What a month it has been! - Part 1 dated: 15 January 2006
What a month of racing - the team have been absolutely flat out getting through 3 race meetings and 1 awards night.

USA vs Aust Speedweek - Kwinana Motorplex on December 10
After two race meetings of starting from the rear of field (all rookies are required to start from the rear until the chief steward decides you are ready to start in the pack), Keith Mann finally gave me the OK to join the pack with a place in the second row. I was very excited, but fully aware that all the big guns were lined up behind me. The lights went green and I wasted little time getting to the lead. I pushed the United Industries Esslinger powered Stealth as hard as I could without over cooking it, knowing that someone had to be close to my tail. With one lap to go, I thought to myself “I think I am going to win this heat race, how cool is this”. That was until the last corner. Neville Lance scorched past on the low side of a lapped car that I was passing on the high line and put me second across the line.

In the 2nd Heat of the night I started in the same position but on the outside row. I realised early in this race that we had set the car up way too loose making for some exciting racing in the pack and a 7th place finish.

Heat 3 and the final race of the night was a disappointing 2nd DNF of the season. The car started vibrating violently approaching turn 3 and I was struggling to grip the steering wheel. I slowed the car, knowing there was a problem and before I knew it, my ankles were getting belted by the drive shaft due to a driveline component failure. Even with the unsatisfactory end to the night we were happy to still maintain a top 5 point standing for the season.



The WA Young Achiever of the Year Gala Awards Night - Sheraton Hotel, Perth - 16/12/06
I successfully made it to the semi final list in the Sports Category of the above Awards signifying the overall top ten young people in Western Australia. In attendance were Mr Rod Slatter, Chairman of the WA Speedway Commission which had nominated me on behalf of the sport, guru speedway columnist Ken Brown and members of my crew. It was a pretty spectacular affair and an honour to represent Speedway at such a high profile event.

  
 
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