SAVILLE MAKES SHORT WORK OF TITLE NIGHT AT SWAN HILL

The Victorian Grand Prix Midget Racing Association and some of their available New South Wales counterparts came together to compete for the Victorian title on Saturday March 25th at Sonic Speedway in Swan Hill. The Swan Hill club are not strangers to Grand Prix Midget racing whilst also not being a regular host on the calendar each season. After the racing on Saturday, the Grand Prix Midgets might now be locked in each year at Swan Hill after the impressive display of racing.

Camden (NSW) based racer Janelle Saville continued on her impressive season, with a victory in this season’s title race ahead of Gary Bowyer from Sydney and Chris Fowler from Geelong. It was Saville’s first Victorian title, and she joins as list that includes her father Rod having claimed the top Victorian prize. She also adds the title to her impressive list of wins that includes the NSW title, the Wally Anskaitis Cup, and the Ironbark Classic.

Four heat races were scheduled with each entrant competing in three of the four. Showing the competitiveness of the field, four different drivers won heat races with Adam Buckley from NSW, Shawn Ward from Benalla, Saville (#2 TPC – Kawasaki – Easters Auto Electrical) and Gary Bowyer taking heat race wins. Unfortunately for David Bacon a crash during hot laps prior to the racing beginning caused to much damage to his car and he parked the #36 – PBC – Yamaha – DB Cleaning and Kanga Hire machine.

Greeting the green in the first heat race would be Buckley, Saville, Chris Fowler, Terry Brown, Gary Bowyer, Travis Florrimell, Matt Kamolins and Riley Bowyer. Adam Buckley led all the way in recording a victory over eight laps in front of Fowler. Riley Bowyer moved from last to fifth by lap three and Buckley went on to win from Fowler, Saville, Gary Bowyer, Riley Bowyer (NSW 50 - WAR Chassis - Suzuki GSXR 1000 - White Ant Racing), Florrimell, and Terry Brown. Whilst Matt Kamolins was unable to finish as a result of bearing issues and the team parked the #5 – Stinger – Yamaha 1000 – Pitstop Mowers race car for the evening.

Riley Bowyer started heat two from pole position with Shawn Ward, Jack Ward, Myers, Florrimell, Brown and Gary Bowyer also in the field. Shawn Ward also led all the way in his heat race win finishing just .423 of a second ahead of Alex Myers (#11 – TPC – Suzuki – Automotive Super Balance) in heat two. Florrimell started fast in this heat race moving from middle of the pack and into second spot by lap two before Myers repassed him the very next lap.

Bowyers from deep in the field moved to fifth by lap two also and at the end of eight laps Ward took the win in front of Myers, Florrimell, Riley Bowyer, Brown (#88 – Stinger Chassis – Yamaha – 1 Stop Property Stop), Gary Bowyer, with Jack Ward (#4 – Anskaitis Chassis – Yamaha – Dominant Detailing) unable to finish.

Starting positions for heat three were Jack Ward, Myers, Shawn Ward, Riley Bowyer, Saville, Fowler and Buckley. Following up her third-place finish in the first heat race Saville took victory in heat three when she defeated Fowler, Myers, Shawn Ward (#44 – Pearce Chassis - Yamaha – Bordy’s Graphix) Riley Bowyer, Buckley, and Jack Ward. Saville had to pass Myers on lap one and Fowler zig-zagged his way from sixth to second passing Myers on lap six to secure his result.

Rounding out the qualifying was the fastest heat race of the evening. Gary Bowyer started from pole position with Florrimell, Brown, Fowler, Buckley, Saville, Myers, Shawn Ward and Jack Ward the starters. Assuming control from the green, Gary Bowyer led the field to the finish line in a time of 2:36.064 leading every lap of the distance. Saville moved to second spot on lap four and Bowyer defeated Saville, Fowler, Buckley (NSW 67 – WAR Chassis – Kawasaki ZX12 1200 - Beesafe Travel), Florrimell, Shawn Ward, Jack Ward, Brown, and Alex Myers did not finish.

Competitors and the Victorian Grand Prix Midget Racing Association committee agreed to compete over a reduced distance of fifteen laps for the title race. After qualifying the starting line-up was Saville, Fowler, Gary Bowyer, Buckley, Shawn Ward, Florrimell, Riley Bowyer, Meyers, Brown, and Jack Ward.

Saville hit the lead straight away on lap one with Fowler behind her until lap three completion. Gary Bowyer (NSW 5 - WAR Chassis - Yamaha R1 - Arjan Motors) moved into second on lap four with the first driver to exit the race being Myers on lap six. Saville continued out ahead and was timed at her fastest at 18.605 for a race lap which was roughly half a second quicker than anybody else. Jack Ward exited the race on lap eleven and Saville continued on to lead Gary Bowyer, Fowler (#13 – HMJ – Yamaha – R & P Stainer Grinding Services), Florrimell, Buckley, Shawn Ward, Riley Bowyer, and Terry Brown.

For the Swan Hill show, the VGPMRA would like to thank local photographer David Daly of Daly Piks for his support of our class with terrific images to support our media.

Victorian Grand Prix Midget Racing Association would like to thank this season’s supporters; Stinger Chassis TM Lineboring & Engineering Pitstop Mowers Automotive Super Balance Jackie & Vern Parker Photography @Wahgunyah, Rushworth and Wangaratta Speedways DMT Sports Media Written by Dean Thompson DMT Sports Media For Victorian Grand Prix Midget Racing Association