MOUNT Gambier Karting Club kicked off the new racing year in stellar fashion last Sunday as entrants arrived trackside for Round 1 of the 2018 Championship season.
After nearly a 12-week break, drivers arrived early to ensure their machines were set up and dialled in for the morning practice sessions.
The day kicked off with the youngest drivers leading the charge.
From the Green light in heat one Hayley Fewins took the lead and was set to secure her first heat win before a spin with a lap and a half to go handed the race to fast-finishing Portland driver Ewan Anderson.
Anderson went on to win all four races throughout the day and left Fewins and Xavier Cain to battle it out for the remaining podium positions.
Two Second placings and two thirds each saw Fewins and Cain tied on points after the final, but it was Fewins who was presented with runner-up on a count back.
Tag125 provided some highlights as well, with local drivers filling two of the three placings.
Wins shared evenly between Portland member Daniel Rethus and Mount Gambier’s Kelvin Moreland ensured close racing, with Rethus taking the round win ahead of the father/son duo Kelvin and Matthew Moreland.
Cadet 12’s, again drew a crowd, which witnessed some exciting action as the youngsters went wheel-to-wheel, demonstrating some exciting driving skill.
The day belonged to Mount Gambier’s Parker Scott, who won all four heats, but Scott did not have it all his own way.
Portland’s Brocklan Parker and local Brock Fewins all had time at the front of the class during the day, with Parker shadowing Scott for the best part of it.
The 10-lap final finished as did all four races, with Scott greeting the chequered flag ahead of Parker and Fewins.
Taking the step up from the Junior ranks last year, Lauren Ferguson made her KA3 Senior Light debut in spectacular fashion.
In a kart she had first drove in the practice session Sunday morning, Ferguson was a standout, adapting well to the new chassis to take all four heat wins as she dominated the class.
The KA3 Senior Heavy saw Bradley Anderson returning to the sport after a 12-month break.
Anderson showed his experience and pace early in the day by taking the heat one win in his brand new Sera chassis.
He continued to perform well as the day unfolded and went on to take the remaining heat wins as he clean swept the day, with four wins from four starts.
Then the TAG Restricted Heavy was battled out between Melbourne’s Paul Weir, local member Trevor Pevitt and Portland driver Thomas Nunn, all fighting for track position.
While the result could have easily been handed to any of the three, Nunn went on to finish the day in first, while Pevitt managed to hold off Weir to secure second place.
The Mount Gambier Karting Club will again open its gates to the public this weekend, with the first event of the Vintage Karts calender for 2018.
Now in its sixth consecutive year of hosting such an event, this weekend is set to be the biggest the club has hosted since 2013.
Drivers from almost every state in Australia will converge on the Glenburnie Raceway.
With karts dating back as far as the sixties, there will be plenty for spectators to look at on the track as well as in the pits, with the public welcomed to walk around and get a closer look at some of these impeccably restored machines and speak to their owners.
With catering on site for the Friday and Saturday event, plus free entry to the complex for all spectators, it gives racing fans a rare glimpse into the past and how engineering has progressed over a period of years.
With the on track action set to start mid-morning both days there will be something for almost everyone to enjoy.
