Alexandra Speedway put on maximum excitement with the first ever running of the Castrol Fist Full of Dollars for Street Stocks incorporating a Holden v Ford Challenge in which Holden took the spoils when they dominated heat racing and then crossed the line in the final with the first four drivers all in Holden’s, the big winner was Mount Gambier’s Anthony Beare winning yet another big event on the Street Stock calendar.

Jackson Lunt, Shannon Meakins and Warrick Howie all won their feature events on a night were a large crowd came to see first class Street Stock racing on the super quick Alexandra Speedway.

With support from manufacturer dealerships Heritage Holden Lilydale & Yarra Ranges Ford and money up for grabs for top qualifying Holden and top qualifying Ford the racing was fast and furious right from the start.

Steven Gartner (# 32 South East Collision – Ford) from Mount Gambier for the night off to a great start for Ford when he took a heat one victory by some four seconds to get the night kick started whilst on the downside Shane Roycroft was left with a whole in his engine putting his Ford out for the rest of the night. Another South Australian Jason Duell (# 18 Duells Furniture Removalists – Holden) won the second heat, Brad McClure won the third and Daniel Barton (# 71 Healesville Directional Drilling – Holden) closed out the first round with a win on his home venue.

Mark Jennings (# 21 Cary Jennings Auto Electrical – Ford) won the first heat in round two, Shaun Henry, Beare & Mick Dann (# 0 Bomb Disposal Wreckers – Holden) won also with Henry’s win less than half a second in front of Lewis Clark & Dann’s less than a second in front of Mick Chrystie (# 29 Kinglake Pub – Holden) when he picked him off on the last lap of the heat.

McClure (# 24 Fun City Go Karts – Holden) won his final heat in the process running the fastest one lap time of the night and at times hitting speeds of 125kmph on track. Andrew Ratten won the next heat whilst Jake Drewett (# 18 Australian Multi Skill – Ford) ended up and over in turn four, Henry put himself at the top of Ford driver qualifiers with a second win and Beare did the same on the Holden side of the ledger with his win in the last qualifier.

In the last chance B Main event after the top ten Holden & top ten Ford race drivers had been settled to start the feature event, Darren Giacometti led Rick Sankey (# 68 360 Gearboxes & Diffs – Ford), Darren Forrest, Lloyd Wallace & Dylan Campton into the feature event starting places.

With twenty laps in the anti clockwise direction to start with the Street Stock final got up and going with Beare (# 46 Enzed – Holden), Darryl Atkinson & McClure quickly establishing a gap between themselves and the chasing pack whilst current national champion Robbie Faux (# 1 Mildura Ice Works – Ford) parked infield with mechanical drama and took no further part in the race.

Six of the first seven cars to strike mechanical issues were Ford machines including John Lodge from New South Wales who rejoined the race at the halfway mark, Campton, Gartner, Sankey & Jason Degoldi.

A half time break was taken and then the cars switched direction and went clockwise where more of the same this time with McClure right on Beares hammer even taking the lead for a fleeting moment before Beare got the better of traffic in turn three to assume his place at the front of the field. A good stoush between Lewis Clark (# 19 Track Tech Race Engines – Holden) who had caught up to McClure put the result past doubt leaving Beare alone at the front of the field stretching his lead to over nine seconds whilst Duell & (# 37 Johnny Dyno Engines – Ford) had a great battle for fourth and fifth.

Beare took the big $3000 pay check from McClure ($2000-), Clark ($1000-), Duell & Atkinson with the rest of the top ten in order Mick Clark, Mick Dann, Lloyd Wallace, Giacometti & Scott Bull.

Best presented Ford was Jake Drewett & Holden Darren Flatman, Joker Jackpot $500 winner was Mick Dann most advanced in the feature race was Lloyd Wallace & highest placed traveller award winner was the winner Beare who came from South Australia.

Beare was delighted with the win and the event format. “What a great format well done to all involved. I was lucky to make the finish line I was waiting for the chequer flag to drop for a while and as you seen my car couldn’t even do the victory lap without the push vehicle’s help. I’ve never been to Alexandra Speedway but wow, I can’t wait to come back next year and hope a whole lot more racers come too. Thanks to my family and crew for their support and bringing the car over for me and the sponsors of the event, hope you enjoyed the introduction to Street Stock racing.”

In SDAV Hot Rod racing the thunder down under series got under way with Dean West, Andrew Howard and Howard a second time taking out wins in heat races before a top qualifier to the rear feature race grid turned things upside down with Shannon Meakins who had mechanical issues during heat racing winning the feature race from Howard. Allan Luckett, Dean West & Steve Robertson after Howard briefly hit the front of the field before Meakins made the right move in traffic to take the lead and win.

In Junior Sedan racing Dean Burton won the first two heats before Jackson Lunt won the third heat. The final was a cracking race as it usually is at Alexandra when Lunt & Burton went at it hammer and tong right throughout the race before being joined by Cameron Pearson in the closing laps. Lunt went on to record his first feature win with Burton, Pearson, Caleb Lincoln & Jack Van Breman completing the top five.

The Standard Saloon racing was also very entertaining racing between Leigh Gooding, Warrick Howie & Jeff Bowers. Bowers won heat won, Howie heat two, Gooding heat three before Howie took the win in the final ahead of Gooding, Stuart Densem, Bowers & Jaimi Barber finally giving Ford something to smile about.

Alexandra Speedway would like to thank:
Metro Tow
Kilmore Towing & Transport
Aarons Car Removals
Aarons Bin Hire
Rumbles Children’s Playhouse
Healesville Directional Drilling
Lincolns Earthmoving
Eastern Suburbs Locksmiths
Waverley Exhaust & Brake Centre
Campton’s Graphics
Two Bays Communications
Bickhams Scrap & Salvage
Pakenham 4 x 4 Recyclers
Good Guys Performance Centre
Quality Fire Protection
Inaction Photos
Fallon’s Bus Services
Murrindindi Kitchens
Bayswater Diff Services
Regal Steel
Yarra Ranges Gas, Heat & Cool
Yarra Valley Towing
Veolia
Blackburn Trailers
360 Gearboxes & Diffs
GB Racecars
Smooth Suspension
Lake Eildon Houseboat Sales
Fairy’s Car Removals
Air Anywhere
Burco’s Metal fabrications
Alexandra & Yea Pre Mix
Highline Racewear
Revegetation Victoria

Written by
Dean Thompson
DMT Sports Media
for Alexandra Speedway Club

Anthony Beare from Mount Gambier wins Street Stocks (C) Inaction Photos

# 76 Jackson Lunt won the Junior Sedans (C) Inaction Photos

Shannon Meakins won the SDAV Hot Rods (C) Inaction Photos