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"Let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us" - Hebrews 8:1 |
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At the Track ...Hi everyone and welcome to the new speedway season of 2009/10. The start of this season has been very interesting. Quite a few things have happened over the lay off period resulting in Kev buying another car. He updated from the Racetec to a newer 2008 PMP; just in from the States. Kev had originally thought of replacing his engine this season and was negotiating with Tony VanGinnegen of Dutchman Performance. As they talked, Tony mentioned that he was selling his car. The price was too good to resist and, ‘with a little help from his friends’, the deal was struck. The deal is that Kev has the new car and is running it with Tony’s engine at the moment. We’ve run on 3 occasions this season, with mixed results. Here’s a rundown of the season so far: Drouin 8th November: This was the first outing for the new season. Kev was running the Racetec at this stage. Kev, Ian and Steve headed off to Drouin for Round One of the Tri Steel Stampede Series. This was a day meeting and it was very hot! Heat 1 Kev came off the outside of the front row and after a good start he slotted into second spot behind Tim Hicks. All was going well until the chain broke with a few laps to go. That was that; DNF and no points. Heat 3 Kev started off the front row in pole position. After another good start he lead the race from flag to flag, making amends for the first heat. Heat 4 Due to dropping the first race Kev was out of position 4. Another good start and he finished the race in 3rd position. Final With all the points added together Kev started from 10th. Another good start had Kev up to 8th place early but his tyres gave him trouble and he dropped back to finish 10th. Kev was happy: he finished where he started. “ All in all, a good day apart from the broken chain.” Following this race, Kev had the offer of the deal from Dutchman Performance, which he accepted. The next outing was to Warnambool. This was another day race and once again it was hot. Kev’s and the team’s other challenge, apart from the heat, was getting used to the new car. After a few adjustments so Kev could reach the pedals, it was off to the track. Shane VanDynhoven and Tony joined Ian to make the necessary changes to the car. Kev reported: “ It was really only a shakedown run and after a few modifications to the car, all seemed happy.” From there we went to the 1st round of the Jettco Triple Crown at Hamilton. This event used time trials as the means to select starting positions. However, the car wasn’t geared right so it time-trialled poorly. After a quick discussion the gearing was changed for the first heat. Heat 1 Kev started out of position 4 but the car in front of Kev died at the flag drop. Kev ran up over the rear of this car and flew through the air. It looked as if it would be a roll over. However, Kev managed to get the car back to earth, keeping it on two wheels until it settled and dropped back onto all four. A great save and very little damage. At the restart Kev jumped into the lead and held it until about 6 laps in when the Aussie 1 car went past. Kev managed to keep his gap to the leader, well in front of the 3rd car. However there was a stoppage and at the restart he was jumped by another car but continued on to finish third. All were very happy. Not much to fix and the car going well and fast. Our points for time trials and our 3rd put us straight into the final in 16th place. This also meant we were in the pole shuffle where the top 16 cars fight out for starting order. Kev’s goal was just to complete this race and “see where it all went. However the throttle jammed open with mud in the cable and, as Kev tried to turn into the corner, he went straight ahead and hit the wall hard resulting in the car climbing the concrete and turning over. It landed hard on the left side. Kev dislocated his right thumb and, even if the car could have been repaired, the driver couldn’t. “ So it was pack up and watch the racing for the rest of the night.” The team’s enthusiasm is high at the moment because, even though the car took a good hit, they know it has a lot of potential. All are keen to get to the Oval Express Series which starts on Boxing Day. Kev and the team wish you a very merry and God-filled Christmas. God bless,
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