KING OF WINGS RECAP - MEDIA RELEASE  - Wednesday November 29th, 2010

Round four of the Southside Engine Centre Summer Series last Saturday was run on totally different conditions to the previous encounters at the Motorplex this season.  The recent hot weather and lack of precipitation resulting in a hard slick race track.  The hot easterly winds adding to the spectators discomfort on the silver seating area especially during the sprintcar twin 20 lap feature races.

Nominations were alluding to a stellar field of 26 cars to battle out the honours.  Unfortunately for various reasons the first heat was depleted by about half from cars that weren’t quite ready.  Seven cars faced the starter in heat 1 with the South Aussie picking up where he left off a fortnight ago winning quite comfortably from Marc Giancola and Squally Higgs.  Heat 2 was the start of Dustys Sweet night of domination.  A hard earned win from the Rocket shod signwriter from Broome Brent Halliday.  Enjoying his first venture to the Motorplex in his new acquisition.  Third place filled by another of the strong Broome contingent Phil Barton in a Dominator with a Commodore body fitted.  Heat 3 resulted in a HIGGS trifecta, the Hulk 81 Dusty Higgs leading the way over son Dustin who looks to have overcome his early season form slump, then car 83 Squally Higgs.  There are still more Higgs to debut this season so lookout.  Heat 4 the South Aussie ex Formula 1 mechanic showing he has a firm understanding of suspension principles adjusting his RX8 to the rapidly slickening surface taking the win from Broome boys Barton and Woggy Warren Minshull.

The feature race was held directly after the sprintcar King of Wings run with a new concept of twin 20 lap features inclusive of a 10 minute pit stop.  It wasnt that bad as a spectacle but laid down a lot of rubber.  A classic Dominator verse Sweet front row Miller vs Higgs.  Miller got the initial jump and held the lead for three laps.  Car 81 Dusty took over the lead and opened up a commanding gap back to Miller, Giancola, Bale and Larson who was making steady progress through the pack with his kerb hugging style.

Car 4 Bert Vosbergen was first to retire with unusual banging noises emanating inside his cockpit.  The only consolation to the wily veteran is he set fastest time according to my laps of 18 .449 which was faster than fastest time in the late model feature race also set by TVR.  Just now need to work on finishing a few.

Mid pack there was an epic battle in progress with racing up to four wide.  Dustin Higgs moving into fourth and Squally Higgs retiring with a flat tyre on lap fifteen.  Liam Burke bringing on the yellows with an unfortunate spin.  Liam made an impressive return to racing after a lengthy lay off and will be confident in the lead up to the State Title in a few weeks.  This brought the field together for the Motorplex two wide restarts a concept that seems to be well embraced by competitors here in the West.  Miller momentarily grabbed the lead from Gary Higgs but was short lived.  Dustin Higgs passed the 43 car for position three on lap eighteen a three car pile up including Trevor Bale, Kodee Brown, and Peter Lyall and the race was brought under cautions and declared with two laps to go.

1st place car 81 Dusty Higgs
2nd place car SA 2 Danny Miller
3rd place car 82 Dustin Higgs

Gary Higgs has been the bench mark so far this season and finally led a SSRC feature to its conclusion.  Danny Miller a strong second place is a good bet at the State Title meeting.  Dustin Higgs a welcome return to the podium despite his prediction of being lapped by the current State Champ.  Marc Giancola brought home a crippled car to fourth place salvaging some vital points.  Terry Green was on the trailer early with a head gasket issue.  Phil Bartons engine expired dropping a valve only metres before the finish line doing some serious damage to the Sledgehammer engine.  Peter Lyall who tagged the back end of a late race crash received damage to the rear end of his Mazda.  Kodee Brown also involved in an incident needs to find that magic that had him so strong last season.  Murray Iwanow has serious internal engine issues.  Brent Halliday former Albany boy now Broome entrepreneur looked great at his first outing at the Motorplex in his ex John McGeorge Rocket.

Round 5 this weekend at Collie is a very happy stomping ground for the current WA 1 car having won the last 5 outings at the Southwest track for Super Sedans.

A big nomination list has been received and we look forward to the smaller tighter ‘point and shoot’ type tracks. After this we get a week’s break before the State Title where we expect around 30 teams to compete over the two night show.

Any teams with any info please feel free to pass it on if you desire.

Media Release
Glenn Piper
glennpiper@live.com

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