Nathan Leads The Way at Bundaberg
Posted: 11/01/04

On Saturday night Nathan raced at the Carina Speedway, Bundaberg, with the East Coast A Grade Sedan Club.  Shane was unable to compete as he had not finished repairs to his car from the previous weekend.  In the first heat Nathan started from position 6.  He made his way up to 4th place, when he ran out of tear-offs.  Macdonald had troubles seeing but was able to hold onto 4th spot.  Darran Lester started from position 2 and led all the way and opened up a handy lead, until a few laps to go when his car was losing power.  Lester was still able to take the Heat 1 win comfortably.  Heat 1 resulted with 1st Darran Lester    2nd Shane Hollyman    3rd Tony Blacker. 

Darran's car was checked out in the pits after the race, only to find that a Valve had seized up in the guide and bent a push-rod.  This put Darran out for the night once again.  Heat 2 saw a reverse grid with Nathan up the front.  Nathan was able to get the jump on Chris Duffel and take the lead.  Macdonald applied more tear-offs to his helmet to ensure he wouldn't run out this time, but didn't need them this time out in front.  Allan Williams made a return visit to the club, in his V8 Ford Falcon, he was running 2nd until he popped a tyre and forced him to retire.  Nathan took the win comfortably with about a 1/4 lap lead.  Results were 1st Nathan Macdonald    2nd Tony Blacker    3rd Chris Duffel. 

Heat 3 saw Nathan from position 4.  Macdonald was able to go around the outside of Shane Hollyman and get into 1st place in the first lap.  After receiving fresh air Macdonald ran a good line to take the win by opening up a handy lead.  1st Nathan Macdonald    2nd Shane Hollyman    3rd Allan Williams. 

Nathan put in a good performance and was the highest point scorer for the night.  He chose to start on the inside on the front row.  Nathan dropped the clutch on the start, with Shane Hollyman staying beside him, which resulted in Nathan taking the lead and Hollyman slotting back into 2nd.  Once again Nathan opened up a handsome lead, with Hollyman still in 2nd.  With a few laps to go Hollyman went down low and found a big puddle of water from the previous night's rain, and pushed up straight into the fence, followed by Tony Blacker who collected Hollyman after hitting the fence. 

This put Hollyman out with severe front end damage.  While the yellows were on, the rain started to come down.  The greens lights flashed again and the race was on.  The falling rain making the track extremely slippery.  Macdonald was able to hold onto his lead and not be troubled, and went past the chequered flag in 1st place.  Chris duffel drove well to hold onto 3rd position behind Tony Blacker.  Nathan missed the victory lap with the chequered flag but celebrated with a donut on the track!  Final positions were 1st Nathan Macdonald    2nd Tony Blacker    3rd Chris Duffel.