The
Charlton Raceway once again lit up its lights for the first
race meeting of the season in what was a humid Saturday
Night. The Sprint Sedans only having a few cars turn out
for the first meeting, which eventually saw the club cars
and Sprint Sedan classes being combined. Nathan Macdonald
in car #32 was to start outside pole, with Shane Hollyman
starting out of position 1. Peter Campbell started from 3rd
and Norm Townsend 4th. Norm being a newcomer to the class
in his Holden Commodore #98. Shane Hollyman got the better
start from Macdonald, which eventually saw all drivers
trying to cope with a big wet patch coming into turn 3.
Hollyman coming close to the wall a few times, taking a
layer of paint of his bumper. Hollyman took out the first
heat win comfortably over Macdonald, with Norm Townsend 4th
and Peter Campbell 4th.
1st-Shane Hollyman 2nd-Nathan
Macdonald 3rd-Norm Townsend
For heat 2, Peter Campbell started out
of position 1, followed by Shane Hollyman, Nathan Macdonald
and Norm Townsend. Shane Hollyman once again making the
most of his front row start, jumping straight into the lead
on the green light, Peter Campbell in his #74 Holden
Commodore, ran wide allowing Nathan Macdonald to slip
through underneath into 2nd. Hollyman being the one to
beat, was unstoppable, Macdonald having no answer for him
having to settle for 2nd.
1st-Shane Hollyman 2nd-Nathan
Macdonald 3rd-Peter Campbell
The next race was to be the feature
race but due to extra time available another feature race
was added. This race now being another heat. Shane
Hollyman started off of pole, with Nathan Macdonald out of
2, followed by Peter Campbell and Norm Townsend. After
pulling a few strings on the engine in the pits, the
Macdonald crew were able to get the Mac1 Designs commodore
running a lot better than what it was. As the green lights
lit up, the two VS Commodores of Hollyman and Macdonald
fought it out around the first corner, Macdonald coming up
trumps down the back straight with Hollyman slipping into
2nd. The #32 car thumping away to the sound of the V8,
opening a good lead over Hollyman to take his first win of
the night.
1st-Nathan Macdonald 2nd-Shane
Hollyman 3rd-Peter Campbell
Shane Hollyman held enough points to
be the highest point scorer for the night, starting on
pole. Nathan Macdonald gridding up from position 2 and Norm
Townsend starting out of 3. Peter Campbell found that his
gearstick lever had come apart, leaving him no option but to
start in top gear, but after getting on the track the car
jumped into neutral leaving him no option but to park on the
infield. The showdown was now on, Hollyman this time
getting the jump on Macdonald into turn 1, Macdonald falling
into 2nd spot on Hollymans tail.
After hurling around turn 3 on the
first lap, Hollyman started to slow down after popping the
right rear tyre off the rim, Macdonald then come through and
having no where to go hit the back of Hollyman and almost
spun him around. Hollyman forced on the infield while
Nathan was still in 2nd place after Peter Gray got passed
during the bingle. Macdonald was able to reel in the leader
and pass Gray up the back straight into first position.
Macdonald cut through the traffic to be triumphant in
winning the first feature race at Charlton Raceway for the
2005/2006 season.
1st-Nathan Macdonald 2nd-Norm
Townsend
