Lee Nash takes Our Car Autos Round 1

October 17 - Last night saw the first night of the 2009 / 10 summer season for Wingless Sprints W.A, with Round 1 of the Our Car Autos Series at Perth Motorplex. In a great result for the class before the first green flag even dropped, 20 cars fronted for the first event of the season, a wonderful indication of how far the class has come since it's introduction to W.A only 18 months ago. As is always the case, a new season brings some things that stay the same and some that are different. Last night saw a fast Lee Nash, a fast Marshall McDiarmid and the Berend Kaaks #95 sitting on the trailer to provide the consistent stories from last season, while some rookies had a wonderful first night out, and some new faces joined the fast group on track. Greg Migro and his committee would be justifiably proud of the showing from the class, still in it's infancy yet providing such a good car count and close, hard racing.

The night kicked off with a non points race for the rookies in the class, a great initiative and one that the committee must thank Gavin Migro and the Motorplex organisers for allowing. In a pre cursor to what was to come for the competitive class, Jason Priolo took the Rookie Race, in a race that was perhaps surprising in it's intensity and hard fought nature.

19 cars took to the track for Heat 1 of the official proceedings, with Liam Dowling and Merv Lowther leading the field away. Dowling took the honours early, and led the field in the Consolidated Diesel #91. Lee Nash was ominous early, while reigning State Champion, Marshall McDiarmid, had to come from mid pack in the large field. Kim Collins was an early retirement as smoke billowed from the #84, while Adam Brauer was the only other casualty in the H A Young Plumbing Contractors #13. Dowling continued to hold sway for much of the distance, with Nash following and McDiarmid making his way through the field. As the lead pair approached lapped traffic Nash picked a better line and took over the lead, while Lowther continued to stay strong in 3rd in the Sinsations Entertainment #75. McDiarmid had worked his way to 4th and driven clear of Trevor Reynolds in the ATR Fabrication #10. This remained the order for the final two laps, giving Nash first blood and a 100 point start to the night.

Heat 2 saw McDiarmid off the front row, alongside Daryl Clayden in the #45. Clayden took an early lead, while Phil Moylan settled into 3rd behind the pair in the Creative Golf Management #44. By lap 3, McDiarmid had moved into the lead ahead of Clayden, while Nash annexed 3rd place as the race neared the half way point. After several massive battles between the pair last season, once again McDiarmid and Nash went at it at the head of the field. Nash took the lead at the halfway point, before the W.A 1 slowed and headed to the infield following a water pump seal failure. Nash skipped away to a comfortable win and another 100 points, while Clayden led home Moylan (Phil) by around 3/10th of a second for 2nd. In another good drive, Dowling had worked his way through to fourth, ahead of Lowther.

Come final time, and in another positive move from the class, the usual highest points to the front format was altered and the field inverted through to 8th. This saw Ben Migro with a pole start in the Classic Contractors #7, alongside Kevin Clayden in the West Coast Rewind #9. The first attempt at a start was called off after one lap was completed following a Carl Pickersgill spin in The Panel Shop #25. The second attempt to get the 15 laps moving was a success, and saw Migro take full advantage of leading the field at the restart, checking out from the pack while battles raged all over the track behind him. Daryl Clayden took 3rd away from Kevin, while Phil Moylan jumped to 4th.

It was at mid race distance that this race changed dramatically. Migro, who had driven superbly to that point and appeared on the verge of a first ever win at the track, spun coming onto the main straight. Critically, the car stalled as Migro saved the spin and left him sitting as the yellows came on, destined for a ROF start. Nash lind up 2nd on the tail of Clayden, with half a race still to go and a car that was obviously fast. Just as crucial in the make up of the race, and indeed the night's results, was the restart. McDiarmid, who had climbed from 11th to the pointy end of the field, clipped the cone on the main straight as the green lights came on.

Two laps later, and Nash had taken the lead, while two laps later again McDiarmid also put a pass on Moylan. Dowling had a moment which cost him 2 spots, and at the finish it was Nash, McDiarmid, Daryl Clayden, Phil Moylan then Kevin Clayden. Following the race, McDiarmid was penalised 2 spots for his restart indiscretion.

At the end of the night, the points saw Nash take the win with a perfect 300, Dowling take 2nd on 291, with Phil Moylan 3rd on 290. In another example of how tight this division has become, there was only 12 points between 2nd and 8th.

Congratulations to Lee Nash on taking out Round 1, and congratulations to all Wingless Sprints W.A drivers and crews for the great turn out of well presented, competitive cars.