Picture perfect conditions have greeted more than 120 Aeroflow National Sportsman Championship competitors as they took to the track for three rounds of qualifying at South Coast Raceway today.
Under brilliant blue skies the track was ‘on song’ for day one of the South Coast Rumble event, part of the championship’s Western Conference, allowing for a number of personal bests to be set across the day in preparation for Sunday’s (4 February) racing.
At the close of the qualifying sessions today it was the following racers who claimed the top qualifying honours for their respective brackets.
● Malcolm Todd (Super Street)
● Luca Lamattina (Junior Dragster)
● Kenny Stewart (Modified Eliminator)
● Michael Webb (Modified Bike)
● Tony Miskelly (Super Sedan)
● Des Woolstencroft (Super Gas)
● Edge Mallis (Competition Bike)
● Dean Cleary (Top Sportsman)
● Doina Day (Supercharged Outlaws)
In Modified Eliminator, Kenny Stewart is looking forward to tomorrow’s round-robin format in his Fuchs Spitzer Dragster.
“The car is going really well, and once again the Portland weather is fantastic, and it is only going to get better,” Stewart said.
“I take my hat off to the guys here. They have prepped a wonderful track for us and that all helps with running consistently and quick.
“We will be running round-robin tomorrow, which should be good, giving us three chances to get out in front of the crowd, and if we mess up, we can come back and have another go. I am looking forward to it.
“Thank you to my sponsors for helping make it all happen: Fuchs Lubricants, Pro Shift Automatics, R&J Batteries, Swaft King, Gene Cook Race Engines, and also my crew, Amanda and Will.”
While Stewart is enjoying the weekend so far, he’s also thinking of those who can’t be here to enjoy the racing as well.
“Everyone in Modified is thinking of the Cartledge family at this time, our thoughts and prayers are with them this weekend,” Stewart added, referring to the tragic passing of Billy Cartledge and Sheridan Coulthard, part of the Modified racing family.
Twelve-year-old Victorian Luca Lamattina is living up to his family name, setting the top qualifying Junior Dragster time in his Angry Carrot Junior Dragster.
“I am really happy. I wasn’t really expecting it; it is a nice surprise,” Lamattina said.
“I am feeling really confident going into tomorrow.
“Thank you to my brother (and defending Junior Dragster national champion) Ross, if it were not for him, I would not be the top qualifier. And thank you as well to mum and dad (two-time Top Fuel champion Phil Lamattina).”
For Super Street competitor and Portland local Malcolm Todd, today’s top qualifying result was a pleasant return after taking a few years off from competition.
“I feel pretty good about that – I have been a top qualifier before a few years ago, but I am pretty chuffed as we had a few troubles last night at the test and tune. But it is going great today, and with this being my home track, that makes it a little bit more special as well,” said Todd.
“I have only just got back into the game after having a few years off. I took some time to get my motor back going again, and this is only my third meet with the new rebuild.
“I am just starting to get my head around it and learning to get off the line again, but it is going well, really well, and I am feeling quietly confident heading to racing tomorrow,” he concluded, while thanking Paul Turner and ETS Race Fuels for their help and support.
Also on track today was the local Street Fighter bracket, with Scott Foreman top qualifying in his Holden VB SLE Commodore.
Sunday’s South Coast Rumble racing program will commence at 10.00am, with the finals scheduled to hit the track from approximately 2.20pm local time. For more information, visit www.southcoastraceway.com.au
To learn more about the NDRC, visit www.ndrc.tv
Images credit to Dragpix/Jesse Kelly
