The Griffiths Report May Club Day 2013

Cool and overcast were the skies that greeted the 98 karters who turned up for Oakleigh’s May Club Day, but things are looking a bit brighter – this month we have photos!!! They have been supplied by Andrew Daley of AKD Photography and you can see more of his work and maybe buy some shots of yourself or your young pilot in action at: akdphotos.com. Racing got underway with:

TAG Light & TAG Heavy

01 - TAG Light-2TAG classes combined for today with Ben Freeman and Tim Edwards off the front row in Light, and Greg Smart and Ashley Thompson the first two in Heavy. Edwards and Shane Kovacs away well in Light and to a good lead after 1 lap, while Smart and Vern Kranz (editors note -“The Pink Wiggle”) were the front 2 in Heavy. Rhys Hunt was through to 2nd in Heavy by halfway and took the lead as they began Lap 4, but then he, Smart and Kranz all tangled coming out of the Dipper turning Kranz and Hunt around – they rejoined at the rear and Smart waltzed away, now with Adrian Sarkadi and Leigh Bowler behind him. With 3 to go Edwards and Kovacs were dicing for the lead in Light, having pulled well away from the rest of the field. Eventually Edwards got clear to greet the flag in Light and Sarkadi pipped Smart by 5/10ths to take the Heavy win.

03 - TAG Heavy-2Heat 2 and it was Alabaster from Edwards in Light, Sarkadi from Kranz in Heavy. Edwards was soon pressuring Alabaster for the lead with Kovacs close behind them, meanwhile Sarkadi was clear in Heavy, Freeman through to 2nd while Kranz and Rhys Hunt came together in the Dipper and found themselves still going, but now at the rear. Edwards to the lead in Light with 3 to go and pulled clear to take a win, Sarkadi the same in Heavy.

For Heat 3 Edwards and Kovacs the front row in Light, Sarkadi and Smart in Heavy. Edwards off to a flyer at the start from Kovacs, and back in Heavys Sarkadi and Rhys Hunt the front 2. Sarkadi looked like he was on his way to a win in Heavy when a dropped chain left him stranded at MKC corner, so Hunt now the Heavy leader from Smart, with Kranz and Bowler right behind him. No such bad luck for Edwards who continued to lead Kovacs in Light all the way to the flag; Hunt and Smart 1 & 2 in Heavy.

All Points: Light – 1. Edwards 2. Kovacs 3. Alabaster
All Points : Heavy – 1. Smart 2. Hunt 3. Kranz

Junior Clubman

02 - JC-2Kyle Hunt, Adam Capek, Dylan Slits, Ashton Andoloro and Justin Carless the whole field in Junior Clubman, and Capek off to a flying start, leading Andoloro and Slits across the line after Lap 1. Capek held a steady gap from Andoloro but Slits in 3rd wasn’t letting Andoloro get away, in fact he was gradually closing. As the laps wound down Andoloro also looked to be slowly gaining on Capek – then suddenly he gained a lot when Capek dropped a chain and retired exiting the Dipper – bad luck after leading for so long. Slits was right on Andoloro’s crash bar as they began the last lap but Andoloro hung on for the win.

Carless and Andoloro off the front this time and they tangled at JSKC corner, Carless over the back of Andoloro and through the cut through – eventually rejoining behind Capek who had gone to the lead in all the confusion. Before long though Andoloro had worked his way onto the back of Capek while Carless dropped back, then Andoloro through to the lead with 7 to go – Capek, Slits, Carless and Hunt the order behind him. Andoloro did not exactly streak away – Capek staying close behind, his tall frame and “lean out of the kart” style suiting the cool conditions. Eventually Capek did start to drop back into the clutches of Slits who had a look at JSKC as they began the last lap, but Capek held his position. Andoloro untroubled in the end ahead of Capek and Slits.

And so to the 3rd Heat, where the order was soon unchanged from Heat 2: Andoloro, Capek, Slits, Carless and Hunt, but on Lap 2 Andoloro seemed to develop a problem and dropped back into the pack, then developed a bigger problem when he went off at JSKC, through the sand trap and out of the race. Capek therefore the leader from Slits who had his head down in 2nd. As the laps wound down Slits was gaining – Capek’s style seemed to work better early in the race then cost him towards the end. Laps however would run out for Slits who had to settle for 2nd, ahead of Carless and Hunt – Capek the winner.

All Points: 1. Slits 2. Carless 3. Hunt

Clubman Light

04 - Clubman Light-2A good sized Clubman Light field was led away by Nicholas Bates and Matthew McLean in Heat 1, but it was Lane who snuck through to the lead when Bates slid wide through Arrow corner at the green, slightly blocking McLean’s run for just a second. McLean soon rectified things and by the end of Lap 1 was past Lane and into the lead, then Bates in 3rd, Trevor Allen 4th. These 4 cleared out on the rest and Mclean was looking comfortable in the lead. By halfway Bates and Lane were locked together in 2 & 3 – McLean pulling away out front and Allen perhaps dropping back a bit in 4th. Bates had a look at the end of the straight on more than one occasion, but Lane held on until with 1 to go Bates got past at the Grid Hairpin. Meanwhile McLean went on to a good win, Bates, Lane and Allen the next 3.

Caleb Citrine from Lane, Andrew Turnbull then Bates on Lap 1 of Heat 2, but Lane to the lead soon after, and spread them out behind him. McLean was working his way forward and soon onto the back of Turnbull and Bates and then through to 2nd by halfway, but he would have his work cut out to catch Lane who was well up ahead. Before long though McLean was starting to reel Lane in and with 3 to go had him well in sight. With 2 to go McLean got past Lane at JSKC so a great effort to first catch and then pass him – and McLean went on to a win.

The 2 Matthew’s – Lane and McLean off the front row in Heat 3. McLean led them away and Bates snuck through to 2nd, Lane then Allen behind him. After 2 laps McLean looked like he was on fire, streaking away from the pack where Lane had got back through to 2nd, and Citrine and Turnbull in 5 & 6 were gaining on Bates and Allen in 3 & 4. All McLean though at the front – in a good field of Clubman Lights this was a good drive. Bates and Lane were turning on a show for 2 & 3 with Lane getting the better of Bates in the end. Out front though, no one was catching McLean and he went on to record a comfortable win.

All Points: 1. McLean 2. Lane 3. Bates

Cadets

05 - Cadets-2The 2 Joshua’s – Hocking and Troiani let away a small field of Cadets but before long Braydon Callaghan was through to the lead, Kai Upiter 2nd and Hocking and Troiani behind them. P Platers Mason Kelly and Steve Markos were unfortunate DNF’s when they spun together at Tony Kart turn. Callaghan to an untroubled win in the end, 4 seconds up the road was Upiter, then the rest.

Callaghan and Hocking led them away in Heat 2 and Callaghan the quicker, establishing a good lead after only a couple of laps. Upiter was right on Hocking, then Marcos and Kelly well back. Upiter got past Hocking by the halfway mark and then suddenly came to life – catching and passing Callaghan with 2 to go. It was later revealed the Callaghan had some fuel starvation problems, but he got these sorted for long enough to go back at Upiter a lap later at JSKC, passing him and getting a little break as they began the last lap, Callaghan holding on for a win, Upiter 2nd then Hocking coming home in 3rd.

Callaghan away at the start, Upiter then Hocking in 2 & 3 and Callaghan looked like he was going to drive away as the other 2 diced; Markos, Troiani and Kelly well behind them after 4 laps. Upiter then shook off Hocking, but had a long way to go to catch Callaghan who was over 4 seconds clear out front. As the lap board rolled over Callaghan’s lead continued to grow and he went on to record a comfortable win from Upiter and Hocking.

All Points 1. Callaghan 2. Upiter 3. Hocking

Sportsman Restricted Light

06 - Restricted Light-2Zackery Cerato and Nicholas Clarke the front 2 in R125 Light and they led them away, but Nathan Grover and Mark Barlee worked their way through to 2 & 3 before long with Sean Barnardo back in 5th and Robert Baldacchino 6th . By halfway Cerato was holding a 1.5 second lead from Grover, who looked to be closing, but his kart was beginning to make a bit more noise than usual and sure enough just as he began to really close on Cerato, the dreaded “barrrrp” resulted in the meatball flag being shown to the 46 kart – all over Grover. Cerato then untroubled to take the win from Barlee and Barnardo.

Sameera Vithanage and Barnardo the first 2 in Heat 2 and Barnardo to the lead as the unlucky Grover had an eye widening mid pack spin on the start line and rejoined at the rear. Barnardo shot away, Vithanage 2nd then Baldacchino and the aptly named Joshua Goh through to 4th, then Heat 1 winner Cerato 5th. Barnardo by nearly 6 seconds at the halfway mark and P Plater Goh (you’d imagine not his first time in a go kart) through to 2nd from Vithanage and Cerato, Vithanage spearing off at JSKC a lap later. No one was likely to catch Barnardo, but Goh was and having a good go at it in 2nd, albeit over 7 seconds behind, Goh still followed by Clarke and Cerato. Then disaster for Barnardo – some sort of carbie problem bringing his race to an end on the 2nd last lap – Goh the winner, Cerato and Clarke 2 & 3.

Cerato and Barlee 1 & 2 for Heat 3 of Restricted Light, and at the start a wild series of spins saw a number of karts beached and removed from contention at Arrow corner – Philips, Hakim, Vithanage, Latimer, Newnham and Finnigan all out, but at the front Cerato and Barnardo got away well, then Grover and Barlee in 3 & 4. Heat 2 winner Goh almost didn’t go on lap 1, coming off at Tony Kart Turn but rejoining back in 7th. Meanwhile it was very tight at the front, less than 2/10ths covered the front 3 karts, Barnardo now the leader from Grover and Cerato. In the end Barnardo hung on to win from a storming Grover, then Cerato and Barlee.

All Points: 1. Cerato 2. Barlee 3. Goh

Junior National Heavy

07 - JNH-2Off the front row Lucas Filikotzias and Eden Foik in Junior Heavy and Filikotzias off to a good start and Foik not so good as Carless and O’Keefe got through with Carless to the lead before long then Filikotzias and O’Keefe ahead of Hirotaka Chong in 4th and Foik, Daniel Frencham and James Barnes behind them. O’Keefe through to the lead on Lap 4, ahead of Carless and Filikotzias – these 3 a tight bunch at the front, then a gap to Foik, Frencham and Chong. With 2 to go and Carless was right on O’Keefe, Filikotzias just behind ready to pounce if the front 2 tangled, but O’Keefe looked cool under pressure and hung on to win.

Nicholas Floodstrom and William Hewitt the front row, but O’Keefe and Carless soon through to 1 & 2, Chong behind them after a lap, Floodstrom and Filikotzias behind him. By Lap 5 O’Keefe and Carless were well clear of the pack, but very close to each other – less than a tenth between them, then a gap back to Filikotzias in 3rd. O’Keefe and Carless continued to battle away out front, O’Keefe holding onto a slender lead as the laps wound down, but looking as cool as he did in Heat 1 so a good chance to take the win. Then disaster struck O’Keefe on the last lap as he retired with a mechanical problem just before the Dipper, Carless inherited the lead and took a comfortable win in the end.

Carless and Filikotzias away at the start of Heat 3 and both pulled clear of the pack, Foik and O’Keefe behind them, then Barnes and Floodstrom. O’Keefe through to 3rd on Lap 3 and he set about catching the front pair – he was going to be helped in this endeavour as Filikotzias and Carless began dicing, allowing O’Keefe to slowly gain on them while pulling away from Foik and Barnes. Filikotzias eventually to the lead, but not by much and O’Keefe now only 1.5 seconds adrift of them , although now setting the same sort of lap times – it would take a huge tussle between the front 2 to get him up there. In the end one good move from Carless saw him take the lead and the win from Filikotzias with O’Keefe back in 3rd, then Foik and Floodstrom.

All Points: 1. Carless 2. Filikotzias 3. Foik

Rookies

08 - Rookies-2Only 4 Rookies this month: Patrick Forrester, Blake Kolar, Devan Nicholls and P Plater Angelo Mouzouris the order in Heat 1. With only 4 karts it didn’t promise a very exciting race, but no one told Kolar and Forrester who boxed on out front for the first few laps having pulled well clear of Nicholls, then Mouzouris further back in 4th. For 5 laps the front 2 put on a great fight until Forrester got through at the Dipper, took the lead and pulled away. So now it turned into the less exciting race we were expecting, as the 4 karts went around gradually getting further and further apart, Forrester a comfortable win in the end from Kolar and Nicholls.

Kolar, Forrester, Mouzouris and Nicholls the order on Lap 1 of Heat 2 and Kolar and Forrester looked like putting on the same sort of dice they had in the first heat. Again Forrester did the following for a number of laps, but both seemed to have plenty of speed and they pulled well clear of the other 2. With 3 to go Forrester had a look at JSKC but stayed put in the end, but then out of Grid Hairpin he got under Kolar, who straight away went back at him, then Forrester again had a look into the Dipper on the 2nd last lap, but Kolar held him out. A smooth last lap was required and that’s what Kolar delivered, Forrester across the line 2nd, after a great dice between the 2 of them.

Kolar again to the lead from Forrester then Nicholls and Mouzouris, and again the first 2 looked set to liven up an otherwise ordinary race – however Kolar looked like he didn’t want an interesting race, so he turned it on for a few laps and established something of a lead. Then lap by lap Forrester started eroding this lead, so maybe we would see some action, but then the gap seemed to settle at ½ a second and nothing Forrester did got him any closer. Finally with 3 to go Kolar’s lead narrowed noticeably as Forrester crept up, but just as quickly Kolar pulled out a good lap and again had 6/10ths worth of lead. With 2 to go Forrester spun on his own going into the Dipper, so any challenge to Kolar evaporated and he went on to record and easy win, Forrester, Nicholls and Mouzouris spread out all around the track behind him.

All Points: 1. Kolar 2. Forrester 3. Nicholls

Clubman Heavy / Clubman Super Heavy

09 - Clubman Heavy-210 - Clubman SH-2Thomas Martin and Jason Sidwell the front 2 in Clubman Heavy and Malcolm Hunt and Steve Polak the same in Super Heavy, and it was first Sidwell and then Martin who led Heavy, Russell Newnham failing in the roll arounds, then Mick Fisher and Polak spinning in unison at JSKC corner, then Matthew Ciavarella losing a wheel at the Dipper – lucky if there’s anyone left to greet the flag at this rate! Once all this drama had unfolded it was Martin who had pulled clear in Heavy from Citrine then Sidwell, Mal Hunt leading Super Heavy and P Plater Jack Cruttenden the only other kart left on the track. With 3 to go Citrine found his way back to the lead in Heavy but Martin back under him at JSKC – only for a heartbeat though as Citrine straight back at him and then grabbed a small gap which he held to the flag, Sidwell 3rd, Hunt and Crittenden the order in Super Heavy.

Citrine and Martin away in Heavy, and Fisher and Hunt the front 2 in Super Heavy. Citrine powered away from Martin and Sidwell, further back Fisher was doing well to be only a few tenths off the Heavy lap times while carrying the extra 20 kgs, and Hunt not far behind him either. As the laps wound down nothing changed and Citrine was a worthy Heavy winner, Fisher the same in Supers.

A shower of rain just before the gate opened and no one had any time to fit wets – so get ready for action! Martin slid away from Citrine in Heavy, and Fisher then Hunt in Supers – Ciavarella and Cruttenden unlucky DNF’s on Lap 1. A lap later Polak lost a wheel and came to a halt – gaining extra publicity by doing it at MKC corner, so the high DNF rate continued in this combined class. Things were drying out now and the changing conditions seemed to suit Citrine who came back on Martin and with 3 to go Citrine was though at Grid Hairpin and into the lead – then Martin back at him at Tony Kart turn. Citrine didn’t look like he would settle for 2nd though and hovered around the back of Martin’s kart, then a passing attempt at the Dipper nearly brought them both undone, Martin coming out of it better and going on to record a win, Fisher the victor in Super Heavys.

All Points – Heavy 1. Citrine 2 .Martin 3. Sidwell
All Points – Super Heavy 1. Hunt 2, Fisher 3. Cruttenden

Junior National Light

11 - JNL-2Matthew Iredale off pole, beside him Lachlan Naismith, then Nicholas Sims and Jack Bell, and at the green it was Iredale, just squeezing Naismith wide at Arrow corner, who held onto the lead and after 1 lap Cody Donald had slotted into 2nd, then Sims, Bell and Naismith now back in 5th. While Iredale drove away, Naismith set about regaining lost ground, passing Bell then Sims in successive laps, and finally passing Donald who also took a wild slide through Arrow corner as Naismith went by – allowing Sims to sneak back into 3rd behind Naismith. Sims’ race ended at JSKC though when he found the sand trap. Meanwhile Iredale was still out front but Naismith was gaining noticeably – would the laps run out? Answer – yes, as Iredale hung on to win from Naismith, Donald and Bell 3rd and 4th.

Lachlan Fitchett and Cody Donald the first 2 in Heat 2, as a sprinkle of rain made conditions greasy for the roll arounds and a few of them went off early in the race. Once things had settled, Iredale and Naismith the first 2, then Sims and Bell, and a big gap back to Donald as we got down to business. The second two (Sims and Bell) started reeling in the front 2 (Iredale and Naismith) so a tight finish looked a distinct possibility. With 1 to go Sims had his head down in 3rd as worked his way onto the back of Naismith, but was just not quite close enough to make a move for 2nd as the chequered flag greeted Iredale, then Naismith, Sims and Bell.

Iredale the pole man and leader as they got away; Naismith, Donald, Sims and Bell behind him. As they had in earlier races, Iredale and Naismith proved very good early on and established a gap – Donald, Sims and Bell a tight group a second and a half back and fighting too, so not working to catch the leaders. Finally Bell broke clear of the second group but didn’t look like making an impression on the gap to the leaders – that is until Iredale and Naismith began dicing with 2 to go, so things might hot up even yet. Start of the last lap: Iredale, Naismith, Bell and Sims, and Bell looking red hot to have a go for 2nd, while Iredale looked clear out front. In the end less than a second covered Iredale, Naismith, Bell and Sims – the first 4.

All points: 1. Iredale 2. Naismith 3. Bell

Sportsman Restricted Heavy

12 - Restricted Heavy-2Qualifying for the Feature Class saw Jason Sheales off pole then Richard Matera, Michael Maruszak and Paul Maruszak. Sheales to the lead followed by Matera and the 2 Maruszaks, then Steven Barlee and Adam Gillick. Sheales and Matera put on a great show out front, neither able to get away, then Michael Maruszak in 3rd , Barlee in 4th and Paul Maruszak 5th, Gillick not far behind him. 3 to go and Sheales by 2/10ths from Matera but Matera was looking like he wanted to get past badly – first right then left around Sheales, who was looking over his shoulder as much as he was looking ahead – then finally Matera through at JSKC as they began the last lap; he then pulled a small gap from Sheales who was closely followed across the line by Michael Maruszak.

Same starting order for Heat 2 and same order once they got going: Sheales, Matera, Michael Maruszak and Paul Maruszak, then Barlee and McGregor Dixon. Like Heat 1, Matera was applying the blowtorch from early on, but Sheales hung steady and Michael Maruszak in 3rd wasn’t going away either. 3 to go and Matera right on Sheales – not 2/10ths in it, and so they wound down the laps – Michael Maruszak having a look at Matera at JSKC for 2nd and this allowed Sheales to make a small break which he held to the line, Matera 2nd Maruszak 3rd.

The Final begins: Sheales, Matera, Michal Maruszak, Paul Maruszak, Barlee and Paul Barlow the order after a lap. Familiar scenes as Sheales holds off Matera early on and the pair of Maruszak’s follow – Michael a little closer to the front two this time. Matera to the lead with 8 to go but then seemed to strike a problem and dropped back while fiddling with his carbie. Meanwhile the Maruszak’s had gone to the lead, first Michael then Paul, then Barlee – early leader Sheales an unfortunate retirement, pulling into the in grid and out of the race – the curse of the leader strikes again! With 2 to go Michael Maruszak then Paul Maruszak, Barlee and a recovering Matera – whatever problem he had now gone, but a lot of time lost fiddling with it, and that’s how they finished.

Final: 1. Michael Maruszak 2. Paul Maruszak 3. Barlee