‘Smooch’ used his skills to perfection to deny Supercars regular, Cam Waters, from an inevitable Mainline Dynolog Dynamometer Allstar Sprintcars Series round win.
Saturday’s event saw competitors from all over Victoria with 24 sprintcars, 23 modified sedans and 11 SDAV hot rods in attendance to entertain a strong crowd of locals and travellers.
Allstar Sprintcars kicked the evening off with hot-laps and time-trials to seed the drivers for their heat races.
Cam Waters, aboard the McQuinn Electrical/Monster Vic 6, showed his driving prowess against the Sprintcar regulars, taking his second ‘fast time’ award in succession, and earning a front row start in the ensuing heat races.
Waters used his front row start to great effect to win the first heat race, Heathcote youngster Todd Moule took the second heat, Gisborne’s Paul Solomon heat three, Nyora’s Todd Hobson heat four, Nalinga’s Jesse Nicholas heat five.
Brenton Farrer began to shine by winning heat six in a sterling drive against Stephen Bell, who was returning from a seven-year break, blasting his way past underneath and blocking Belly’s exit to take the win.
The all-important final lined up according to accumulated points, as the last race of the evening, with Waters off pole, veteran Stephen Bell from position two, the Solomon brothers from the second row, with Bendigo’s Brenton Farrer starting from position six.
Stephen Bell immediately shot to the front and led for 15 laps before his luck ran out and he tagged the wall, ending his night.
Waters inherited the lead, but ‘Smooch’ was closing in fast as the leaders used the extreme highline to great effect, despite the danger of racing close to the concrete.
Ultimately Brenton ‘Smooch’ Farrer would prevail, using lapped traffic to effect a pass for the lead before a major incident involving Chris Solomon in the first turn brought the feature race to an end, declared four laps short of the 30-lap target.
Waters maintained second position while Werribee’s Jordan Charge would be credited with third.
SDAV hot rods enjoyed a round of their Thunder Down Under Series with one of the stalwarts of the class, Russell Hovey, enjoying consistent heat race finishes, and a front row start for their final, to edge out his son-in-law and pole-sitter Shannon Meakins and the retiring Dean West and Kali Hovey.
The 74-year-old Russell Hovey showed strong performances throughout the evening.
Heartland Raceway management invited Modified Sedan Competitors to the ‘prelude to the dream’ event as a final hit-out prior to the Speedway Sedans Australia National Modified Sedan Title to be contested here over the March long weekend.
Brody Chrystie made the most of the opportunity, on a track which he has enjoyed varied levels of success on in recent years, holding out the current national champion, and recently-crowned Victorian champion, Kye Walters from Geelong.
Darcy Wilson, a 17-year-old from Ballarat stepped up to be high point-scorer after heat races to start off the front in his FG Falcon in only his second appearance at Moama.
Showing maturity beyond his years, Wilson was bettered by race-craft experience to ultimately finish third.
Mildura’s Jarod Waters, aboard his unique Mercedes C250 Coupe, performed well throughout the night, but suffered with steering rack issues in the heats, and some on-track contact early in the final clouded what was an impressive display at times.
There were hard luck stories among the field throughout the night, but this will only serve to harden the resolve of competitors in their pursuit of success at the national title.
The next event at Heartland Raceway Moama, on March 11, 12 and 13, is the Bendigo Metal Fabrications SSA National Modified Sedan title.
More than 60 competitors from all corners of Australia are expected to attend.
Recently announced relaxations of COVID-19 restrictions have organisers hopeful that in-state competitors consider the trip to Moama.
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