We didn’t make our (or should I say my) target of 44 cars for the day, but we still managed the biggest field of the day with 36 cars on the grid and super close, fantastic racing…as always. |
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We set out first on the day for warm up at 07h30 am, on a rather chilly track, and the times were all looking as though the day was going to be a quick one.. |
Class A saw George Economides (Wealth Avenue VW Golf mk1) with the quickest time a 1:15.146 ahead of Jono du Toit (Trans Africa Honda Civic) and Hilton van Nieuwenhuizen (ASAP Peugeot). Class B’s Scois Joubert (ASAP Renault Clio) set the pace ahead of new comer Cyril Niemandt (Paintnet VW Golf mk1) and Pierre Lubbe (Harness company VW Golf mk2). Class C had James Menin (West Cars Opel Kadett) top the charts ahead of old time SuperHatch member Dirk Lawrence (Carbon King Ford Fiesta) making a one-off appearance in Louise van der Walt’s car and James Fuller (New Age Tyres Golf mk1). Class D was a lonely affair for Andrew Heyes (Ford Laser) |
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RACE ONE
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We opened the day for the WesBank Super Series and the clean and neatly turned out 36 cars took to the grid and all of us feeling very proud to have this opportunity which many never get. As usual, the top 5 per class from the previous race finishing order were reversed giving us a very different grid to warm up times. |
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Front row of class A had Brett Garland (Supercool Radiators Honda Civic) on pole ahead of George Eysselein (GME Business services Golf mk1), the first race got under way and the Honda of Garland was off the line like a rocket ship, the hard charging class A boys and girls were right behind.. Garland got a small gap though and seemed to be maintaining it while Mark du Toit (Trans Africa Honda Civic) was trying to stay on his bumper. Just behind were Jono du Toit, Economides, Andre de Lange (ADL Ceilings mk1 Golf) and Hilton van Nieuwenhuizen in the ASAP Peugeot. De Lange had a problem on lap 4 and had to retire to the pits, while Mark du Toit had a water hose burst on lap 6 and he also had to retire, Mel Spurr (ASAP, George Economides, Harness co, Agip, Drivelines Opel Corsa) had passed Chris Davison (Opel SuperBoss) and was charging hard and catching Van Nieuwenhuizen for 4th spot bearing – in mind that 5th would have pole – but that would be how it finished. Garland with his first win ahead of Jono du Toit, Economides, Van Nieuwenhuizen and Spurr. |
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Class B was tough and never a dull moment especially when you have 13 cars all fighting for the same piece of tarmac, front row saw the younger Joubert brother Raynere (ASAP Peugeot 207) on pole alongside Jaco Kriel (Superboss Spares Opel Superboss), but the race was up for grabs by most of the field, with times so close and positions changing that it really is anyone’s race. |
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Eventually the win went to Nic Martin (RDG Opel Kadett) ahead of Kriel, Lubbe, Raynere Joubert and Etienne Spies (in the bling Red Golf mk1). |
Class C’s front row had the younger Menin on pole in the way of the son Walter (West Cars VW Golf mk1) with Vernon Stoltz (AFW engineering Opel Kadett) next to him. Vernon made sure that the front row worked for him and he made sure he stayed out there and had the others working for their place in the sun, Dirk Lawrence who has had a long layoff from SuperHatch racing and thus had to start at the back of class C made sure the ‘laaties’ knew he was back, by finishing in 2nd place ahead of Walter, James Menin and Pieter Pienaar VW Golf mk2). |
Class D’s only entry Andrew had a great dice with the class C guys and he is getting quicker and quicker each time, we need to find him a friend to join him in class D. |
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RACE TWO
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Race two was the last race of the day and the light was dimming, the headlights were on and the brake discs were glowing and the spirits stayed high. Our racing is so entertaining that many spectators stayed to watch the last race. |
Class A pole went to lady racer Spurr alongside the Peugeot of Van Nieuwenhuizen, she had a dismal start and Economides from the 2nd row came through the inside of the two and took the lead by turn one, the three were slightly ahead while the Honda brigade were tussling along with De Lange. Economides got away and Van Nieuwenhuizen was keeping him in his sights, while Spurr had the Hondas on her tail. |
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Jono du Toit got the inside line for turn 4 and Garland and Mark du Toit all got past Spurr, but not without a fight, and also took De Lange with them. Economides took the win ahead of Van Nieuwenhuizen and Garland. |
Class B had Spies on pole alongside Raynere Joubert, who both made sure they used it they made a small break and both relative new comers drove flawlessly, Raynere stayed out front, while Etienne had to contend with Martin, Kriel, Scois Joubert (ASAP Renault Clio) and Niemandt, while they changed positions for the entire 8 laps, eventually the top honours were Raynere Joubert’s with his maiden win from Martin and Scois Joubert. |
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Class C pole sitter was Pienaar and he wasn’t going to have another jump start from the front row again so he made sure he got away cleanly and had a great battle with the hard charging James Menin, Lawrence and Stoltz, not forgetting the other James (Fuller), Walter Menin and rookie Lourens Taaljard (Renault Megane) hanging onto them. Winning out class C was James Menin from Stoltz and Lawrence. |
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Class D’s winner, Andrew Heyes, again finished up in the class C mix. |
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Results for the day:
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Class A |
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Brett Garland, George Economides, Jono du Toit |
Class B |
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Nic Martin, Raynere Joubert, Jaco Kriel |
Class C |
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Vernon Stoltz, James Menin, Dirk Lawrence |
Class D |
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Andrew Heyes |
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A great days racing and a wonderful show by the SuperHatch boys and girls. |
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Noggin trophy winners:
- Chop of the day – Pieter Vermulen, newcomer who went out with the wrong category!
- Driver of the day – Jaco Kriel for his outstanding drive and first trophy win
- Spectacle of the day – Raynere Joubert, for the great show and huge support he had and just keeping it all together
- Index winner – George Economides
- Appi of the day – rookie driver Pieter Vermulen for his great drive after being a wally
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The next round of the SuperHatch championship will take place at Zwartkops on the 16th of June 2012. |
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See you all trackside. |
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Issued by Mel Spurr |
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