Another win for Macdonald Racing!
Posted: 17/11/03

On the weekend the Macdonald Racing Team, along with Rodney Pammenter from Toowoomba journeyed up to Gladstone Speedway to hurl the big V8's around the showgrounds track.  After a 6 hour drive, we were nearly ready to hit the sack, but as soon as race time come around, we were ready to go! 

The first heat saw Rodney out of 4, Shane from 5, and Nathan right behind him in 7.  While the 3 Toowoomba cars were racing there for the first time, Shane and Nathan managed to get a feel of the track and advance a few places to 4th and 5th respectively, while Rodney stormed around the outside to take the heat 1 victory. 

Heat 2 saw Nathan start from 2, Rodney from 3, and Shane from position 5.  Good car speed saw Nathan take the lead around the first corner, with Aaron Smithwick hunting Macdonald down in his VL Commodore V8, with Rodney behind him in third.  Shane was running strong in 4th when his fuel pump stopped working, forcing him onto the infield.  With Nathan catching up to lapped cars, he was able to pull a lead out over second placing, taking out the heat 2 win. 

The race finished with Pammenter managing to get up into 2nd while Smithwick was 3rd.  Shane missed the 3rd heat, still trying to rectify the problem with his fuel pump.  Heat 3 saw Nathan on pole, but a wet track down low from the water truck didn't agree with the car.  When the green lights come on, Macdonald had little traction, nearly spinning on the start, while Rodney in car #8 and Smithwick in car #63, flew around the outside.  Macdonald was then back to 3rd position chasing the two front runners, but couldn't find a way around Pammenter.  Smithwick was 1st, Rodney Pammenter 2nd, and Nathan Macdonald 3rd. 

The 15 lap feature drew up Smithwick on pole, Nathan 2, Rodney 3, and Shane back in 7th, after not finishing two of his three heats.  With a track that had plenty of grip up on the high line, Macdonald once again took the lead, with car #63 and #8 behind him.  Lapped cars also come into contention, with Smithwick and Pammenter able to close the gap at times, while other times Macdonald was able to pull away.  But Macdonald didn't let the lap cars put him off his way to victory, Nathan crossed the line in 1st position, to take out his third consecutive feature race win,  while Rodney was able to pass Smithwick on the outside on the final lap to take 2nd place, with Aaron Smithwick having to settle for 3rd after experiencing engine difficulties towards the end of his race.  After battling through the pack from 7th, Shane was able to finish taking 4th position.  The 3 cars from Toowoomba, happy with the night, with little damage and all taking home some good prize money.  The 3 Toowoomba cars will be travelling towards the coast again to Bundaberg next weekend to race with the East Coast A Grade.