MEDIA RELEASE – AVALON RACEWAY, 7/11/09
Experienced Lilydale racer Mike Van Bremen sped
to a popular victory at Geelong’s Avalon Raceway on Saturday night to
break a 15-year drought at the venue when he took victory in round 1 of
the Eureka Sprintcar Series. Van Bremen was in control throughout the
30-lap final however runner up Matthew Reed closed quickly late in the
race after getting by eventual third placegetter John Vogels.
Van Bremen now leads the Essendon Ford Sprintcar
premiership at Avalon Raceway that will reward the track champion with
a brand new Ford Fiesta courtesy of Essendon Ford and Avalon Raceway.
It was an emotion charged victory for Van Bremen as the multi Eureka
Sprintcar Series winner quipped, "I can retire now that I have won
here!"
Third generation youngster Nick Lacey started on
pole position when he set the quickest time in the top 6 shootout
however Van Bremen shot the lead in turn 1 from his second starting
spot. From there the Action Alliance backed #6 would never be headed
however the race behind was one of the more dramatic seen at the venue.
Numerous stoppages punctuated the event allowing
MVB to gain clear track at each restart. Reed started the event from
fifth on the grid and performed his customary heroics as he charged
forward to challenge then runner up John Vogels mid race. Reed worked
both inside and outside grooves in an attempt to get by Vogels and at
one stage even slammed the back straight wall such was the intensity of
the battle.
Once clear of Vogels, Reed set off after the
tearaway leader but simply ran out of time, as there was a mere two car
lengths between the first and second placed cars.
"You never know where to run when you are leading
and we had pretty good car speed on the bottom but everyone has told me
he was coming," explained a relieved race winner.
Reed gained the ascendancy for the runner up spot
while Vogels maintained third ahead of a fast finishing Rod Mathews
while an impressive Charles Hunter filled fifth.
Domain Ramsay worked his way into the top 5 earlier
before slipping to be sixth ahead of B-main transferor Brett Milburn,
Carl Ludeman, Eddie Lumbar and Chris Campbell in tenth, Phil Down, Phil
Lock and Ron Dalton rounded out the finishers.
Lacey’s bid to become a third generation winner at
the venue following in his father Brett and grandfather Ray’s footsteps
was short lived when he cut a right front tire 9 laps into the event.
Lacey was running strongly in third at the time after slipping to
fourth at the initial start. The talented youngster charged back to
third and was right on the tale of both Vogels and Van Bremen at the
time of the first stoppage.
Jamie Veal was another fancied runner to suffer a
mechanical issue while well placed in the top five as South Australian
Craig Vanderstelt’s impressive Avalon Raceway debut also ended with a
cut right rear tire. Rick Barrand qualified well in his 360ci mount
however failed to finish along with Darren Hickman.
Campbell, Milburn, Barrand, Lock, Hickman and
Dalton all transferred from the B-main to make up the 18-car final.
Milburn, Lumbar and Van Bremen won the first round of heats while
Vanderstelt, Veal and Reed took victory in the second round heat action.
Winchelsea’s Phil Micallef swept through his
Australian Wingless Sprint opposition when he won both his heat races
followed by victory in the main event. Horsham feature winner Mark
Walsh trailed Micallef for the shorted featured that endured numerous
cautions. Paul Drew, Mark Balcombe and Alan Nankeville rounded out the
top 5. Heat wins went to Micallef (2), Andy Hibbert, Paul Drew, Walsh
and Shawn Skene.
Daryl Atkinson cruised to victory in the Street
Stock category following a dominating performance on the night that
also saw him win a heat race while finishing runner up in his other.
Nyora’s Daniel Barton raced to a runner up finish while heat wins went
to Atkinson, Brad McClure, Chris Bohdal and Brendan Hannabury.
Next Event – Saturday 21st November - Speedcar Super Series, Super Sedans - Blue Ribbon Event, Wingless Sprints
Photo Credit - Mike Van Bremen's beautifully prepared Action Alliance Maxim in full flight. Pic Corey Gibson
AVALON RACEWAY SEASON CALENDAR 2009/2010
November
Saturday 21st - Speedcar Super Series, Super Sedans - Blue Ribbon Event, Wingless Sprints
December
Saturday 5th - SRA Eureka Sprintcar Series Rd4, Super Rods
Saturday 19th - Speedcars, AMCA Nationals, V8 Dirt Modifieds, Australian Wingless Sprints, Junior Sedans, Santa
Saturday 26th - SRA Eureka Sprintcar Series Rd 5, Modified Production Sedans - Christmas Cup
Wednesday 30th - World Series Sprintcars Rd 8
January
January
Saturday 2nd - Super Sedans K Rock Cup, Super Rods, Wingless Sprints, Demo Derby
Saturday 9th - Westcoast Classic Modified Production Sedans, Junior Sedans
Saturday 16th - Speedcar AGP, Carline Mufflers National Super Sedan Series Rd 8, Vic F500 Title, Dunny Derby
Wednesday 20th – Sprintcars Presidents Cup
Friday 29th - Australian Wingless Sprints, Street Stocks, Wingless Sprints 50k
Saturday 30th - V8 Dirt Modifieds, Modified Production Sedans, Wingless Sprints 50k
February
February
Wednesday 17th - Speedcar Australian Title Practice
Friday 19th - Speedcar Australian Title, Super Sedans
Saturday 20th - Speedcar Australian Title, Modified Production Sedans
March
Sunday 7th - SRA Eureka Sprintcar Series Rd 10, Formula 500 TRI Steel Victorian Stampede Series Rd 5, V8 Dirt Modifieds
Saturday 20th - AMCA Nationals, Junior Sedans, Street Stocks, Wingless Sprints
April
Friday 2nd - Easter Sprintcar Trail Rd 1, Super Rods, 4 Cylinder Demo, Fireworks
|
Online Stats: 
