Rain cancels Archerfield
Sunday April 29, 2007

Rain has caused the cancellation of last nights racing (28th April).  Three heats had been run, as the cars were lining up for the feature races the rain came down, not heavily but enough to ruin the rest of the night.  The Sprintcar QLD Title was actually run today (29th April) with Andrew Scheuerle winning the Title.

The night saw East Coast A Grade combined with the 4 Brisbane Sedans, with the Brisbane Sedans starting at the front of A grade in the heats.  Shane Hollyman didn't have a great start to the night as he bent a pushrod in his engine before the first race, missing heat 1 but was able to replace them and get it going for heat 2.  Heat 1 saw Darran Lester return in his BA Ford Falcon and started his move towards the front until he spun in turn 1, which then saw Terry Medcalf spin towards the wall to avoid contact.  Nathan Macdonald then come around and tried to pull down but couldn't do much on the greasy track and slammed into the side of Lester, puncturing his right rear tyre.  The race restarted with Macdonald starting from 3rd.  Mark Lester was forced on the infield after he broke an axle and was out for the night.  Macdonald had a great run on 2nd place and went to the outside up the back straight, but was squeezed for room as the other car swerved up towards Macdonald which pushed Macdonald towards the wall.  Nathan was able to keep it going after scraping the wall with the tail of the car and crossed the line in 3rd.  The Brisbane Sedans taking the first two positions with Macdonald 3rd, followed by Bernie Wright and Terry Medcalf.  Medcalf was able to cruise around after melting some spark plug leads.

Heat 2 saw a single row start as the field was dis-organised after several cars missed the heat.  Steve Conway in the Brisbane Sedans was in front, followed by Nathan Macdonald, Bernie Wright, Darran Lester and Shane Hollyman and Stewart Fricker.  Nathan Macdonald moved to the lead on lap 2 past Conway.  Macdonald went on to win the heat with Conway 2nd, Bernie Wright 3rd, followed by Shane Hollyman, Darran Lester and Stewart Fricker.  Darran Lester missed the final heat as his gearbox was stuck in top gear and some minor engine dramas. Terry Medcalf pulled out after experiencing engine troubles and would miss the final heat.

Shane Hollyman moved to the front of the field in heat 3, steering his Commodore into 2nd place, until slight contact with Steve Conway saw Hollyman retire with a flat tyre.  Conway was in the lead, as Nathan Macdonald moved into 2nd place.  Macdonald came into turn 1 as the car skipped across the track after the right front mag wheel had broken and departed from the car, the race was then declared, which left Steve Conway in 1st, followed by another Brisbane Sedan, Bernie Wright 3rd, and Stewart Fricker 4th.

Macdonald had never had such an occurrence happen before and was a freak accident.  "The wheel must have been fractured, and as I come into turn one it just snapped.  You would never have seen the fracture even if you tried!"  Macdonald said. 

A light drizzle fell on the track which saw the night cancelled.

Nathan will be racing at Kingaroy Speedway next Sunday 6th May for the Show meeting.