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After many years of speedway racing, Shaun Dobson has announced that he is taking a break away from the sport.

SWI Racing are pleased to confirm that Jamie will be solely dedicated to the V35 for the 2018/19 racing season.

It has been mutually agreed that Jamie and Krikke MotorSport will now focus on their individual racing programs moving forward.

In the months ahead a full schedule of races for the V35 will be announced.

The Victorian Speedcar Drivers Association (VSDA) is the worlds’ oldest Speedcar (midget) racing club and the 2017/2018 season was another highly successful season for the octagonerian organisation.

Members of the storied club had highly successful seasons and the club can rightly lay claim to its members winning many of the country’s biggest titles.

Second generation racer Travis “Squizzy” Mills despite cutting back on his racing in recent seasons, brought home the bacon by winning the keenly contested Diamond Air Speedcar Super Series contested across numerous states.

“Obviously it feels really good to achieve what we set out to do – and that was to win the series. We were happy we had a consistent run all the way through,” Travis explained.

Mills added his name alongside 5 time series champion Victorian Mark Brown amongst others.

Speaking of the Brown family, Marks’ 17 year old son Kaidon pulled off a stunning result becoming the youngest ever winner of the Australian Speedcar Championship and finally securing the crown for a family that goes four generations deep in Speedcar and Speedway racing. Brown (above right) was driving the V97 machine fettled by his Grandfather, Victorian Ace from the 60’s 70’s and 80’s, Rob Brown.

Another 2^nd generation Victorian racer in Joe Lostitch  won his second consecutive 6 Crown Series after traversing this large brown continent successfully.

The 73rd Victorian Speedcar Championship, which dates back to the 1934/35 season at Melbourne’s Olympic Park was taken out for the 2^nd time by Travis Mills. Mills’ win placed him as a two time winner alongside his legendary father John.

Another of the Nation’s premier Speedcar events is the Beasley memorial and this years’ event fell to Dayne Kingshott in the V21.

Locally the club continued to grow and shine with a swathe of multigenerational racers making their speedcar debuts with some awesome results.

Dillon Ghent headed the list of impressive newcomers by winning the 2^nd annual Skips race and also the club’s driver’s championship. Never before in the long history of the club has a rookie racer achieved this feat. Ghent also nearly snagged the Avalon track Championship and would have on the final night except for an engine that would intermittently decide not to run cleanly.

Chris Nankiville and Toby “Sparkles” Smith, both 3^rd generation racers, had solid rookie seasons with top 5 results.

Locally, it was a very even season with Ash Booker (above left), Justin McMinn, Nick Parker and multi-generational racers in Andy Pearce and Harley Bishop also scoring wins.

Additional highlights included McMinn (below left) winning the Avalon track championship as well as qualifying into the Sydney City 50 lapper A-Main at Valvoline Raceway with young Brown and Mills. What is impressive about this is that there were over 60 drivers contesting the event including 2 top rated Americans and a dozen hot Kiwi’s and out of the Victorian trio McMinn had absolutely no previous experience at the Sydney track – a track that massively favours local knowledge and experience.

And finally 2 Victorian cars, the V97 of Kaidon Brown and the V21 of Dayne Kingshott were both invited over to the land of the long white cloud and super competitive Speedcars to be part of the annual Tri-Nations series – New Zealand’s biggest speedway series of the year.

“This season has been brilliant in the quality of our drivers, teams and events and also the depth and promise shown by the new drivers and the trio of 2^nd or 3^rd generation drivers that joined us as standout rookies,” stated hard working club president Tim Fisher.

“So many of our racers had a shot at making victory lane, some did, some didn’t, but it was all great racing and it all looks really promising for the future,” Fisher continued enthusiastically and proudly.

The VSDA also wish to sincerely thank all of its sponsors, teams, supporters and fans for another great season with the worlds’ oldest speedcar club.

Nathan Disney and the Disney Motorsport team signed off their season last Saturday (28^th April) at Valvoline Raceway with a final hit out for the now retired ‘old faithful’ Rocket Chassis.

The top ten finish was not quite how the Newcastle Nightmare wanted to finish his season but he was buoyed by the fact that the car which won was anew XR1 rocket – the same chassis that Nathan will soon debut, and a chassis that Nathan can clearly see has advantages.

“Those XR1 Rockets are so much better than our old car (updated 2007 Rocket)”, stated Nathan. “They drive through and off the corner so much better, but having said that our old car is still pretty good for its age.”

A promising final night for the old girl was on the cards when Nathan pushed the Adamstown Car Doctors/Tuff Lift Hoists/Lake Macquarie Sheet Metal/Safe N Sound Self Storage/Bob Jane T-Marts Kotara/TD Graphics #11 to 4^th fastest time during unrepresentative hot laps.

Even more exciting was his opening heat when he led the first 8 laps and had a great side by side multi lap battle with Daryl Grimson before finishing a close 2^nd. Nathan made a great start from pole and had a slender gap until an untimely caution for Barry Kelleher who’d blown up his engine. On the restart Grimson took full advantage of the two wide restart and a superior line into turn 1 to grab the lead. Nathan fought back – hard – and the pair ran side by side trading the lead until lap 9 when Grimson secured the lead and the win.

The second heat was a much harder affair after starting mid pack on the inside and then working up to 4^th place only to be passed again by that man Grimson with 2 to go.

“We tightened the car up too much for the second heat,” explained Nathan, “and it was just a battle the whole way.”

The 30 lap final was another fight after starting from position 7 and being boxed in on the first lap and dropping a position. Never one to give up Nathan continued to graft hard and worked forward to 7^th by lap 7 on a track that favoured a free handling car that could run the top or the bottom.

After a stoppage Nathan dropped another spot. “Mooney (Daniel Moon) passed me under yellow I reckon but it really didn’t matter that much.” laughed Nathan who was resigned to having to grind out the feature in a car that wasn’t set-up as well for the track conditions as it could have been.

Nathan then got the elbows up and put in a couple of laps on the highline to see if the car would work any better up there, but then returned to the bottom to complete the race in an eventual 9^th place. “Yeah, I did a couple of laps up the top where I drove like an idiot.” was his comical post-race assessment.

“Congratulations to (winner) Ryan (Fenech), he drove well and deserved the win,” said Nathan sincerely as he thought with a smile about getting into his new chassis that is the same as the one driven by the race winner.

Overall, it wasn’t the finish or the season that the young veteran really desired, but on balance it was a solid season given the age of his equipment which was probably made to look better than it was through only his driving tenacity and experience.

“I really can’t wait to get into the new car and have a big crack on a more even footing next season.” Enthused Nathan only minutes after concluding the current race year.

“Dad (Des) and I have had a great season and a lot of fun thanks to the brilliant support of our crew and our fantastic sponsors and we really can’t wait to get the new car out there and blast it around.” concluded Nathan.

Nathans current car is now for sale as a roller or complete and would make a great car for an aspiring late model racer or novice.

Disney Motorsport and Nathan personally would also like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank crew members Des Disney – the heart and soul of the team, Gary and Nathan Chipchase and Sim Borsche (get well soon Sim) and sponsors Adamstown Car Doctors, Tuff Lift Hoists, Lake Macquarie Sheet Metal, Safe N Sound self-storage, Bob Jane T-Marts – Kotara and TD Graphics for all their invaluable support and assistance throughout the season.

For some awesome in car footage check out the motorsport channel at rubberdown.com.au or Disney Motorpsorts on Facebook.

Keep up to date with Nathan and the Disney Motorsport team on Facebook at Disney Motorsports.

 Photo and Release by Pirate Media Group – 0410 198 138.

Nick Parker drove a faultless race in his Permatex Racing, Aggressor-Eagle to take the final feature of the Victorian Speedcar Drivers Associations (VSDA) season last night at Avalon Raceway.

Parker was a challenger all night but once the green flag dropped on the main event Parker was off and was never headed again defeating pole-sitter Justin McMinn (Bosch Aust, Spike-Esslinger) and Andy Pearce (Lucas Oil Products, Spike-Fontana) in an entertaining race for the minor positions.

The opening heat on a night that had a slight mist/fog present from early in the afternoon gave some drivers some issues with their helmet visors but others had even bigger dramas including Domain Ramsey who absolutely scorched to the win in heat 1 but at a huge price when his Indy Race Parts, Bullet-Mopar broke a drive belt towards the end starving the Mopar engine of crucial oil and costing him an engine despite taking the win ahead of Grant Patton’s Mech N Air, Aggressor-Hawk and McMinn who’d fought back from an early half spin which had dropped him towards the tail of the field.

Dillon Ghent’s Ghent Automotive, Spike-Mopar gave the team some issues when it would run well, then wouldn’t, then would, meaning he was unable to repeat his feature win from last time at this venue. Brad Day (Cazberg Eathworks, Stealth-Fontana) also had trouble in heat 2 with a car that would and wouldn’t run.  In the end it was Pearce who capitalised on a front row start with a strong run to defeat Parker and Luke Ferguson (Bass River Motors, CP3-Esslinger).

The final heat saw McMinn and Parker battle from the get go with McMinn leading 9 and a half of the 10 laps before Parker, who’d ranged and raced alongside McMInn for the last handfull of laps, used lapped traffic to perfection to grab the win with Pearce back in 3^rd.

Not surprisingly McMinn and Parker would line up on the front row of the club’s final feature for the season with other fast men Pearce, Patton and Ferguson next joined by Chris Nankiville (50fifty clothing, Spike-Mopar), Craig Smith (Parken engineering, Beast-Fontana), Jack Day (Stealth-Fontana), David Alford (Alfie’s Excavations, Bullet-Ed Pink) and Ghent.

At the drop of the flag Parker launched into the lead from McMinn, Pearce and Patton with Ferguson putting mounting pressure on Patton until lap 4 when a dive up the inside of turn 1 saw Ferguson make contact with Patton who spun into the wall ending his night.

From that point on there were no more stoppages as Parker led away with his only concern being the same lapped traffic that helped him in the earlier heat which allowed the chasing pack to close up over the last couple of laps.

“I kept thinking I heard someone there, so I got the elbows up just a little bit more.” Explained Parker on the victory dais as he also thanked his sponsors and crew.

While the Victorian Speedcar season is over, many Victorian teams will now head north for next weekends’ 50 Lapper against over a dozen international racers at Sydney’s Valvoline Raceway.

The VSDA wishes all of its travelling teams a safe journey and racing next weekend ahead of its end of season banquet.

The VSDA also wish to sincerely thank all of its sponsors, teams, supporters and fans for another great season with one of the worlds’ oldest speedcar clubs.

Entries for the first round of the NSW Kart Championships will close at midnight today Thursday 19 April 2018. NO late entries will be accepted.

Eight classes have reached Championship Class status with a competitive 23 entries in TaG 125 Light.

Cadet 9 entries stand at 7 at the time of this communication – just one to go! As an added incentive the Coffs Harbour Kart Club has partnered with Karting Addiction Australia and AMV Wheels Australia and for competitors eligible for Cadet 9 class one set of AMV Mini Light Cadet aluminum wheels valued at $400 will be drawn randomly at the trophy presentation ceremony.

Are you in for the start of the 2018 Championship Chase!  www.kartingnsw.com.au

Nathan Disney’s attempt to win his 3^rd New South Wales late Model Championship came up a little short finishing just off the podium in fourth last Saturday night (April 14^th) but none the less the Newcastle Nightmare was still relatively satisfied with his run over the weekend.

“To be honest, we were very ordinary in our first heat,” stated Nathan candidly. “We dropped a few spots because we were trying a new spring and shock set-up that is meant for our new car. The car drove completely differently and I even had to adjust my driving style as the car reacted very differently. On top of that we had a fuel pressure issue as well and a couple of them got past us then.”

 “Heat 2 was a better result as we gained a few in what was a loaded heat. We’d made some changes to the car and it was better,” Nathan explained.

 “In the final we had a plan to run the bottom and we picked them off one by one. We passed some pretty good cars and worked our way up top fourth so overall we were pretty happy with that result,” Nathan said with some enthusiasm.

The night didn’t end there however for the Disney Motorsport, Adamstown Car Doctors, Tufflift Hoists, Lake Macquarie sheet metal, Safe ‘n’ Sound Self Storage, Bob Jane T-Marts Kotara, TD Graphics team with a 2^nd feature event on the cards to replace a main event that was rained out earlier in the season.

 “We hadn’t qualified into the feature that was rained out but as a top finishing car in the NSW Title event I was allowed to start but was back in 13^th or 14^th,” said Nathan.

“Going into turn 1 though I messed up when the guys in front braked-up which I wasn’t expecting and I rode a wheel and bent the nose up on our rocket. After that I pulled in because once you bend the nose cone up on these cars, they become extremely difficult to steer and drive so there wasn’t much point continuing,” Nathan explained.

Despite this little error Nathan and the Adamstown Car Doctors, Tufflift Hoists, Lake Macquarie sheet metal, Safe ‘n’ Sound Self Storage, Bob Jane T-Marts Kotara, TD Graphics team were not overly disappointed with the weekends results and now look forward to their next event, and possibly the final run for the old car, at Valvoline Raceway on April 28^th.

“I’m looking forward to the April 28^th show because it’s the big 50 lap midget race and my mate Michael Pickens from New Zealand will be racing,’ said Nathan. “Michael and I did a bit of racing together in the USA and we get on really well so it will be great to get the chance to run our old girl one more time and also get to watch Michael and Matt Smith and the others race.”

For some awesome in car footage check out the motorsport channel at www.rubberdown.com.au or Disney motorpsorts on facebook.

Nathan would like to thank all of his generous sponsors, supporters and loyal crew for their ongoing support.

Keep up to date with Nathan and the Disney Motorsport team on Facebook at Disney Motorsports.

Photo courtesy Lone Wolf Photography.

Speedway racing is a sport that often runs hard on emotion and this weekend will be no different for Novacastrian Nathan Disney as he strives to win his 3^rd United Realty - Acreage & Property Marketing and Residential & Prestige NSW Late Model Championship at Valvoline Raceway this weekend (14^th April).

The 2 time winner almost pulled of his 3^rd win at the same event last year but was thwarted at the flag while lapping another competitor for the fourth time and was beaten to the line by a mere 3/100ths of a second.

What made the defeat even more devastating was that it was the last meeting that his late mother ever saw him race, and that emotion will kick Nathan into another gear as he contests this year’s event in honour of his dearest Mother.

“My mother and my brother were both at that event and to be denied at the finish by a lapped car getting in the way, again, was very hard to take.” Stated a fiercely determined Nathan.

While the Disney Motorsports team has a new XR1 Rocket almost ready, they will utilise the old faithful Adamstown Car Doctors 2015 Rocket that has served the team so well.

“The car is just about ready for this weekend’s twin features,” explained Nathan. “We’ve given the car a thorough going over with lots of refreshed components.”

With a field of 25 nominations including some of the nation’s best, such as multiple Australian Champion and defending NSW Champion Darren Kane, Tasmanian Brad Smith, and locals Clayton Pyne, David Doherty and Ryan Fenech it will not be an easy task.

“Darren (Kane), Ryan (Fenech) and Ben (Nicastri) are all tough to beat and Brad (Smith) is really on it at the moment and is always solid at PCR (Valvoline Raceway).” Rated the Newcastle Nightmare of his challengers. “But we’ve beaten them before and we know we can do it again.”

The team want to thank as always their great supporters especially

Tufflift Hoists – Tufflift.com.au

Lake Macquarie Sheet Metal -

Adamstown Car Doctors,

Safe ‘n’ SOUND Self Storage

Bob Jane T-Marts – Kotara

TD Graphics

Keep up to date with Nathan on Facebook @ Disney Motorsports.

Image: Lone Wolf Photography