LATE MODEL SEDANS RIP UP RUSHWORTH: PEARSON WINS

LATE MODEL SEDANS RIP UP RUSHWORTH: PEARSON WINS

Shortly after 10pm on Saturday, the Whroo Forrest shook with the awesome roar of 10,000 

horse-power as a field of immaculate Late Model Sedan monsters were let loose on 

Rushworth Speedway.

A comprehensive field of fourteen Late Models presented at the Goulburn Valley Auto 

Club’s Rushworth Speedway on Saturday 21st November, to provide one of the most 

memorable and action-packed finals witnessed for a long time. 

With entrants from Canberra, South Australia, NSW and New Zealand joining the Victorian 

contingent, there was hot competition in this opening round of the Late Models Racing 

Victoria Championship point’s chase. Heats were broken into two divisions, with twelve 

starters on the final grid for the 25 lap battle.

Sharing the front row of the final were ACT’s Scott McPherson and veteran Victorian driver 

Graham Forte. Completing the top six were Steve Vaughan, Justin Pearson, Chevy Edwards 

and Ross Nicastri. Mick Hetherington did not make the finals, opting to save further damage 

to a sick engine.

When the green dropped, the race did not progress past turn one, as a spin involving Brock 

Edwards and Fiona Verhoeven brought out the yellow flag. Unfortunately Forte retired at 

this stage, and took no further part in the hostilities. A complete restart from original 

positions saw McPherson lead from Vaughan and Pearson, until turn one claimed another 

victim, and a further restart. Chevy Edwards was out on lap five, followed by Cameron 

Pearson on lap nine.

Another spin by Kristen Vermeulen brought out the yellow yet again, and she retired on lap 

six. This time it was Vaughan who took over the lead from Justin Pearson, with the two 

making a 50 metre break on the rest of the field. Pearson soon responded by taking back 

the lead from Vaughan, and that was the way that they lead all to way to the chequered 

flag. 

Meantime, Chevy Edwards had retired to the infield, to be followed shortly after by 

Pearson. This was becoming a race of attrition in the mid-field. Nicastri moved up to briefly 

take position three before retiring on lap eleven, to be followed out by Wayne Belk just two 

laps later.

Now there were six!

Things got even more exciting as the leaders worked their way through the tail-enders, with 

some front-runners losing ground as they attempted to find an inside line on the slower 

cars, rather than immediately going around. 

Final positions were Justin Pearson, Steve Vaughan and Brendan Hucker on the podium, 

followed by Scott McPherson, Kristen Vermeulen and Brock Edwards. Scott McPherson 

posted the fastest lap time of 16.58 seconds around Rushworth’s 440 metre (on pole line) 

track.

Support feature was the V8 Dirt Modifieds, and a small but determined group of just six cars 

provided great entertainment, which was appreciated by the large crowd. Steve Milthorpe 

claimed a clear victory over Darren Clarke with Brett Clarke in third place.

None of the club classes had feature events to compete in however there was plenty of 

interest in the GV Production Sedans, with starters being again split into two divisions. 

Amongst the strong performers were Daniel Wilson with a fine performance with two wins, 

with Bevan Hutchins and Warren Alexander & Ricky Rodda finally has the big Valiant firing, 

with the top five on points for the meeting being Wilson out on top, Rodda, Hutchins, 

Alexander & Scott Smith as a result of the no feature event situation.

GV Open Saloons began with the current GV1 Phil Lamb and GV2 Paul Lamb drivers finishing 

in the first event, in those positions followed by Keith Simmonds. Adam Box was doing well 

until he incurred the displeasure of the Chief Steward after attempting an inside pass on a 

lapped car, causing a collision. 

In race two, it was Michael Wicks driving a Falcon who proved that the “Lambinator” was 

not indeed invincible. Peter Fitzpatrick came home second, with a great drive from Jay 

Nicolaisen in the Chalcraft Commodore in third, after also impressing with a fourth spot in 

race one.

The points top five were Phil Lamb & Simmonds equal first, then Paul Lamb, Wicks & Jay 

Nicolaisen.

Top five on points in Ladies Sedans were Chloe Lamb, Jacquie Fitzpatrick, Jacki Shephard, 

Belinda Chalcraft & Ally Moore and in Junior Sedans Thomas Conboy, Kodye Basten, Ricky 

Clarke, Josh Cecil & Maddy Nadort.

Due to track preparation issues & concerns, the club spent some time working on the race 

surface during racing which resulted in the loss of some events. In an appropriate gesture 

recognising the paying public deserved compensation, spectators have received a discount 

invitation to another race meetings & the volunteers were able to produce a race track to 

hold the feature event the public came to see.

The next BIG meeting at Rushworth Speedway will be on Saturday December 12th, with the 

running of the Victorian Compact Speedcar Championships.

Our Club Sponsors are:-

Super Balance – Shepparton ( Dennis Myers)

WG Panels – Rochester  (Wayne Gilsenan)

Goulburn Valley Oil Supplies – Shepparton  (Russell Pell)

Provac – Bendigo  (Nigel Box) (Juniors all season sponsor)

Bourke Fencing – Bendigo  (Pat Bourke)

CleanAway – Shepparton

R.Collie Earthmoving P/L – Kyabram  ( Rob Collie)

Kyabram Motor Wreckers – Kyabram (Bernie Duncan)

The Rushworth Hotel – Rushworth (Andy & Maz McCallum)

Kyabram Bearings – Kyabram 

Autobarn – Shepparton

IPTA Fibreglass – Geelong  ( Scott Whittle)

Gary Smith Auto Care – Echuca (Kane Chapman)

Ross Adams Cartage Contractor – Rochester (Ross Adams)

Rushworth Bakery – Rushworth (Dave & Nicky Chillingsworth)

Maxam Printing – Shepparton 

Game Traffic & Contracting – Shepparton

Michel Signs – (Chris Mann) –Shepparton

Written by

Ray Read 

DMT Sports Media

For Goulburn Valley Auto Club

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