Article by: Scott Kernahan
The gorgeous weather continues at Darwin’s Northline Speedway but the action is hotting up on the track and we move into the second phase of the 2024 Season. With the big shows around the corner most sections are readying themselves for the influx of visitors about to descend on Northline Speedway in the coming weeks.
Dirt Karts – The Tony Brown juggernaut continues to steam roll the opposition in the Dirt Karts with a clean sweep of the Heats and the Feature to add to his resume of victories this season. Minor placings were shared between Michael Brown and Isaiah Strong with a pair of second placings for both with Strong taking second place in the feature. Brad Fichtner took a hattrick of 3rd placings in the Heats but it was Michael Brown displacing him for third place in the Feature Race.
AMCA Nationals – Deegan Sherwood led Heat 1 for the AMCA Nationals deep into the race until Mark Allcorn blasted his way past to assume the lead with 2 laps to go whilst Sarah Gordon claiming third placing. It was the Allcorn show in Heat 2 with an all the way win ahead of Sherwood and Jacobus Beets home for third in the #81 machine. Heat 3 saw a coming together of Allcorn and Sherwood in turn 4 early in the race which saw Sherwood retire (and ultimately out for the rest of the night with damage). This opened the door for Paul Carmody to record a fine win ahead of Sarah Gordon and Jimmy Keane in for third place. Reece Prior and Erica Glazbrook were also retirees from the heat race. The Feature race provided some good battles, but it was Carmody and Prior who tangled in Turn 1 on lap 12 to bring on the yellows for the first time. Meanwhile a great battle ensued for 2nd place with Jimmy Keane and Carmody. Matthew Barker then rotated the #88 machine on Lap 17 in turn 4 and followed that up a couple of laps latter to then be relegated infield for causing the stoppages. From there it was Mark Allcorn to lead the field home again for another Feature race win ahead of Carmody and Keane.
Junior Sedans – WA’s Hannah Tomkins continued her recent run of good form, whilst for season pacesetter River Spitzbarth it was a disaster after suffering a gearbox failure on Lap 3 of Heat 1 whilst in the lead. This put paid to Spitzbarth’s night in a rare mechanical failure. Tomkins assumed the lead and completed the win ahead of Jake Park and Harrison Turnbull home for third place. Kallen Hall was the class of Heat 2 to streak ahead of the pack whilst Harrison Turnbull had a minor off the track but rejoined. Tomkins chased valiantly but Hall was to hold on for the win with Zackery Czoloszynski recording third place. Liam Butterworth briefly held the lead in Heat 3 but unfortunately turned the #77 machine around which paved the way for Tomkins to take over the lead and was first to the chequered flag ahead of Turnbull and Kade Beurskens. The Feature Race was a drama filled 15 lap journey with Hannah Tomkins and Jake Park making contact on lap 3 and retiring from the race. Rhys King also came to grief on lap 7 and a lap later it was Harrison Turnbull who pulled infield and retired. Jake Park was then DQ’d on Lap 11 ending his race. Out front it was Kallen Hall who blitzed the field to record a very well-deserved Feature Race win ahead of Czoloszynski and Beurskens in for third place.
Solos – Three riders in attendance for their Heat Races and Feature with Steven Hutchinson and Brad Niven in great form of late, and Wayne Lorymer showing that age will not weary them. It was Niven who jumped to an early lead in Heat 1 with Hutchinson chasing him down but to no avail as Niven completed the win with Lorymer in third. Heat 2 saw the tables turn with Hutchinson leaping out of the gates to take the win ahead of Niven and Lorymer in third. Drama in Heat 3 with Hutchinson taking a tumble whilst battling with Niven in turn 3 on lap 2. Fortunately, he was ok but was out of the race. Niven the win with Lorymer in second place. The Feature race was looming as a battle between Hutchinson and Niven however it was Hutchinson away smartly and was never headed to record another Feature Race win with Niven in second and Lorymer third.
Sprintcars – There were 7 cars nominated for the Presidents Cup challenge for the Sprintcars with last start winner Jordyn Charge primed to go back-to-back in the Ekins Motorsports entry. Trent Pigdon was looking for a change of luck after some wretched fortune so far in the last couple of rounds at Northline Speedway. Local star Hayden Brown was also looking for redemption after suffering fuel line issues last time out. Charge was the early pacesetter in Hot Laps laying down a 13.310 lap ahead of Brown who set a 13.496 and Pigdon with a 13.496. Going into Time Trials it was again Charge who led the way dialling in with a 12.359 flyer ahead of Pigdon’s 12.476 and Chris Harrison with a best lap of 12.515. This is where disaster struck for Hayden Brown with damage to the engine in the #77 mount which ended his night straight away. Problems also for Kale Quinlan in his debut night for the season with mechanical issues ruling him out of qualifying and Heat 1. Jordyn Charge led proceeding in Heat 1with an all the way win for the 8 lap journey ahead of Pigdon and Zack Grimshaw home for third in the second Ekins Motorsports entry. Chris Harrison was another withdrawal from Heat 2 also suffering engine woes which ended his night as well. Zack Grimshaw showed good pace out front to record a well-deserved win ahead of Pigdon and Charge. Kale Quinlan was a late starter using the 2-minute rule to get his mount out on track. 5 cars were on deck for the 25 lap Feature Race with the withdrawal of Brown and Harrison. It was Trent Pidgon who blasted away from the front row to lead for the first 13 laps of the race before Jordyn Charge ran him down and took the lead from lap 14 and was never headed from there to take out his second Feature Race in a row. Pigdon remained in second spot with Grimshaw securing third spot.
Wingless Sprintcars – Drama in Heat 1A of the Wingless Sprints with favourite Jamie McInnes drifting up high in mid turns 1 & 2 and contacting the wall and tipping the #44 machine over. Youngster William Prest led from the front to record the win ahead of Mathew McLennan and Cameron Jaenke. Disaster struck the returning Keelan Edwards in Heat 1B (been away on work related duties) when he drifted up into the wall in turns 3 and 4 and struck the wall on lap 5. Subsequent damage ruled him out for the night in an unlucky incident. Kyle Wiseman was a non-starter after suffering battery terminal problems in the Wiseman Motorsports #77 machine sending him infield prior to the start of the race. Raymond Walliss took the win ahead of Jarrod Goldoni and Zane O’Toole. Cameron Jaenke led all the way in Heat 2A whilst Sean Tiedeman held down 2nd spot for most of the race but was then swamped to finish 5th. Daniel Goldoni continued his resurgence by finishing 2nd and Mathew McLennan in third. Matt Sealy led all the way in Heat 2B whilst behind it was Kyle Wiseman who drove a mighty race to finish 3rd with Jarrod Goldoni claiming second spot. The Mid Pack dash over 8 laps saw Daniel Goldoni (the smiling assassin) lead all the way with Jamie McInnes returning from his earlier misdemeanour to finish 2nd and Kyle Wiseman in third place. Cameron Jaenke flexed his muscles in the Wiseman Motorsport #56 machine to take out the win ahead of William Prest and Matt Sealy. The 30 lap Feature Race roared into life with Cameron Jaenke taking the field to task out front and it was Steve Barlee who retired first on Lap 1. Ty Ede then followed suit on lap 5. Scott Murdie spun on lap 7 but rejoined and then William Prest retired on lap 11. Jeffrey Tiedeman then brought out the red-light stoppage after rolling in turn 3 on lap 14. Fortunately, no serious injury sustained in this incident and was well looked after by St John Ambulance Paramedic on duty. Zane O’Toole then worked his way into the lead on lap 13 and Jarrod Goldoni retired on lap 20 and also Mathew McLennan headed infield on lap 22 whilst in 7th position. So, it was O’Toole who took out the win in a mighty drive in the #14 Total Tools machine ahead of Cameron Jaenke and Matt Sealy in third place.
Street Stocks – Street Stocks were bolstered with 8 cars arriving for the contest through their 3 x rounds of Heats and the 20 lap Feature Race. Pressure was on in Heat 1 with James Ballantyne turning the #3 machine around on Lap 2 followed by Jake Koivumaki following suit on Lap 5 in turn 4. Fortunately, Koivumaki returned to the track to contest the remainder of the heat. Out front it was Jayke Budd who greeted the chequered flag first ahead of Koivumaki and Aiden James in third place. Drama returned in Heat 2 with Koivumaki and James Ballantyne coming together in turn 4 on lap 5 resulting in Ballantyne retiring from the race. Aiden James won the race ahead of Koivumaki who recovered very well from the earlier incident and Lucas Fry coming in 3rd place. Koivumaki kept clear of incident in Heat 3 and worked his way into the lead from deep in the pack to record the win ahead of Fry and James. The Feature race saw Koivumaki return to his dominant best to take out the race ahead of Lucas Fry and Aiden James whilst Lachlan Vanderburg retired on lap 5.
Next Meeting for Northline Speedway is the first Double Header for the year on Friday and Saturday nights 23rd and 24th August for the Darwin AMCA Cup Series. Supporting sections are Sprintcars, Wingless Sprints, Street Stocks, Solos and Dirt Karts.