Post by admin on Mar 18, 2011 11:25:04 GMT 10
The Australian Championship for AMCA Nationals held at Morris Park, Dubbo last weekend (Fri & Sat March 11 & 12) proved to be a rich hunting ground for Victorian Competitors with Mark “Manners” Lincoln finally snaring that coveted number one and leading home fellow garden staters Brenton Farrer, Campbell Hughes and young Jamie Collins.
1st – Mark Lincoln.
“We were pretty excited to win the title at last,” related Lincoln after arriving back home. “It was one of those things that we always wanted but which always eluded us and we never thought we were going to get there.”
“I think my young baby son Jessie Thomas has been a good luck charm as we haven’t lost a feature since he was born on February 13th. beamed the proud new dad and new Aussie Champion.
Things went pretty well for Lincoln this time though after he won his first heat and then got caught up in an altercation with Shane Newstead, Laurence Chant and Tim Reidy which forced Lincoln onto the infield. A subsequent protest saw him reinstated back into fourth place. In the final heat of the opening night he maintained his starting position of fourth and this earned him second highest qualifying points behind Campbell Hughes.
After making some adjustments to the car overnight, Lincoln stormed from 5th to the win in his final heat and drew pole for the final.
“We got a good start in the feature but I was worried about the lapped cars because it was really hard to see the flags, but they all drove really well.” Lincoln recalled. “There was a yellow (flag) about 15 laps in which gave Brenten (Farrer) a shot at me but I was able to pull away until the final caution with about three laps left to run. In the end I was able to win relatively comfortably – we did it okay."
“I really need to thank my wife, Bec, my parents , Peter and Barbara, and my crew Maggsy and Stewey,” said Lincoln appreciatively. “Also a big thanks to Horman’s Service Centre, Lincoln’s wexcv8 (Lincoln’s we excavate), GYB Motorsport, Lincoln’s Earthmoving, Smooth Suspension, emjay signs and Panther Race Chassis.”
“I also want to congratulate Brenton (Farrer). I’ve watched the video and he drove absolutely brilliantly, and thanks also to the AMCA Nationals for allowing us to be part of the association and for putting on a great title event.” Lincoln concluded.
The first stop for the new Aussie champ will be this weekend (Mar 19th) at Nowra speedway for the NSW Title and then a break before the annual all star meeting at Mildura over Easter.
2ND - Brenten Farrer.
Possibly the surprise package in the top tree was Farrer, who as yet, unlike those who finished either side of him, has not yet won a feature race.
“Yeah we had a good weekend all weekend,” said the happy runner-up. “The car was fast and the track was fast although we had some not so good heat draws.”
The heats he was referring to, saw two rear of field starts on the opening night in which he scored a pair of 5th place finishes. In the other heat a front row start was rewarded with a 2nd place result. At the end of night one Farrer was the 13th highest qualifier.
A second spot in his final heat on Saturday elevated Farrer to sixth for the feature.
“Young Jessie Nicholas (former front running Sedan racer) was there helping me out and we tweaked the car for the final and I think we made the right changes,” said Farrer. “At the start of the race we jumped a couple of cars and then eventually I was able to make my way up to second but by then I was struggling as the car had blown a head gasket. I tell you, we just didn’t have the kick off the line on the restarts and I think we were lucky to make it to the end but to finish second behind Mark (Lincoln) is just fantastic as he lives about ten minutes down the road and has given me lots of help over the years. He had good speed and I didn’t have anything for him in the end.”
Brenten would like to acknowledge the support from his parents John and Christine, his partner Bec and his sister Peta, also the magnanimous gesture from Brendon Knowles who towed the race car to Dubbo.
Thanks must also go to his great commercial supporters Renick Concreting, White Street Self Storage, High Energy Oil Pans and Lectra graphic.
“This now gives me something to aim for next year,” concluded Farrer in between preparations for his next meeting at Swan Hill this weekend.
3rd – Campbell Hughes.
“I’m really happy to have finished on the podium because Dubbo – what a track!” explained Campbell Hughes. “This was a real driver’s track and it was fast. You would come in with a grin from ear to ear.”
When pushed a little bit the Tasmanian Champion did concede however, that he was a little frustrated with the result also.
“I spent about 20 laps battling with (Todd Bayley) trying to get second place and each time I got a run on him he’d get out of shape and I’d have to back off and then Brenten (Farrer) came flying around the outside of us both when I got baulked again and took second place. But good luck to him he drove really well and deserved the position.”
On a greasy track for his first heat Hughes went from 5th to 2nd and then after the track had dried out a little he ran 5th in his second heat. “I thought there was going to be some drama into the first turn so I went in a little cautious but then nothing happened and by the time I got going, they got the jump on me,” he reasoned.
His final heat was a win from the front row but not an easy one. “I knew the other car was there, I could hear him. I was okay through turns 3 & 4 but at the other end he was quicker which my crew later confirmed.”
After top scoring at the end of night one the team performed some maintenance. “We didn’t change a thing on the car all weekend, not even a tyre. We thought about changes but decided not to.” stated Hughes. “The only thing we did was reset the Distributor which had moved slightly.”
The final heat on a greasy track saw him progress from 8th to fifth meaning he started the feature from the outside of the second row. “I jumped to third in the 1st turn and stayed there for 20 laps until Brenten came past. In the end I crossed the line fourth.” Said Hughes. (Third placed Bayley was later disqualified from the event due to an engine irregularity elevating Hughes to third).
Hughes was quick to thank his partner Bec (seems if you want to be on the Aussie title podium your partner/wife needs to be called Bec), his dad Peter and crew Gavin, Burkey and Belly and also his brother Sam for the loan of his trailer.
Sponsors Voodoo Ride, John Holland, Holcim Concrete, Gertzel Surveyors and Dunn’s twin city crane hire are also greatly appreciated.
“The title was fantastic and the track was magic and the people there were all great.” thanked Hughes in conclusion.
4th – Jamie Collins.
“We went there just hoping to make the feature, so to get a top five finish, well we’re pretty pleased and pretty pumped about it,” said Jamie Collins about his fourth place finish in only his second season in the category.
On the opening night Collins scored a 5th and a pair of 3rds in his three heats to be the 9th highest qualifier. A 3rd place finish in his final heat meant that he started the feature from position 5 – something well beyond his modest expectations.
“I was pretty stoked to be starting from position 5 because there was only my dad and myself,” explained the former Junior Sedan racer. “I held 5th place for the first ten laps until Tim Reidy came past me but then a few laps later his gearbox went and he slowed and I was back into 5th which I held until the end.” When the third placed car was excluded Collins was suddenly elevated to fourth in the National title.
“Our aim was to just make the final and we far exceeded that,” said Phil Collins of his sons’ performance. “He only did about half the season last year and won the Rookie of the year in Victoria and this was only his sixth event this season so you can see why I’m so proud of him. We’re loving it.”
“We left the car as it was after Friday and we had no damage and the car was set up well.” explained the driver. “I really have to thank dad (Phil) because he was the only crew and on the Friday night they were really pushing the heats through quickly after they had an issue with the tracks lights.”
Collins’ effort was supported financially by Collins Construction Group, Geelong Carbeureters, Johnny Dyno’s Engines and Jay Mac at Fusion Sign and Image.
The Victorian AMCA Nationals Association would like to congratulate all the competitors who made the effort to attend the rescheduled event and also the officials and the track and its personnel for putting on what was arguably one of the best run National Titles ever.
In particular the Victorian Association would like to congratulate Mark Lincoln, Brenten Farrer, Campbell Hughes and Phil Collins on their fantastic individual and collective performances and all the other Victorian Competitors.
Written for AMCA Nationals Victoria by Pirate Media 0410 198 138
1st – Mark Lincoln.
“We were pretty excited to win the title at last,” related Lincoln after arriving back home. “It was one of those things that we always wanted but which always eluded us and we never thought we were going to get there.”
“I think my young baby son Jessie Thomas has been a good luck charm as we haven’t lost a feature since he was born on February 13th. beamed the proud new dad and new Aussie Champion.
Things went pretty well for Lincoln this time though after he won his first heat and then got caught up in an altercation with Shane Newstead, Laurence Chant and Tim Reidy which forced Lincoln onto the infield. A subsequent protest saw him reinstated back into fourth place. In the final heat of the opening night he maintained his starting position of fourth and this earned him second highest qualifying points behind Campbell Hughes.
After making some adjustments to the car overnight, Lincoln stormed from 5th to the win in his final heat and drew pole for the final.
“We got a good start in the feature but I was worried about the lapped cars because it was really hard to see the flags, but they all drove really well.” Lincoln recalled. “There was a yellow (flag) about 15 laps in which gave Brenten (Farrer) a shot at me but I was able to pull away until the final caution with about three laps left to run. In the end I was able to win relatively comfortably – we did it okay."
“I really need to thank my wife, Bec, my parents , Peter and Barbara, and my crew Maggsy and Stewey,” said Lincoln appreciatively. “Also a big thanks to Horman’s Service Centre, Lincoln’s wexcv8 (Lincoln’s we excavate), GYB Motorsport, Lincoln’s Earthmoving, Smooth Suspension, emjay signs and Panther Race Chassis.”
“I also want to congratulate Brenton (Farrer). I’ve watched the video and he drove absolutely brilliantly, and thanks also to the AMCA Nationals for allowing us to be part of the association and for putting on a great title event.” Lincoln concluded.
The first stop for the new Aussie champ will be this weekend (Mar 19th) at Nowra speedway for the NSW Title and then a break before the annual all star meeting at Mildura over Easter.
2ND - Brenten Farrer.
Possibly the surprise package in the top tree was Farrer, who as yet, unlike those who finished either side of him, has not yet won a feature race.
“Yeah we had a good weekend all weekend,” said the happy runner-up. “The car was fast and the track was fast although we had some not so good heat draws.”
The heats he was referring to, saw two rear of field starts on the opening night in which he scored a pair of 5th place finishes. In the other heat a front row start was rewarded with a 2nd place result. At the end of night one Farrer was the 13th highest qualifier.
A second spot in his final heat on Saturday elevated Farrer to sixth for the feature.
“Young Jessie Nicholas (former front running Sedan racer) was there helping me out and we tweaked the car for the final and I think we made the right changes,” said Farrer. “At the start of the race we jumped a couple of cars and then eventually I was able to make my way up to second but by then I was struggling as the car had blown a head gasket. I tell you, we just didn’t have the kick off the line on the restarts and I think we were lucky to make it to the end but to finish second behind Mark (Lincoln) is just fantastic as he lives about ten minutes down the road and has given me lots of help over the years. He had good speed and I didn’t have anything for him in the end.”
Brenten would like to acknowledge the support from his parents John and Christine, his partner Bec and his sister Peta, also the magnanimous gesture from Brendon Knowles who towed the race car to Dubbo.
Thanks must also go to his great commercial supporters Renick Concreting, White Street Self Storage, High Energy Oil Pans and Lectra graphic.
“This now gives me something to aim for next year,” concluded Farrer in between preparations for his next meeting at Swan Hill this weekend.
3rd – Campbell Hughes.
“I’m really happy to have finished on the podium because Dubbo – what a track!” explained Campbell Hughes. “This was a real driver’s track and it was fast. You would come in with a grin from ear to ear.”
When pushed a little bit the Tasmanian Champion did concede however, that he was a little frustrated with the result also.
“I spent about 20 laps battling with (Todd Bayley) trying to get second place and each time I got a run on him he’d get out of shape and I’d have to back off and then Brenten (Farrer) came flying around the outside of us both when I got baulked again and took second place. But good luck to him he drove really well and deserved the position.”
On a greasy track for his first heat Hughes went from 5th to 2nd and then after the track had dried out a little he ran 5th in his second heat. “I thought there was going to be some drama into the first turn so I went in a little cautious but then nothing happened and by the time I got going, they got the jump on me,” he reasoned.
His final heat was a win from the front row but not an easy one. “I knew the other car was there, I could hear him. I was okay through turns 3 & 4 but at the other end he was quicker which my crew later confirmed.”
After top scoring at the end of night one the team performed some maintenance. “We didn’t change a thing on the car all weekend, not even a tyre. We thought about changes but decided not to.” stated Hughes. “The only thing we did was reset the Distributor which had moved slightly.”
The final heat on a greasy track saw him progress from 8th to fifth meaning he started the feature from the outside of the second row. “I jumped to third in the 1st turn and stayed there for 20 laps until Brenten came past. In the end I crossed the line fourth.” Said Hughes. (Third placed Bayley was later disqualified from the event due to an engine irregularity elevating Hughes to third).
Hughes was quick to thank his partner Bec (seems if you want to be on the Aussie title podium your partner/wife needs to be called Bec), his dad Peter and crew Gavin, Burkey and Belly and also his brother Sam for the loan of his trailer.
Sponsors Voodoo Ride, John Holland, Holcim Concrete, Gertzel Surveyors and Dunn’s twin city crane hire are also greatly appreciated.
“The title was fantastic and the track was magic and the people there were all great.” thanked Hughes in conclusion.
4th – Jamie Collins.
“We went there just hoping to make the feature, so to get a top five finish, well we’re pretty pleased and pretty pumped about it,” said Jamie Collins about his fourth place finish in only his second season in the category.
On the opening night Collins scored a 5th and a pair of 3rds in his three heats to be the 9th highest qualifier. A 3rd place finish in his final heat meant that he started the feature from position 5 – something well beyond his modest expectations.
“I was pretty stoked to be starting from position 5 because there was only my dad and myself,” explained the former Junior Sedan racer. “I held 5th place for the first ten laps until Tim Reidy came past me but then a few laps later his gearbox went and he slowed and I was back into 5th which I held until the end.” When the third placed car was excluded Collins was suddenly elevated to fourth in the National title.
“Our aim was to just make the final and we far exceeded that,” said Phil Collins of his sons’ performance. “He only did about half the season last year and won the Rookie of the year in Victoria and this was only his sixth event this season so you can see why I’m so proud of him. We’re loving it.”
“We left the car as it was after Friday and we had no damage and the car was set up well.” explained the driver. “I really have to thank dad (Phil) because he was the only crew and on the Friday night they were really pushing the heats through quickly after they had an issue with the tracks lights.”
Collins’ effort was supported financially by Collins Construction Group, Geelong Carbeureters, Johnny Dyno’s Engines and Jay Mac at Fusion Sign and Image.
The Victorian AMCA Nationals Association would like to congratulate all the competitors who made the effort to attend the rescheduled event and also the officials and the track and its personnel for putting on what was arguably one of the best run National Titles ever.
In particular the Victorian Association would like to congratulate Mark Lincoln, Brenten Farrer, Campbell Hughes and Phil Collins on their fantastic individual and collective performances and all the other Victorian Competitors.
Written for AMCA Nationals Victoria by Pirate Media 0410 198 138