Veering off course proves popular

CHECKMATES: Among those taking the chequred flag for a lap of honour at Taipa Speedway on Sunday were Max Andresen (saloon grade) and Allen Hallet (C-grade).

The high clay bank at Taipa Speedway proved to be an attraction for a couple of saloon racers on where, after a few rainy days, the track surface was reportedly in superb condition for fast-paced action.

The first to drive high up the bank was Max 'Mad Max' Andresen in the second saloon race of the day following a tussle with Roy 'Inchman' Walker for the lead.

A minor touch between the two put Andresen on a wide heading for the clay bank in turn two noted local commentator Carole Teixeira.

"After first hitting the bank with his right rear, his saloon swung around and headed straight up the bank, all the way to the top. Mad Max kept the power on, kept control and managed to ride the ascent and bring his saloon back down again and keep racing."

This veering off course allowed Inchman to go into the lead and stay there all the way to the chequered flag, eventually scoring two wins through the day's three rounds to Mad Max's one win.

Elsewhere, B-grade saloon racer Rob Anderson was the second to give the high clay bank a big nudge: "He went wide coming into the back straight on the last lap of the final feature saloon all-in race of the day, nosing hard up the bank and slowly backed off with right front steering damage."

Also notable on Sunday were C graders Allen and Carmen with their Honda Civic charging hard throughout the three rounds and taking three wins apiece in their respective grades; Craig DeWaal also enjoying a clean sweep in the production grade against Rex 'Old Fox' Roycroft and returning driver, Sonny Halliday, in his newly acquired Honda Prelude; while Andresen and Walker, meanwhile, resumed their own battle for supremacy in the day's featured All In race which was hotly contested over all 15 laps and narrowly won by Mad Max after a superb display of committed driving from both men.

Results from Taipa Speedway on December 21 were as follows. Saloons, rounds 1 and 2: Roy Walker (61a) 1, Max Andresen (58a) 2, 3 John Hussey (27k) 3, R3: 1 Andresen, 2 Walker, 3 Hussey. B-grade, R1: Rob Anderson (89t) 1, Rob Weal (42k) 2, R2 and 3: 1 Anderson 1.

Production, men R1 and 2: Craig DeWaal (22t) 1, Rex Roycroft (8) 2, Sonny Halliday (56t) 3, R3: DeWaal 1, Halliday 2, Roycroft 3; ladies R1, 2 and 3: Didi Roycroft (8) 1. C-grade, men R1: Allen Hallett (44t) 1, Peter Cortesi (23k) 2, Glen Mitchell (69t) 3, R2: Hallett 1, Mitchell 2, Tony Banks (111t) 3, R3: Hallett 1, Mitchell 2, Dillon Hood (111t) 3; ladies R1, 2 and 3: 1 Carmen Hallett (44t). All-In: Max Andresen (58a) 1.

- Local motorsport enthusiasts were now looking forward to one of Taipa Speedway's major events on the 2014/15 card - the New Year's Meet on Saturday, January 3 with a 2pm start. Organisers said visiting drivers from other Northern clubs along with others from further from down country were looking forward to going head-to-head on Taipa's superb red terracotta clay surface.