24th June 2007

JENNINGS MACHINERY GLASS round two started out under what was called pea soup fog & held up racing for over an hour.
.
Mini Racing Australia’s round two started out under what was called pea soup fog & held up racing for over an hour & caused the trophy races for all categories to have their eight lap races shorten to a five lap screamer.

Qualifying saw Charlie Borg once again take up his usual Pole position with John Walker second with a new motor purchased from Vic Della-Valle & Allan Ross on third with extra horsepower added to his beast. Robert Bell was fourth Chris Adlam in an unusual fifth Peter Crocker in sixth Greig Maloure in seventh Henry Draper in eighth & heading a quick bunch of “J” cars. Mark Broadhead was ninth in his first outing in the ex-Canto car & rounding out the top ten was Graham Bergan also in his first outing in a Honda powered Mini.

Race one saw Borg lead the way but he came under pressure from Walker on the downhill section and went too deep under brakes to allow Walker, Ross & Bell through before grabbing a gear and giving chase. Crocker & Maloure had a major coming together on lap two on the back straight causing Maloure to roll over onto the infield & red flagging the race. Thankfully both drivers emerged unscathed though the cars were a bit shaken up.
The original grid positions were used for the restart so Borg led the field away only to once again out brake himself at the fishhook letting Walker & Ross through, but then Borg retired after his clutch line burst. Walker & Bell diced the whole five laps with Ross & Adlam having a go at each other. Ross developed a slow puncture in his front left tyre causing a tank-slapper at turn 1 that earned him “save of the year” – we thought he was going over until he grabbed another gear to shoot after Adlam who held on to secure third. Bergan in his Honda powered Mini was fourth ahead of Draper, Broadhead & Tebbutt Schofield all in “J” cars. Tenth was David Deller in his first outing of the year & also in their first outing of the year & eleventh a spluttering Stephen Sharp, twelfth was Blanch also in a Honda powered Mini thirteenth was Mr Consistent Wade Thomas Huggard fourteeth & Driscol fifteenth.

John Walker had found oil leaking onto his clutch and the start of Race 2 was going to be delicate. He used less revs off the line to follow Bell into turn 1 with Borg racing through the field from rear-of-grid passing 7 cars before the lap was half done but pulled out soon after with the ignition fuse blown. Bell pushed on with several hard braking attempts to pull up the Honda powered Mini using all its speed to advantage down the front straight. Walker’s advantage was in the twisty bits and under brakes and he managed to close on Bell enough to find a way past to again take the chequered flag. Ross drove the wheels off his iron head and went side-by-side with Adlam down the front straight before coming onto the final straight still within arms length of each other. Ross managed to just hold out Adlam over the line with Bergan fifth & then Broadhead & Tebbutt who were working each other over for the whole race. Sharp’s crossflow sounded better this race and managed to hold out Draper & Schofield ninth & tenth.

Race three was the Trophy race being a 5 lap sprint with Bell using the Honda’s power off the line to lead into turn 1. Walker gave chase but lost position to Ross and Adlam going up the hill. Walker got under Ross at the top of the hill to regain a position but Bell was driving well and opened a gap on the rest of the field. Walker managed to find second place and could close onto Bells rear bumper on the back half of the circuit but Borg powered through from the back of the field to split them and finish second. Bell pushed hard and held it together to secure his trophy. Adlam, Bergan & Ross came fourth fifth & sixth. Tebbutt was seventh & first of a gaggle of “J” cars from Draper Broadhead & Schofield who all gave no relief to each other. Thomas fought for eleventh from Deller & Driscol.

We now have John Walker & Robert Bell on equal first with Henry Draper holding down third in the series.

Our next & final points score round will be at Wakefield on the 3rd of September National Flag day.