VSCC Collie Coalfields 500 – Saturday 28th/Sunday 29th September 2013
What a great weekend with good support from the Formula Classic group with 14 entrants, the regularity field having an additional 8 open wheelers competing in a field of 11. It was good to see Martin Bullock and Neil McCrudden back in race suits after their Europe adventure.
Some astute competitors arrived Friday and managed some familiarity laps in of the circuit. Saturday arrived slightly overcast but dry for the day which enable us to get in some good times, Michael Henderson putting down a 47.3 second lap to set the pace for the weekend. The short straights evened out any power advantages and led to some quite close racing. If was good to see the GWG out racing again and Rod Quinn showed how competitive it was in his hands, managing to get into the lead from the start – passing even Michael! George Webber had engine issues, placing quite a bit of oil on turn 4 and being unable to take part in the rest of the weekend.
Saturday evening was very laid back and enjoyed by all with a band providing music plus the odd cameo by Craig Bradke to liven up the evening.
Sunday started and finished with drizzling rain with one of the three races held in the dry, this kept a couple of competitors, who only had slicks, off the track but we were joined by Dick Ward in the Fiat Abarth to liven things up and make Michael work a bit harder. Unfortunately Rod Quinn’s great starts came to an end with the gearbox failing in race 4 ending his weekend.
Thanks go to the VSCC and the volunteer officials for putting on a great, easy going weekend.
Results Round 5
Congratulations to handicap winners on the day: Equal 1st Brian Searles & Craig Bradke, 3rd Kevin Taylor.
See NATSOFT for full results
So far this year we have had 35 competitors in the Formula Classic Championship – that must be a new record.
