Nothing could stop Northwest Speedway Club Narrabri from running a successful race night at Newtown Park on Saturday – not COVID-19 restrictions and certainly not an evening storm which arrived just as the engines started.
The club was one race into its action-packed evening program when heavy rain started to fall.
Once it stopped, the track needed to be regraded and wheel-packed, which caused a two-hour delay.
Incredibly, the club still managed to put on a full program with the exception of one junior sedans heat which was cut to allow that division to meet its curfew.
Northwest Speedway Club Narrabri president Scott Connole, who also raced in the Formula 500 division on the night, commended the hard work of the committee both before and on the night which he said contributed to it being a successful event.
“We got through it unscathed, eventually,” Connole told The Courier.
“At 6pm the track was awesome, but then the storm went through and we basically had to start the track all over again which caused a two-hour delay after the first event which was fender benders.
“We had to regrade the track, skim the top off, then we had to wheel-pack it to get a nice firm surface there to race on again.
“The committee did so much work on and before the night. Race nights just don’t happen without a lot of behind the scenes work. I’d really like to say a big thanks to the committee and everyone who helped out on the night.
“It was just great to have speedway racing back on in Narrabri.”
Connole said that, as usual, it was enjoyable to race at his home track.
“The crowd was good, a few didn’t come out due to the storm but in saying that those who were there didn’t pack up and leave when it hit,” Connole said.
“They stayed until the end and from all reports were very happy.
“There were a lot of faces out there that I hadn’t seen before, so obviously the word is getting around that when speedway is in town it’s a good night.”
Drivers gave the track and the event as a whole the tick of approval.
“Well done to all involved, was a great night’s racing. First time racing at this track and we will be back again. Thank you,” one driver commented on one of the club’s Facebook posts.
“Comments like that are always positive from a club’s point of view,” Connole said.
“It obviously tells us that we are going in the right direction and we’ve done something right.
“We haven’t had any negative feedback from anyone.
“All feedback is always taken on board, but it’s encouraging not to get any negatives at all.”
On the track, it was a successful night for Narrabri Shire drivers on Saturday night.
Boggabri duo Keith Urquhart and Brock Wiggins finished first and second respectively in the 20-lap Fender Benders feature race.
Connole placed third in his first Formula 500 heat, won his second, then placed second in his third.
He then placed second in the 20-lap feature race. Connole gained the lead early in the feature and led virtually the entire race. However, on the third turn of the last lap he was overtaken by Wollongong driver Hayden Pascoe who went in low and nosed his way into first place. The pair charged down the straight side-by-side but the Narrabri driver was beaten by a small margin and was forced to settle for second.
Eleven-year-old Narrabri driver Wyatt Lawler placed third outright in the Junior Sedans division feature which included drivers aged from 10-17-years-old.
Wyatt won his first heat after starting from the number two position, then placed second in heat two after starting from the five.
In the 10-lap feature race, he started from second position on the outside and stayed there for several laps. He was overtaken by one other driver but kept his composure to finish third.
The two drivers who finished ahead of him were aged 15 and 16-years-old, and the feature winner, Jackson Goldie from Orange, lapped every car in the race except for the three closest competitors which included Wyatt who finished just half a lap back.
Podium finishers for each feature race are as follows:
Juniors: First – Jackson Goldie, second – Ryley Smith, third – Wyatt Lawler (Narrabri).
Formula 500s: First – Hayden Pascoe, second – Scott Connole (Narrabri), third – Errin Lambert.
Fender Benders: First – Keith Urquhart (Boggabri), second – Brock Wiggins (Boggabri), third – Jamie Landrigan.
Four Cylinders: First – Ross Griffen, second – Justin Partridge, third – Shankar Smith.
Street Stockers: First – Shane Carlson, second – Matt Cobb, third – Debbie Donaldson.
AMCA Nationals: First – Frank Thiery, second – Brett Cotton, third – Jacob Belcher.
