For the second time in three weeks, Mount Gambier Kart Club played host to a major state event amongst the Karting Community.
Last weekend drivers from all around the state journeyed to the South East to take part in the final ontrack event on the Karting
calendar.
For a first time, KartsportSA held its inaugural State Championship event with competitors battling for the prestige of carrying the title through to 2022.
The event was held of two days consisting of five heats including a 12-lap final, producing plenty of fast paced action.
Several locals took the opportunity to showcase their home track knowledge and enjoy the chance to compete against some larger field numbers.
Mini Rok Open had three local members mix it with many Metro competitors.
It was the local trio of Xavier Cain, Levi Jones and Denver Herbertson who emerged victorious after all racing was done.
Cain scored five wins from five starts to be presented with the State Champion Trophy.
Jones showed great drive and determination, with several podium placings during the heats to finish the weekend second overall, closely followed by the consistent Herbertson, while Dylan Bowering secured two sixth place finishes on debut.
Junior J provided some of the best racing amongst the younger drivers with all three podium placers making the transition from dirt karts across to bitumen for the event.
Lilly Cain started well with some strong finishes, but engine issues during heat 4 relegated her back down the field.
Katelyn Bowering and Henry Sims both had great results with Bowering taking three wins, while Sims secured podiums in each of his five heats.
Once points were tallied and the chequered flag dropped, Cain added a second State Title to the household, while Bowering and Sims rounded out the podium to make their sprint karting debut a success.
Junior Open was dominated by Mount
Gambier’s Rheyn Paterson who went unchallenged all weekend.
Paterson only made his karting debut earlier this year after relocating from interstate with his family, but ended his first year in the sport with a KartsportSA State Championship to his name.
It was all smiles for local driving ace Lauren Ferguson who kept herself and her pit crew busy by competing in both KT Light and KT Heavy classes.
Racing two classes paid off for Ferguson, as she was able to ensure her kart setup was dialled in and dominate both classes winning nine of her 10 races to be presented with two State Championships.
The 125 Restricted Light was one of the larger classes on offer, which provided a great spectacle.
Mount Gambier’s Matt Hensel and Joel Robinson were amongst the action from the moment the lights went green.
Hensel took a win in heat one and proved to be the man to beat, making his return to the sport after a seven year absence.
He went on to secure a number of top three finishes on his way to the final, before finishing the weekend, second overall.
Robinson fought hard in the competitive field to include some top five results.
The 125 Restricted Heavy provided success for more local competitors with Alex Clode and Liam Down-Woolley leading the charge.
Downs-Woolley stuing together a run of good results, but a DNF in heat 3 was his only misdemeanour.
Two wins and a second in the final was enough for him to earn a podium place at the conclusion of the event to finish ahead of a consistent Clode.
It was a close fight in the 125 Light category with Joel Robinson and Adelaide driver Liam Hannam both going into the 12 lap separated by very little.
Robinson showed a natural ability behind the wheel, as he made his return to the sport and took the chequered flag over Hannam with three wins and two second placings to be awarded the State Champion trophy.
The 125 Heavy was dominated by Adelaide drivers as Jack Ryan was the only
Mount Gambier member taking the challenge.
The weekend started strong for Ryan with a win and a second placing before a mechanical failure resulted in a DNF.
He bounced back again Sunday with and another strong performance to finish the weekend in third outright.
Statesman was a strong field with plenty of racing experience amongst the competitors.
Mount Gambier Kart Cub poster boy Ian Stratman, Paul Clode and Kevin Harvey, were all amongst the fight over the course of the weekend.
Stratman drove well to secure a number of good results including two fifth pace finishes, while Harvey and Clode drove some outstanding races but suffered some bad luck.
Harvey scored a strong second place in heat 2, before a DNF and a penalty for loose body work put a stop to his charge
Clode also suffered a string of DNFs making a comeback somewhat difficult.
Once points were tallied, Stratman finished the event in fifth while Harvey and Clode rounded out the top 10.
The final two classes containing local drivers were the 4SS Torini’s.
Fresh off her debut Hyundai Enduro event at The Bend, Michelle Hetherington competed in the Light class.
A string of third placings early in the heat races, plus some good results in the remaining outings saw her rewarded with a podium celebration Sunday afternoon, finishing third outright.
In the 4SS Heavy, Harvey and Ryan again gridded up as both were hoping for glory and success come the end of the weekend.
A good start for Harvey resulted two top three placings, but come the all-important 12 lap final Sunday, favour did not fall his way despite a strong sixth place finish.
Ryan on the other hand, delivered a faultless string of races winning 5 from 5 and be the first to great the drop of the flag at race end to be the undisputed KartsportSA State Champion in 4SS Heavy.
The event marked an end to the Mount Gambier Kart Club’s activities for 2021 as the members now put their focus on having a strong showing for the upcoming 2022 race calendar.
Racing at the Glenburnie Raceway complex is scheduled to get under way in early February for a Saturday twilight meeting to kick start a new season.
Anyone interested in getting involved in the sport, as a driver or volunteer is encouraged to reach out to the club via their social media outlets giving the access to some grass roots racing in a fun and relaxed environment.
