WSS: Adelaide Report

Across to Adelaide, Bunbury Lost to Weather

>From the World Series Sprintcars web-site - http://www.racefan.net.au/wss/

(Adelaide, Dec 3).....Round 3 of the 1996/97 World Series Sprintcars Championship has been lost to the elements after further rain on the morning of Sunday's re-scheduled meeting compelled Series organisers and track promoter Des Ferris to reluctantly cancel the event.

The demise of the Bunbury City & Regional Raceway's round is the first ever event to succumb to weather in the 10-year history of the World Series travelling to Western Australia for its traditional opening swing. Fans and competitors alike regretted the cancellation following two enthralling nights of action at Kalgoorlie and Claremont where Max Dumesny (Valvoline/AutoPro-Schnee) and Skip Jackson (Gibson Freight-Gambler) won the respective A-Feature events.

Already the competition is intense with reigning dual champion Brooke Tatnell (Shell Helix/Phantom Comics-Schnee) unable to make the impact upon the point standings that he has for the past two seasons following the opening rounds. Veteran Garry Rush has his Castrol-Maxim well in contention as does American star Danny Smith, Australian Champion Todd Wanless and Albury's David Anderson.

Former Series winner and superbike racer Brad Heywood has made an exceptional return to the track in the former Fred Rahmer Gambler, now in Frost Auto Centre livery, while youthful 16-year old team-mate Joel Knott made a sensible interstate debut despite not managing the tough task of qualifying into an A-Feature field.

All the above-mentioned drivers plus Series regulars, Queenslanders Barry Lawrence, Andrew Scheuerle and Anthony Lambert, and Victorian Mike Van Bremen have returned across the Nullabor to tackle the local South Australian contingent for Round 4 at Adelaide's Speedway City this Friday, December 6.

The Adelaide contingent is spearheaded by former Australian Speedcar champion Phil March (Les March Autos-Maxim), Publican Peter Smith (Collotype Labels-Maxim) and a number of other local and interstate contenders including Bundaberg's "Nitro" Nathan MacDonald (Fraser Shores-Schnee).

Immediately following the Adelaide event the teams will travel overnight to south-western Victoria where Round 6 will be run at Warrnambool's Premier Speedway the next day (Saturday, December 7).

-- Brian Hennings TEAM RACEFAN - http://www.racefan.net.au/racefan.html WORLD SERIES SPRINTCARS - http://www.racefan.net.au/wss/ hennings@racefan.net.au