Images by Peter Roebuck
Tonight at the Perth Motorplex, twenty one Street Stocks made the glorious return to the venue for the first time since 2017 and when all was said and done, it was Jamie Oldfield who claimed the feature race win and in the process, closed the gap on Anthony Beare in the Novus Glass Street Stock Month of Madness points!
In what was a record setting night, the Street Stocks certainly put on a show right from the very first race of the evening.Anthony Beare came from position six in the opener and shot to the lead early, then recorded a 21.479 second lap, breaking the one lap Perth Motorplex Street Stock record which previously stood at 21.642 seconds.
Beare continued to lap in the mid twenty one second range and when the eight lap race was done, he was also the new holder of the eight lap track record, nearly seven seconds off the time that stood since 2003 when Terry Chamberlain set it.
The second heat race saw Oldfield look to do the same as Beare, and although he wasn’t as quick, he got the job done and claimed the heat win.Heat three saw surprise package Ray Leonard, fresh from his trip East, grab the lead immediately and on that very first circulation he would lower the one lap record again to a stunning 21.356 seconds, and came within one second of beating Beare’s new track record.
The final heat would see Oldfield get the best of Beare, setting up another Oldfield and Beare front row, this time for the fifteen lap preliminary feature which would not only set the grids for tomorrows nights heats, but also be the only race of the night that would carry series points.
Mick Hamon and Gordon Wyatt would be the only two drivers unable to start the feature, both suffering motor damage that will more than likely keep them sidelined from tomorrow nights event also.
As the race went green, Beare got the jump with Carnarvon’s Jace Kempton looking to follow him but Oldfield fought back on the inside to be right behind Beare as they crossed the line the first time. Oldfield stayed low and Beare high as they continued to battle while Kempton, Newman’s Craig Clayton and Derby’s Jake Hoath rounded out the top five.
Cody Avins got by Hoath for fifth, while Daniel Ameduri was also right behind him applying the pressure after starting eighth.With five laps complete the yellows came on for Paul Briggs who spun, while under yellow lights Evan Wakefield and Clayton would retire infield. Oldfield and Beare picked up their battle as race went green, while Hayden Norman, who appeared to be losing liquid from his #6 machine, also retired infield.
Oldfield got under Beare on lap nine and led by 0.035 seconds, but the two remained side by side down the back straight and through three and four, Beare back in front by 0.066 seconds to lead lap ten.
The duo made heavy contact with the wall down the back straight on the next lap, but Beare maintained the lead by 0.070 seconds on the eleventh circulation before Jamie then scooched past and grabbed the lead clearly on lap twelve.Kempton was holding strong in third but would slow and eventually head infield in the dying laps, with Ameduri doing a great job to pass him for third.
From here the order remained unchanged, Oldfield defeating Beare and Ameduri, while Ben Norman recovered to finish fourth ahead of an impressive Lenny Bates and a recovered Paul Briggs in sixth.
Courtesy of the nights results, Beare now only leads the series by seventeen points (equivalent to a fourth place finish!), while Hayden Norman holds onto third place a further twenty three points (a third place finish!) behind.
With heats and the feature counting tomorrow night, it is sure to be another big night of racing. Heat grids for tomorrow will be done based on the feature race finish from tonight, with the added twist of an invert, to be drawn at the drivers meeting tomorrow.
The first heat will determine the inside row starters and the second heat the outside row starters, but in another twist, the top six will also be shuffled, with drivers drawing for positions.
Make sure you don’t miss a minute of the action at the Perth Motorplex tomorrow, with racing starting from 3.30pm!
THE NOVUS GLASS MONTH OF MADNESS WOULD LIKE TO THANK ITS CURRENT PARTNERS
Novus Glass
East Pilbara Tyre Services
Dodd Hotshots
Scardifields Smash Repairs
ODH Mechanical
Speedway Sedans Australia
Speedway Sedans Western Australia
PB Trailers and Fabrication
Stick-it Suspension
Collie Machine Shop
RPM Race Products
Devil Race Parts
Full Bore Race Gear
MONTH OF MADNESS SCHEDULE
Round 1: Attwell Park Speedway, Albany – January 23, 24 – Winner Jamie Oldfield
Round 2: Make Smoking History Bunbury Speedway – January 30 – Winner Anthony Beare Round 3: Perth Motorplex – April 16,17
Round 4: Geraldton City Speedway – April 24
Release by DTN Media.
Official Result
Preliminary A Main, 15 Laps- 1. WA1 Jamie Oldfield, 2. S46 Anthony Beare, 3. W183 Daniel Ameduri, 4. W66 Ben Norman, 5. W74 Lenny Bates, 6. W12 Paul Briggs, 7. W29 Jake Hoath, 8. W44 Peter Herbert, 9. W83 Stefani Ameduri, 10. W31 Cody Avins, 11. W110 Clayton Blee, 12. W12 Ray Leonard, 13. W3 Gavin Minty, 14. W609 Jamie Goodwin. DNF: W55 Jace Kempton (13), W23 Matt Lowe (9), W6 Hayden Norman (5), W21 Evan Wakefield (5), W35 Craig Clayton (5). DNS: W7 Mick Hamon, W95 Gordon Wyatt. Total Time: No Time. Winning Margin: 1.487. Fastest Lap: 21.505 WA1 Jamie Oldfield.
