The final round of the 2022/2023 Summit Racing Equipment Sportsman Series brought all of the intensity and excitement that was expected of it and more at the Perth Motorplex across March 4 and 5 as part of the 52nd MacTrack Westernationals.
Following an epic day of final battles on Sunday March 5, the season champions and event winners were heralded with plenty of ANDRA Christmas Tree trophies being handed out alongside the prestigious John Storm Memorial Trophy.
For a full listing of Summit Racing Equipment Sportsman Series championship winners and runners-up as well as event winners and runners-up, please click here.
Also recognised at the ANDRA Grand Final presentations were Adrian Hynes who was awarded the Best Engineered Award, and the winners of the Burson Auto Parts Australian Top Fuel Championship (Phil Read), ADRC Top Doorslammer (Daniel Gregorini) and Top Fuel Motorcycle (Benny Stevens) who were each awarded an ANDRA Gold Christmas Tree. Stevens was additionally also awarded the ANDRA Longest Distance Travelled Award.
For a rundown of how each of the Summit Racing Equipment Sportsman Series championship brackets unfolded over the weekend, please read on.
SUMMIT RACING EQUIPMENT JUNIOR DRAGSTER – Champion and event runner-up: Ross Lamattina. Championship runner-up: Sarah Osborne. Event winner: Tyler Jarvis. Decoglaze Glass Splashbacks Top Qualifier Medallion recipient: Seth Jarvis.
On his way to the Summit Racing Equipment Sportsman Series Junior Dragster Australian Championship, Ross Lamattina went all the way to the final to claim the runner-up trophy for the event.
To book his spot in the final, Lamattina defeated Jesse Martin (round one), Cooper Plummer and Nathan Townsend before a bye in the semis. Jarvis meanwhile had taken on and defeated Brock Moresby, Angel Bakranich and Cooper Moresby before facing off against his brother Seth Jarvis in the semi. While Tyler took the semi final victory to advance to the final and the event victory, Seth still had plenty to smile about as the Decoglaze Glass Splashbacks Top Qualifier.
Championship runner-up Sarah Osborne headed to the event with a 10-point lead over Lamattina in the points, but was defeated in round two by Nathan Townsend.
“I actually can’t explain the feeling, it is amazing,” Lamattina said when asked how it felt to be champion.
“Heading into the weekend I was feeling pretty confident with myself and the car, I wasn’t nervous at all, even though I usually am nervous. I wasn’t thinking about it really, I was just doing my own thing and obviously I got the job done. It was a pretty good weekend all round, and we went to the final as well.
“Thank you to Jake Berias for all the hard work he does teaching me everything he knows, to my family and especially my mum and dad for all the support they give me and for letting me do this all around the countryside. Also thank you to Steve and Jodie Wagner for carting my trailer around everywhere for me.”
MODIFIED BIKE – Champion and event runner-up: Brian Alvisio. Championship runner-up: Brian Hotker. Event winner: Chris Fryer. Decoglaze Glass Splashbacks Top Qualifier Medallion recipient: Chris Allen
Brian Alvisio was another who was very busy at the end of night presentations at the ANDRA Grand Final, picking up not only the Summit Racing Equipment Sportsman Series Modified Bike Australian Championship but also the event runner-up trophy.
Alvisio headed to the event on the max points and went all the way to the final against winner, Christopher Fryer. On his way to the final, Alvisio emerged victorious from battles against Owen Rose (round one), Andrew Sellears, Graham Jennings and Decoglaze Glass Splashbacks Top Qualifier, Chris Allen. Fryer meanwhile had successfully taken on Connor Wood (round one) and Luke Seaton before a round three bye and a semi-final against championship runner-up, Brian Hotker.
“It was spectacular to win the championship, especially after making all the finals at the events we contested,” Alvisio said.
“By making the final at the Westernationals, I made the final for every event that I went to, which in itself is pretty special.
“It was a 26-bike field and I only got beaten in the final by one hell of a good run from Chris Fryer. If I had had that run in any other race in Perth I would have won, but Chris was just too good – that is bracket racing though and that is why I love it. He is a nice bloke, and we are both on Kawasakis so that was cool given we are in a sport often dominated by Suzukis and Hayabusas.
“I would have liked to take two trees home with me but I am not going to dwell on that too long.
“Thank you to my girl Sheree Manning and I also want to thank Blaze Hansen and Max Norman – Blaze is my racing coach and helps me with a lot of that stuff, while Max builds my engine and offers a lot of advice as well – as well as Dale Bobbermein from DeWalt Power Tools for their support.”
SUPER STREET – Champion: Tommy Turic. Championship runner-up and event runner-up: Lisa Garbellini. Event winner: Paul Garbellini. Decoglaze Glass Splashbacks Top Qualifier: Stephanie Gullotto.
After a strong debut season in the senior ranks, Tommy Turic – son of last year’s John Storm Memorial Winner, Vlado Turic – stormed through for the Summit Racing Equipment Sportsman Series Super Street Australian Championship despite being eliminated from the ANDRA Grand Final racing in the fourth round by Beau Higgins.
The event final was one for the story books – husband and wife, and former and reigning champions respectively, Paul and Lisa Garbellini, faced off for the event glory. It was all gloves off for the pair, with both red lighting by 0.007, but with Lisa the first to leave, Paul was awarded the victory and Lisa was awarded not only the runner-up honours for the event, but also for the championship.
On their way to the final, Paul Garbellini took wins from Paul Mobilia, Jase Dobra and Joel Trotman before a round four bye and victory over Beau Higgins in the semi, while Lisa took on Stephen Hotchkin, Peter Forward, Kirstie Wroe and Daniel Brecich before a bye in her semi-final. Decoglaze Glass Splashbacks Top Qualifier Stephanie Gullotto was eliminated in the first round.
“I am still on cloud nine! It was hard work, and it was a last minute decision to race for the start of the season, so this definitely is not what we were expecting in the beginning,” Turic said.
“I licensed for Super Street at the Easter event in Mildura and then Mark Hunt was racing in Darwin, so we decided to put the trailer on the back of his bus and ended up in Darwin, and it all kind of just went from there.
“I kind of knew I had it wrapped up heading to Perth, but you never know until you get handed the trophy, so it definitely was great and an achievement to have.
“Thank you to my dad, Vlado Turic, for all of his support.”
SUPER SEDAN – Champion and John Storm Memorial Winner: Lance Larcombe. Championship runner-up: Peter Tzokas. Event winner and Decoglaze Glass Splashbacks Top Qualifier Medallion recipient: Brodie Zappia. Event runner-up: Glenn Sterkenburg.
The Super Sedan battle was exceptionally tight heading into the ANDRA Grand Final, with the top four racers – Larcombe, defending champion Peter Tzokas, Ned Karanovic and former champ Martin Mirco – all in with a shot to win it. Ultimately it was Lance Larcombe who would take the victory, outlasting his rivals to go all the way to the semi-final to rack up enough points to be declared not only the Summit Racing Equipment Sportsman Series Super Sedan Australian Champion but also the John Storm Memorial winner.
Larcombe was defeated in the semi by last year’s Summit Racing Equipment Junior Dragster Champion Brodie Zappia in what was his debut national event in the senior ranks. Zappia would go on to win the event over runner-up Glenn Sterkenburg.
Zappia was also the Decoglaze Glass Splashbacks Top Qualifier for the event, and faced off against Dean Whisson in round one before a bye in round two, a win over title contender Martin Mirco in round three, and Larcombe in the semi.
Sterkenburg meanwhile had taken on Goran Kojic (round one) and Trung Tran before a round three bye and a semi-final win over Roger Moorhouse. Tzokas and Karanovic were both defeated in the first round by Steve Paech and Brian Hicks respectively, but Tzokas had amassed enough points to be declared the runner-up when Mirco was eliminated in round three.
To find out what Larcombe had to say about his weekend and his achievements, please click here.
MODIFIED – Champion and Decoglaze Glass Splashbacks Top Qualifier: Simon Barlow. Championship runner-up: Daniel Hodgins. Event winner: Paul Ryan. Event runner-up: Jeff Acton.
Simon Barlow had an anxious wait to see if he would claim the Summit Racing Equipment Sportsman Series Modified Australian Championship after going out in the first round of the Westernationals after throwing a red light by one thousandth of a second.
With the Decoglaze Glass Splashbacks Top Qualifier on the sidelines, he had to wait and see how the eliminations racing would unfold for his rivals, Josie Hodgins and Daniel Hodgins. When they were respectively eliminated in the first round and second round respectively, Barlow was able to claim the title.
Claiming the event victory was Paul Ryan, while Jeff Acton was the runner-up. To line up for the final, Ryan had earlier dispatched Nicholas Wroe (round one), Anthony Raschella and Shane Holmes, while Acton had taken on Michelle Osborn, Dan Hodgins and Darryl Treasure.
“We are very happy with that end result!” Barlow grinned.
“It was a bit of a nervous wait to get there. Going in we had a couple of rounds over Josie Hodgins and two rounds on Dan, and were feeling confident going in, but then in the first round I got a red light by one thousandth of a second!
“That put the fate of the championship into other people’s hands. Our team mate Anthony Raschella had Josie in the first round and he managed to get the win, and then that left Dan. He got through the first round and I was worried as he was sharp on the tree and running consistently, but then unfortunately for him but fortunately for me he went out in the second round.
“I had been chewing the nails waiting for those rounds and I don’t like putting myself in that position, but fortunately the cards fell our way.
“Going out in the first round can make for a very long road trip home, but having the championship trophy certainly makes it a lot nicer drive and puts a few more smiles on our faces. It certainly makes the whole season worthwhile.
Thank you to my sponsors Mick and Phil from Read’s Transport – they are a long term sponsor and it is great having them on board, I can’t do it without them – Town and Country Solar, MV Automatics, Just Muscle Cars, Lawrence and Hanson Gawler, Wade’s Automotive Refinishing and Tig On Welding – Sam Scerri has got us out of a few tight spots on more than one occasion. Also thank you to my long-term crew who have been with me for 20 years, the two Anthonys, Damien and Simon, and of course my partner Sonia and little fella James, who unfortunately couldn’t make it to Perth but were supporting us from home. It is a real team effort, and I couldn’t do it without every one of them.”
SUPERCHARGED OUTLAWS – Champion and Decoglaze Glass Splashbacks Top Qualifier Medallion recipient: Alan Mahnkoph. Championship runner-up: Doina Day. Event winner: Kasey McClure. Event runner-up: Norbert Claite.
While Alan Mahnkoph had a strong start to his ANDRA Grand Final as the Decoglaze Glass Splashbacks Top Qualifier, race day didn’t go as planned. A first round loss to event runner-up Norbert Claite however wasn’t enough to stop him clinching the Summit Racing Equipment Sportsman Series Supercharged Outlaws Australian Championship following a strong and consistent season.
After defeating Mahnkoph in the first round, Claite went on to race Jodie Mellitt before facing Kasey McClure in the final, while McClure had earlier taken on Greg James and Peter Appleby before taking the event win.
“The championship has been something we have been chasing for a while. COVID sort of held us back last year due to the fact that we couldn’t really travel, we had enough points but if we left we couldn’t get back in and that wasn’t fair on the crew. This year we did the national rounds and travelled around trying different tracks, the car performed faultlessly other than a bit of an issue with a rocker arm, but other than that the season went quite well,” Mahnkoph explained.
“I would like to thank ANDRA and Summit Racing Equipment for the national series, and also all of the racers and officials and volunteers that make the series happen.
“Thank you also to Mark Hunt and Max Oppes for their help, it is great having racers help racers when problems arise. A special thank you also to my wife Lisa and my son Max, and my awesome crew – these guys have been with me since the beginning of Supercharged Outlaws in Perth in 2004, and the only thing that has changed is their hair colour and they have to go to Spec Savers now,” he laughed.
“Their friendship has supported me through the years of racing while ensuring a safe and consistent race car and mentoring my son Max on all facets of life. And thank you to Max for stepping up and being a valued member of our race team.
“None of this would have been possible without my sponsors and friends. Thank you to Alan Eriksson Builder for their dedication and support over the last 20-odd years, to Steve from Bodmec Maintenance Solutions for support and sponsorship over the last 17 years, to Bennco Group and also my brother Gary from Jazienet for their support and sponsorship, and to all of the other racers throughout the series.
“In Perth we went out in the first round against Norbert Claite, we had eleven thousandths of a second between us at the stripe after he beat me on the light and saw the track be a little short for me!
“But I am really happy with the championship, and once again I just want to say that I appreciate Summit Racing Equipment for supporting the series and thanks also to ANDRA.”
TOP SPORTSMAN – Champion and event winner: Leon Davies. Championship runner-up: Glenn Henley. Event runner-up: Cory Read. Decoglaze Glass Splashbacks Top Qualifier: Jason Stares.
Heading into the ANDRA Grand Finals, Leon Davies was fourth on the championship standings behind three racers who were all on max points – Glenn Henley, Kevin McIvor and Greg Damiani – with Davies 40 points adrift on 260 points and also having to contend with defending champion, Vlado Turic, who was just 20 points behind him.
As his title rivals fell throughout the event (Damiani, Turic and McIvor were eliminated in round one, while Henley in round two), Davies needed to win the event to win the title, and was ecstatic when he was able to achieve just that with victory over event runner-up Cory Read.
On his way to the final, Davies took on Darren Saliba, Paul Downe and Adrian Hynes – who was awarded the Best Engineered Award for the event and dispatched Decoglaze Glass Splashbacks Top Qualifier Jason Stares in round two – while Read had faced off against Turic, Henley and Yvette Greg.
“This is pretty surreal to be honest,” Davies said.
“I was running in fourth place when we headed over to Perth, 40 points down, so I didn’t think I was much of a chance, but things went right and went my way luckily!
“There were three guys on 300 and I was on 260, so things really had to go my way and it just really did fall my way, so that was great.
“I sort of had it worked out with the last race that I had to win the final to win the championship, so it was absolutely awesome to do that.
“I had my whole family here, I flew my two boys over and my daughter was travelling this way as well as she came out so the whole family was here, so that was brilliant.
“Thank you to all of my sponsors: Custom Kitchen Company, EP Windscreens, Rick Daniel’s Recycling, Slape Crash Repairs and MGA Port Lincoln. Also a special mention to Andrew Thompson for all the work he has done helping me out with the car, and also to my wife for letting me do this!”
COMPETITION BIKE – Champion: Joe Khoury. Championship runner-up: Jake Hamilton-Moderate. Event winner and Decoglaze Glass Splashbacks Top Qualifier: Daniel Natalotto. Event runner-up: Troy Thompson.
While Joe Khoury won the Summit Racing Equipment Sportsman Series Competition Bike Australian Championship, the event win went to Daniel Natalotto, who faced off against Troy Thompson in the final following the three-round format for an eight-strong field of Comp Bikes. To secure their spots in the final, Natalotto – also the Decoglaze Glass Splashbacks Top Qualifier in Modified Bike for the event – won earlier races over Wayne Gummow and Matt Haunold with a bye in the first round, while Thompson defeated Ross Green and Rob Wasley before a bye in the third round. On his way to the runner-up spot, Thompson also rewrote the CC/AB MPH record to 186.03mph.
“I am very happy to have won. I have been chasing the championship for probably around 15 years, I have won track championships but never a national championship, I even came runner-up a while back, but this is my first win, and it is great. It is always a nice feeling to be able to say you are number one!” Khoury said.
“Thank you to K and S Autosport in Southport, Queensland, VP Racing Fuels Australia, and my company, Joe Khoury Motorcycle Transport. Also thank you to my constant crew who have always been beside me, so thank you to Evan, Johnny Hog from Johnny’s Hog Shop, my racing and travel buddy Edgell Mallis – who unfortunately bowed out of the championship fight after breaking his bike testing ahead of the final – and also Brian Alvisio, the Modified Bike champion who we travel with, Sean Ricketts who unfortunately couldn’t come to Perth after winning the last few meetings, and Evan McCain.”
SUPER STOCK – Champion, event winner and Decoglaze Glass Splashbacks Top Qualifier: Adrian Vella. Championship runner-up: Tom Dimitropoulos. Event runner-up: Steve Norman.
Adrian Vella clean-swept the ANDRA Grand Final event, claiming not only the Summit Racing Equipment Sportsman Series Super Stock Australian Championship, but also the event win and the Decoglaze Glass Splashbacks Top Qualifier Medallion.
Vella took the event win over reigning champion Steve Norman following earlier victories over Rob Gaikhorst and championship runner-up, Tom Dimitropoulos. Norman meanwhile had faced off against Todd Stacy and Jamie Chaisty on his way to the final and runner-up honours – setting a new A/MPA ET record along the way of 8.117.
“It was a relief to win, we have been wanting to get the championship for a few years now so to finally get it after chasing it is really good,” Vella said.
“We were runner-up last year, but I couldn’t get to Perth because of the lockdowns, so it is very rewarding to be able to do it this year – we travelled and got to every year and had a good car, so it was a good season.
“In Perth we also top qualified and won the event, so things went pretty smoothly and we were able to get the trifecta!
“The crew have been working so hard, and Hayley and Paul have been travelling the whole countryside, so it is such a good reward for all of us. We have always wanted to win a championship, so this is very special.
“Thank you to WA Fuels for sponsoring us and getting us to Perth, and also Plucka’s Race Craft, Outlaw Images, Ridgeway Motorsports, Pro Trans Transmissions, JC Race Stuff, Comp Engines, A1 Performance Converters, Race Parts Melbourne, ETS Racing Fuels Australia, TM Line Boring and Engineering (check), Gold Class Towing and Jax Automotive.”
COMPETITION – Champion, event runner-up, Decoglaze Glass Splashbacks Top Qualifier: Craig Geddes. Championship runner-up: Madison Brown. Event winner: Michael Buckley.
Summit Racing Equipment Sportsman Series Competition Australian Champion Craig Geddes had his hands full at the presentations, also claiming the event runner-up trophy and the Decoglaze Glass Splashbacks Top Qualifier Medallion for the Competition bracket. This is the ninth national championship for Geddes, and his seventh in a row.
Geddes faced off against Michael Buckley in the final, who as well as taking the event win, also reset the RR/SM ET and MPH records to 6.892 second and 201.01mph. On their way to the final, Geddes enjoyed an opening round bye before taking on Paul Carey and Jayde Richardson – who defeated championship runner-up Madison Brown in round two – while Buckley had defeated Bailey McClure (round one) and Sam Treasure before a bye run in the semis.
“We are loving this! We are already scheming for Number 10 – it has such a good ring to it!” Geddes laughed.
“Obviously, we are over the moon. We have had a really good run this season, doing well at Portland and Mildura and coming across to Perth where we have had a good run the last few years, so we were feeling pretty confident that we could run fast, which we did.
“In qualifying, we went. 6.84 which put us number one in for the Decoglaze Glass Splashbacks Top Qualifier Medallion and then we had a reasonably good run through eliminations, we just got a little loose in the final there and couldn’t quite get that job done, but we got the championship sewn up in round two when we won our race and Madison lost hers.
“Everything overall went really well, the car ran well and had no issues, so in short, the event was awesome. I want to say a huge thanks to the crew and all of our sponsors, without them this wouldn’t be possible.
“We really enjoy racing at Perth under the ANDRA banner and are really proud to be a part of the Summit Racing Equipment Sportsman Series – we will certainly be doing the same next year, chasing all of the ANDRA rounds.”
SUPER GAS – Champion: Rob Bergamin. Championship runner-up: Renee Cockerill (Super Gas did not contest the ANDRA Grand Finals event).
The Super Gas title was decided based on points following the penultimate round of the Summit Racing Equipment Sportsman Series, with the bracket not contesting the March 4 and 5 event in Perth.
Rob Bergamin took out the Summit Racing Equipment Sportsman Series Super Gas Australian Championship over runner-up Renee Cockerill.
“This sort of feels like a dream, and it feels fantastic because I have a car that is basically a street car, it doesn’t have a throttle stop or any other electronics on it to run the 6.30, I actually run the car flat out, so it makes it even more exciting to be going up against the other Super Gas cars that are much faster but use throttle stops to slow the car down,” Bergamin said.
“I feel really good; I feel privileged to be in the Super Gas class. The Super Gas guys are a great bunch of people and it has been a really good season. Thank you to the Bergamin Brothers Racing Team, Pete’s Classic Cars, Peter from South West Automatics in Sydney, and my crew: Tony Antinino, Bill Hondros, Peter from Pete’s Classic Cars, my brother Frank Bergamin, my son Nicholas Bergamin, and also my wife, Antoniette.
“It wasn’t easy, people think it is but it is heads up racing with a pro tree and you have to cut a good light, otherwise you are going to lose regardless. My car is very heavy, and a few Super Gas guys thought I wouldn’t be able to get it react fast enough, but I was able to get it to work, so I am very happy with that.
“This is my first Gold Christmas Tree and wow; it feels so good. I love being involved in this sport and it is a sport that I hope the next gen take on. I am 46 years old, and I am trying to get my son involved because I think it is good, clean fun for young kids.”
Further details regarding national record updates and final points standings will be released later this week.
For full results from the ANDRA Grand Finals, please click here.
