No luck for Macdonald's in Endurance Race
Posted: 20/06/04

The very last race meeting at Brisbane International Speedway for this season was held Saturday night, with different races held.  There were 2 practice heats held for East Coast A Grade, and then "King of the Ring", which is a 20 lap race with about 24 cars in it, from all different classes.  Then there was the 50 lap Endurance Race, which saw one driver race the first 25 laps, then the race is stopped, and you are given 2 minutes to swap drivers and re-fuel your car.  Then the race is re-started in your positions where you finished the first 25 laps. 

Shane Macdonald drove in the first heat, trying to get the feel of the car, driving his brothers car #32.  Shane put his foot down passing numerous cars, showing he was ready for the Endurance race.  Nathan Macdonald drove in the second heat, ensuring the car was right, after having trouble with the alternator belt coming off. 

Nathan chose to drive in the King of the Ring, having to start towards the rear in the 20 car field, as the slower cars were put at the front, and the faster cars at the back.  Macdonald passed about 5 cars until he got squashed between 2 cars, which dropped him back some places, but he got going again, picking his way through the field, trying to keep the car straight for the Endurance race later on.  Macdonald ended up with a 3rd place after 20 laps.  In the Endurance race, Nathan chose to go first.  Out of the 20 or so cars, Macdonald was picked out of a hat to start 5th.  When the green flag dropped, Macdonald made 2 places after the first corner to be in 3rd, then got up into 2nd, and was attempting to pass the leader when Macdonald ran up the back of the car in front.  The yellow lights then come on because of a separate incident.  Macdonald was told by an official that he was losing water, the water light then come on in the car, so Macdonald pulled onto the infield only to discover that the front radiator cap had somehow come off after hitting the race leader. 

Another radiator cap was found on the infield and the car was filled back up with water.  By this time the race had started again and Macdonald had lost about 15 laps.  But Nathan got out on the track and kept going, finishing his stint.  Nathan pulled onto the infield, swapping with Shane, and putting a splash of fuel in the car.  On the restart, Shane was put into 3rd position, because some cars were too slow to get back out on the track, even though he was a few laps down.  But this didn't phase Shane as he soon moved into 2nd following the leader. 

Macdonald then come up on lapped traffic, and got tangled up with another car, which the officials deemed Macdonald's fault, putting him to the rear.  Shane kept on charging through, and as he was passing a pack of cars, one car got out of control and tagged Macdonald in the right rear tyre, which shot him into another car, and then the same car that hit him, hit Macdonald again.  The caution lights come on and the race was restarted.  Macdonald's car was still driveable, but after racing again, the tail shaft was rubbing on the floor of the car as the bottom diff arm had been bent.  Macdonald then backed off, and just cruised around to finish the race.  Not a good night for the two brothers, gaining all but a bent race car.  The car will be repaired through the week to be ready for Rockhampton Speedway next weekend.