Alexandra Speedway played host to round one of the Thunder Down Under SDAV Hot Rod series back in the middle of December where home track driver Shannon Meakins chose the right line through turn four on the final lap to pass traffic and the race leader to go on to win.

The race meeting seen the welcome return of car owner Ron Jones and his driver Andrew Howard (# 13 Mega Auto Parts) to the division after dabbling in Sprintcars together for the last couple of seasons plus it was also the debut of a new race surface layout which proved tricky for racers who were used to the fast & flat Alexandra Speedway.

Heat one began with Glen Lawless (# 99 Wally’s Race Parts) & Kali Hovey at the front of the field and Phil Jenkins with Dean West right behind and West who has set his sights on a Thunder Down Under series win got away nicely to take the early led over Hovey (# 22 Ribeau’s Interstate Transport Carriers) & Jenkins.

On lap five after starting ninth Howard had moved into second behind West (# 4 Ace Fencing & Timber) whilst the very next lap Jenkins passed Hovey into third place. West carried on through with the win having led eight straight laps with Howard, Jenkins, Hovey, Steve Robertson (# 69 Solar City Canvas), Lawless and Dylan Linehan whilst Meakins didn’t finish with suspension damage.

Bad luck to Alan Luckett (# 16 Purrfect Cool Auto Air) whose car had fuel line issues and didn’t get to start.

Luckett and his crew managed to fix their issue and join the field in the second heat from pole position alongside Linehan ( # 28 Bronson Sheetmetal Fabrications) whilst Howard and Lawless were on the next row. From the green Howard didn’t mess around and quickly took control from Luckett, West, Robertson & ninth place starter Hovey.

The positions in the top five didn’t change through the eight laps and they crossed the line in order with Jenkins in sixth, Linehan & Lawless whilst Meakins (# 84 Northern Towing & Transport) didn’t finish with an engine misfire.

Meakins and his team had found the cause of the engine misfire and began the third heat from pole position with Jenkins alongside and Howard and Robertson behind. When the green unfurled Jenkins got the jump with Meakins and Howard on the chase.

It took until lap six before there was a change in placings with Howard getting past Meakins who was being chased by West & Robertson and it was until the very last lap that Jenkins held the lead before Howard made his pass and took the # 13 car to the finish line ahead of Jenkins (# 3 Westside Radiators), Meakins, West, Robertson, Luckett, Hovey, Linehan & Lawless.

A toss of the coin put top point scorers for the night into a reverse grid feature race start elevating Lawless & Linehan to the front row with Meakins and Hovey on the second line. Luckett & Robertson were next up then Jenkins, West & Howard at the tail of the pack.

Meakins stormed to the lead on lap one of fifteen with Luckett and Robertson in tow.

On lap three Howard moved into third position ahead of Robertson whilst Meakins and Luckett duelled ahead. On the very next lap Howard passed Luckett and began chasing Meakins.

Meakins held the lead up to lap eight when Howard got past. With Luckett, West and Robertson secure in their positions third to fifth and Howard looked on track for a win, enter lapped traffic and it was whilst trying to pass traffic on the very last lap in the very last turn that Meakins pounced having caught back up to Howard in the preceding few laps. Howard sat behind the tail ender to long then went high whilst Meakins got the opening low and came on through to the lead and the win.

Third was Luckett, West was next then Robertson, Jenkins, Hovey, Linehan whilst Lawless was unable to finish with suspension damage.

A delighted Meakins spoke with media after the win. “Boy that was hard work let me tell you. I feel like I’ve just gone twelve rounds with Daniel Geale. The track was quick but most definitely a change to what we are used to here. I’m going home with the winner’s trophy and a few broken bits of race car too. I enjoy racing at my home track it just gives you that extra incentive and it’s a great feeling to win. Well done to the other drivers for their finish results and thank you to Alexandra for having us here.”

SDAV Hot Rod Club thank the following supporters:
Mega Auto Parts
Ribeau Interstate Transport Carriers
Intech Motorsport Dyno
Purrfect Cool Auto Air
Air Anywhere Truck Tyres
Bryant’s Truck & Equipment Sales
Hall Concrete Constructions

Written by
Dean Thompson
DMT Sports Media
for SDAV Hot Rod Club