[BOATS] It's on (Cabarita)!!

by Sean Henshelwood



The opening day of the all important final round of the 2009 Continental Tyres Australian Superboat Championships has come to a conclusion and as the sun gently sets in the west and the beer (light) begins to flow, teams have a chance to reflect on the days competition and plan for what is expected to bean inspirational final day of the national calendar.

It’s on!!
FINAL –Continental Tyres Australian Superboat Championships
Cabarita,NSW – 19-20 September, 2009

The opening day of the all important final round of the 2009 Continental Tyres Australian Superboat Championships has come to a conclusion and as the sun gently sets in the west and the beer (light) begins to flow, teams have a chance to reflect on the days competition and plan for what is expected to bean inspirational final day of the national calendar.

In the Unlimited Superboat class the battle is on between points leader Daryl Hutton (Hooters) and arch-rival and dual round winner Mick Carroll (Excalibur). Currently Hutton holds the advantage after recording the fastest time of the weekend; 41.541 in the second round of qualifying, his closest opponent, Carroll, setting a best of 41.980.

The Unlimited class title race though has dropped from five competitors to four with reigning Group A champion Phonsy Mullan withdrawing after suffering a second terminal engine failure in as many days after finishing the previous round at Maryborough two weeks ago with a broken conrod. The Melton performance specialist sadly also suffered a similar fate after fast-tracking the construction of his replacement engine immediately afterwards, it too suffered a similar failure interestingly just prior to the final round.

“Look, we’re treading new ground and I knew we’d find it hard. The new engine was exceptional,” Mullan acknowledged, “but we’ve discovered that there aren’t too many conrods capable of dealing with the rigours of this style of racing and the horsepower we’re looking at, so we just need to do some more homework. That new engine was dead-set frightening but incredibly driveable, so I’m happy that we have the package right, we just need the parts that can do the job to complete it…”

Despite looking like a non-starter at Cabarita, Mullan was surprised to find his phone ringing off the hook in the week leading up to the Cabarita final. “I was actually staggered,” he admitted. “I had calls from a couple of Group A teams and one of the guys in the Unlimited class, in the end I took up an offer from Greg Mercier to run in ‘Az U Do’, but as it transpired he’s a lot taller than me so I was struggling to reach the pedal and get full throttle, so I’ve decided that it’s probably better to sit it out and help Ted [Sygidus] try and get a podium finish in Group A.”

With Mullan sitting on the sidelines, the battle for the final podium position turned to reigning champion Phil Dixon and former champion Dean Finch, the pair just tenths off the leaders and looking to end the national title chase with victory.

After winning the previous round on the debut of his much touted twin-turbo Farr Faster built powerplant, Finch was holding down third, but admitted to having plenty in reserve. “I stuffed up my second qualifier after going the wrong way,” he laughed. “I’m not too concerned though, it’s not over until the fat orange boat sings…”

Third fastest in the second session also moved Dixon to within striking distance of the title contenders and he admitted that he was more than comfortable with the position, “We’ll be right, it’s only Saturday, no points today,” he smiled.

Whilst the Group A title is all but settled, points leader Slade Stanley was not looking to just consolidate his position at Cabarita, anything short of victory was out of the question for the popular Wagga native.

“I want to win,” he nodded, “I’m not here just to make up numbers…”

Despite that it was numbers that counted at the end of the day, and Stanley had them, his 42.414 run in the opening session almost two seconds faster than the chasing pack.

“I don’t know how we counter that,” Greg Mercier shrugged. “Two seconds is light years in this class, so we’re all really just fighting over P2…”

For Mercier he was enjoying a continuation of his late-season return to form setting the second fastest time, his 44.388 quarter of a second clear of nemesis Brooke Dixon, with an impressive drive by Mildura’s Rob Colman placing him fourth. Behind them Rohan Smith, Ted Sygidus, Daniel Walton, Darek Sygidus and Tremayne Jukes were all within nine tenths of a second, setting the scene for a very interesting second day of competition.

Predictably the 350 Class was dominated by Jake and Mark Garlick in ‘Grumpy’, the Maryborough locals separated by just four tenths of a second at the top of the field, with Daniel James (Stringray Racing) and outgoing champion Brooke Lucas well within reach.

For Victorian team ‘Predator’ (350), their return, along with that of South Australian Damien O’Leary (400), was short-lived, both teams suffering terminal engine failure during practice.

For the ‘Predator’ team they live to fight another day, whilst O’Leary may return forday two behind the wheel of either team-mate Daniel Walton’s boat, or as the ‘B’ driver in Greg Mercier’s ‘Az U Do’.

Regardless,day two has all the elements of a Shakespearean classic, with plots afootthroughout every field; it will be a memorable close to a memorable season.

The final day’s competition gets underway at 10:00am with the first points scoring round of the weekend, round three of qualifying, with the finals scheduled to be completed by 4:30pm.

Round Mountain Raceway is on Round Mountain Road at Cabarita Beach in NSW.

Formore information, stay glued to www.321ignitionmag.comas we bring you all the action from the final round of the 2009 ContinentalTyres Australian Superboat Cham pionships.




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