours of Lightning McQueen. Kevin rates the Sportsman Heavy class of 2012 as his most respected drivers, for their good spirit and willingness to help each other.
Above: Kevin Hitchcock's "Lightning McQueen" kart
For 2013, Kevin has a new look and a new goals. The kart is now looking ominous in its new TAXI colours and he is aiming for a top seven finish in the points, with the growing tag heavy class recording strong numbers. Whilst concentrating on a series result, Hitchcock is really working on improving his lap times and getting closer to his mate Scott Kings times, a racer he admires and measures himself on.
Like so many racers in the series, Kevin enjoys the weekends away with his club members and meeting some great people of all different ages. He gives a true understanding of his social attitude when he lists his favourite part of the Portland circuit as the bar after the finishing corner.
Scott, Kevin, their club mates and more than a hundred other karters will be in action from 9am on Sunday Morning, and there is sure to be action aplenty when the green light comes on!
Above: Hitchcock's new "Taxi" look
Competitors are reminded to enter on CMS by Wednesday night to be eligible for the random senior and junior tyre draws.
The Austrans Victorian Country Series is proudly brought to you by major partner Austrans Container Services, and associate sponsors, Remo Racing, Yes Optus Warrnambool-Portland-Hamilton, All Star Graphics, Shamick Racing and Yamaha Australia.
