FORMULA VEE ASSOCIATION OF QUEENSLAND
NEWS
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Round 5: Hart's Title, Hamilton's Round
Event: FVAQ Round 5 | 7-8 November 2009
Location: CAMS State Championship | Morgan Park Raceway, Warwick
Author: Tim Hamilton | FVAQ Media
9 January 2009 | Press Release
Images: Digital Realism | www.digitalrealism.com.au
2009 Champion: Shane Hart. Mick Motors Jacer F2K8 1600cc.
The 2009 Queensland Formula Vee Championship culminated in a title showdown at Morgan Park in early November. Eighteen competitors faced the challenge of beating the heat... and each other.
fickle (adj)
- likely to change frequently often without apparent or cogent reason;
While not commonly used to describe motor racing, 'fickle' best sums up this weekend. It inspired fierce competition, gutsy driving, strategic timing, controversy, surprise, misfortune and triumph.
Ultimately, Shane Hart (Mick Motors Jacer) was crowned Queensland Formula Vee Champion, his seventh title in the sunny state. Heading into the final round, a dismal 26 points had separated Hart from season rival Paul Manteit (Volks Engineering Rapier). Surprisingly, gearbox failure struck Hart in the last race, had it occurred earlier in the weekend then Manteit could have taken the title.
Hart was peerless in Qualifying for pole, while Manteit struggled to be fourth. Hart gapped the field early in the opening race, but stumbled when encountering lapped traffic in a yellow-flag sector. With Hart forced to slow until through the caution sector, Manteit strategically exploited the situation to draw close and set-up a pass that would net him the race win.
The pass, and therefore race win, was contested post race. Race Stewards rejected the appeal, thus confirming the win for Manteit, and reducing Hart's points lead.
Race Two started sedately until Andrew Moran's rocker-cover went MIA, the resulting flood of oil was equivalent to racing on black ice. Manteit suffered the worst, sliding across the oil and off-track, only recovering to fifth. It was the weekends defining moment; as it let Tim Hamilton and Mike Smith take the podiums, severely hurting Manteit’s points battle as Hart went on to win.
Race Three saw the title decided, with Manteit placing third he could do nothing to prolong the points battle as Hart again won ahead of Hamilton. The timing was fortunate for Hart with his Gearbox failing in Race Four. Hamilton steamed away for the win, and with it taking the overall round victory. Mike Smith improved to finish second, ahead of Manteit.
At the conclusion of an intense 17-race season, consistently winning proved victorious. Hart and his Mick Motors Jacer claimed 10 wins and 5 podium placings to Manteit's 6 wins and 8 podiums. In a bizarre occurrence, Paul Kellaway and Mike Smith tied for third place. Rookie of the Year was awarded to Kent Cross, who at only 16 years old will be racing Formula BMW overseas in 2010. Cross finished fifth outright, and narrowly won the 1200cc class from David Boulton after trading places all year. Bob Roberts wrapped-up the Historic Group V class, having dominated all season.
The 2010 Championship begins at Morgan Park on March 13-14. A full calendar can be found here.
HIGHLIGHTS AND LOWLIGHTS FROM ROUND 5:
- FRIDAY PRACTICE: Wet, Wet and Wet! Perfect for Drift pracice... not so for those chasing setup! Drama when Shane Hart's Jacer began trailing smoke from the engine bay...thankfully only a split oil line... but it began a long afternoon of cleaning up!
+ QUALIFYING: A season high 18 entries! Top three grid places powered by Shane Hart engines.
- QUALIFYING: Overheating and low oil-pressure signalled a possible short weekend for Hamilton... somehow it lasted...
+ RACE 1: Paul Manteit sneaks a timely pass to win on the last lap.
- RACE 1: Gearbox failure for Andrew Moran began a busy weekend for his team. Replacement installed in under three hours!
- RACE 2: Moran's nightmare continues! Rocker-cover detaches from engine, coating the track with oil...
- RACE 3: Bruce Acheson misses race after a late night tuning engine.
+ RACE 3: Proving persistence pays... Mike Smith sets the weekends fastest lap of 1:10.3075! Mid-pack at season's start, the gradual 1 second improvement has moved him into the lead pack. Similar improvement for Paul Kellaway.
- RACE 4: Hart's Gearbox fails... Luckily, Championship was already sealed in previous race.
+ RACE 4: Hart's Gearbox fails... Tim Hamilton takes race win and overall round honours.
+ 1200s: Kent Cross narrowly claimed the 1200cc title. Cross missed Round 4 while testing Formula BMW overseas, and the title looked to be David Boultons'. A workplace injury saw Boulton sidelined for Round 5. Despite 12 class wins from 17 races, a few DNF results saw Cross facing an enormous mountain to climb... but he reached the peak just in time.
+ HISTORIC GROUP V: Continues rapid growth in popularity and fills one-third of the grid! Peter Fisher and Scott Harrison joined regulars Alan Don, Len Don, Bob Roberts and Jim Waugh. Len snuck pole by 0.0069s, but in a surprise performance Scott Harrison won the opening race. Bob Roberts claimed race two, before Harrison again surprised the competition in the remaining two races. With only Roberts and the Dons' in the championship running, maximum points went to Roberts and the title was secured. Only hampered by a disasterous Round 3 at QR, Roberts blinded the competition, claiming 14 class wins from 17 races.
+ WELCOME BACK: Mike Russell, his Concept GS82 now converted to Historic Group V specs. Scott Harrison, fulfilling licence maitenance aboard his Dad's speedy Historic Nimbus... rumoured to have been purchased by one of QLD's returning masters...
+ ROOKIES: Ted Sibley made his debut after recently purchasing the ex-Darren Mason 2005 Polar RW05 1600cc. Ted raced competitively a few decades ago and is returning to racing, and with an ex-factory run Polar and Shane Hart providing mechanical assistance, is sure to be a contender in the not-to-distant future! Craig Hughes continued to impress, dropping his times 2 seconds by weekends end.
After a 2009 Campaign in NSW, Hamilton returned and won the round.
2009 Rookie of the Year and 1200cc Club Champion Kent Cross.
Event: FVAQ Round 5 | 7-8 November 2009
Location: CAMS State Championship | Morgan Park Raceway, Warwick
Author: Tim Hamilton | FVAQ Media
9 January 2009 | Press Release
Images: Digital Realism | www.digitalrealism.com.au
2009 Champion: Shane Hart. Mick Motors Jacer F2K8 1600cc.
The 2009 Queensland Formula Vee Championship culminated in a title showdown at Morgan Park in early November. Eighteen competitors faced the challenge of beating the heat... and each other.
fickle (adj)
- likely to change frequently often without apparent or cogent reason;
While not commonly used to describe motor racing, 'fickle' best sums up this weekend. It inspired fierce competition, gutsy driving, strategic timing, controversy, surprise, misfortune and triumph.
Ultimately, Shane Hart (Mick Motors Jacer) was crowned Queensland Formula Vee Champion, his seventh title in the sunny state. Heading into the final round, a dismal 26 points had separated Hart from season rival Paul Manteit (Volks Engineering Rapier). Surprisingly, gearbox failure struck Hart in the last race, had it occurred earlier in the weekend then Manteit could have taken the title.
Hart was peerless in Qualifying for pole, while Manteit struggled to be fourth. Hart gapped the field early in the opening race, but stumbled when encountering lapped traffic in a yellow-flag sector. With Hart forced to slow until through the caution sector, Manteit strategically exploited the situation to draw close and set-up a pass that would net him the race win.
The pass, and therefore race win, was contested post race. Race Stewards rejected the appeal, thus confirming the win for Manteit, and reducing Hart's points lead.
Race Two started sedately until Andrew Moran's rocker-cover went MIA, the resulting flood of oil was equivalent to racing on black ice. Manteit suffered the worst, sliding across the oil and off-track, only recovering to fifth. It was the weekends defining moment; as it let Tim Hamilton and Mike Smith take the podiums, severely hurting Manteit’s points battle as Hart went on to win.
Race Three saw the title decided, with Manteit placing third he could do nothing to prolong the points battle as Hart again won ahead of Hamilton. The timing was fortunate for Hart with his Gearbox failing in Race Four. Hamilton steamed away for the win, and with it taking the overall round victory. Mike Smith improved to finish second, ahead of Manteit.
At the conclusion of an intense 17-race season, consistently winning proved victorious. Hart and his Mick Motors Jacer claimed 10 wins and 5 podium placings to Manteit's 6 wins and 8 podiums. In a bizarre occurrence, Paul Kellaway and Mike Smith tied for third place. Rookie of the Year was awarded to Kent Cross, who at only 16 years old will be racing Formula BMW overseas in 2010. Cross finished fifth outright, and narrowly won the 1200cc class from David Boulton after trading places all year. Bob Roberts wrapped-up the Historic Group V class, having dominated all season.
The 2010 Championship begins at Morgan Park on March 13-14. A full calendar can be found here.
HIGHLIGHTS AND LOWLIGHTS FROM ROUND 5:
- FRIDAY PRACTICE: Wet, Wet and Wet! Perfect for Drift pracice... not so for those chasing setup! Drama when Shane Hart's Jacer began trailing smoke from the engine bay...thankfully only a split oil line... but it began a long afternoon of cleaning up!
+ QUALIFYING: A season high 18 entries! Top three grid places powered by Shane Hart engines.
- QUALIFYING: Overheating and low oil-pressure signalled a possible short weekend for Hamilton... somehow it lasted...
+ RACE 1: Paul Manteit sneaks a timely pass to win on the last lap.
- RACE 1: Gearbox failure for Andrew Moran began a busy weekend for his team. Replacement installed in under three hours!
- RACE 2: Moran's nightmare continues! Rocker-cover detaches from engine, coating the track with oil...
- RACE 3: Bruce Acheson misses race after a late night tuning engine.
+ RACE 3: Proving persistence pays... Mike Smith sets the weekends fastest lap of 1:10.3075! Mid-pack at season's start, the gradual 1 second improvement has moved him into the lead pack. Similar improvement for Paul Kellaway.
- RACE 4: Hart's Gearbox fails... Luckily, Championship was already sealed in previous race.
+ RACE 4: Hart's Gearbox fails... Tim Hamilton takes race win and overall round honours.
+ 1200s: Kent Cross narrowly claimed the 1200cc title. Cross missed Round 4 while testing Formula BMW overseas, and the title looked to be David Boultons'. A workplace injury saw Boulton sidelined for Round 5. Despite 12 class wins from 17 races, a few DNF results saw Cross facing an enormous mountain to climb... but he reached the peak just in time.
+ HISTORIC GROUP V: Continues rapid growth in popularity and fills one-third of the grid! Peter Fisher and Scott Harrison joined regulars Alan Don, Len Don, Bob Roberts and Jim Waugh. Len snuck pole by 0.0069s, but in a surprise performance Scott Harrison won the opening race. Bob Roberts claimed race two, before Harrison again surprised the competition in the remaining two races. With only Roberts and the Dons' in the championship running, maximum points went to Roberts and the title was secured. Only hampered by a disasterous Round 3 at QR, Roberts blinded the competition, claiming 14 class wins from 17 races.
+ WELCOME BACK: Mike Russell, his Concept GS82 now converted to Historic Group V specs. Scott Harrison, fulfilling licence maitenance aboard his Dad's speedy Historic Nimbus... rumoured to have been purchased by one of QLD's returning masters...
+ ROOKIES: Ted Sibley made his debut after recently purchasing the ex-Darren Mason 2005 Polar RW05 1600cc. Ted raced competitively a few decades ago and is returning to racing, and with an ex-factory run Polar and Shane Hart providing mechanical assistance, is sure to be a contender in the not-to-distant future! Craig Hughes continued to impress, dropping his times 2 seconds by weekends end.
After a 2009 Campaign in NSW, Hamilton returned and won the round.
2009 Rookie of the Year and 1200cc Club Champion Kent Cross.
