A DUAL-PURPOSE autocross took place last Sunday at SEAC park, with the final chance for drivers to improve their position in the series.
Round five of the SEAC series was also round eight of the Victorian Autocross Series, which attracted considerable interest from across the border.
The weather played its part, with light showers throughout the day, which varied the grip levels.
A big field of 63 drivers entered, with race director Paul Height setting a challenging course, which befitted from preparation by club president Paul Heenan for the recent Rallycross event.
As expected, the club’s “hotshots” put in good times, with the home track advantage seeing Dale Cagney’s 4WD Evo and Jason Winterfield’s Subaru Legacy out in front.
Victorian visitors Matt Muir in a purpose built 4WD motorbike engine powered “Special” was just in front of fellow Victorian Cary Seabrook in another 4WD Subaru WRX.
Warrnambool’s Matt Kirby – a SEAC competitor – found good form on the to take his front-wheel-drive Laser home fifth fastest spot – no mean feat to be so close to the herd of 4WD’s.
Bordertown’s Adam Jesse finished 0.4 of a second behind Kirby in his Subaru Legacy, with another Subaru WRX driven by Corey Aldridge nipping at their heels.
Jake Vallence was just behind in his WRX for the eighth spot.
Father and son Geoff and Damien Wilson drove different cars, a Peugeot 306 front wheel drive and a Nissan S-13 rear wheel drive to tie for ninth points with exactly the same times to the 1/100 of a second.
From the start of the second run it became more of a lottery for track grip with the changing conditions.
Victorians Matt Muir and Jake Vallence tied at the top with equal times of 1:46.87 seconds.
Seabrook was third, some four seconds back and Winterfield a further three seconds behind.
The third run saw Muir flying in the 4WD buggy, home in a 1:42.47 seconds, well in front of Seabrook’s WRX and Cagney’s Evo.
Fellow buggy pilot Maurice McCarthy found some form and came in with fourth quickest time.
Nick Cagney finally came to grips with his Commodore and found the best lines around the tricky layout to stop the clock at 1:54.1 seconds and sixth spot.
Another to find form was Anthony Tos, as he wrestled the AU Falcon around for a time of 1:56.75.
The fourth run saw Muir again quickest, just in front of Seabrook and Winterfield.
The last run of the day saw some mechanical issues surface, sidelining some competitors.
Seabrook finished the outing with first place, with the quickest time of the day – 1:41.8 seconds – 3.5 seconds clear of Dale Cagney, with Jake Vallence next, some 2 seconds further back.
Seabrook claimed the overall win with a total time of 8:56.69.
Second outright and first SEAC series points went to Dale Cagney with a time of 9:06.62 seconds.
Third outright and second SEAC series points went to Jason Winterfield with his time of 9:17.68 seconds, while fourth outright and second points in the Victorian series went to Jake Vallence with a total of 9:19.71 seconds.
The club will now put all resources into the Legend of The Lakes hill climb, with the event set down for November 8-10.
