The Thunder Down Under SDAV Hot Rod series rolled into Drouin Speedway to thrill the local V8 enthusiasts on January 31st and they didn’t disappoint with local Gippsland driver Dean West racing to a dominate victory in two of the 3 heats.

In the first heat Glenn Lawless and Kali Hovey began at the front of the field and Hovey won the drag race into turn one. She held that lead into the 1st and 2nd turns for the second time before West found a gap and stuck his # 4 ‘Ace Timber & Fencing’ race car into the lead having begun in 5th. Jenkins followed through into second and Hovey regrouped to hold third and that’s how the race ended with improving Lawless in a great fourth place ahead of Vaughan Matthey, Ray Welsh and rookie Shannon Meakins (# 25 Northern Auto Recyclers).

Meakins and Welsh came together trying to catch up to the field before the second heat began leaving Meakins with damaged shockers and out of the race. Matthey began on pole in the second heat with West alongside and it was Matthey who rocketed to the lead into the opening turns and around to cross the start finish line for the first time. Going through turn one for the second time all the great work ended when Matthey spun and restarted rear. West assumed the lead and the rest of the race whilst Jenkins from 5th place took 2nd in front of Hovey, Welsh (# 75 Donna’s Hair Design), Lawless and Matthey.

In the final heat of the day Jenkins led Welsh off the start and all the way with the veteran at age 72 (Welsh) leading home the rest of the field including West, Hovey, Matthey (# 12 Werribee Hire a Hubby), Lawless and Meakins.

The final shortened to 10 laps due to extreme heat and track conditions began with West on pole and Jenkins alongside. The race down the front straight was fantastic as Jenkins made the move to the front. West tagged onto his tail and tried to wrest that lead from Jenkins. Hovey (# 2 Dandenong Iron Foundry) and Welsh battled with each other for third whilst Jenkins and West cleared away in front of the field. Lawless (# 99 Andrew Wallace Truck Fit Outs) was in a clear fifth spot and Matthey and Meakins alone in their places.

Half distance came and went with Jenkins still in front and West unable to get passed despite getting close for an outside pass on a couple of occasions. Jenkins (# 3 P &S Automotive) drove a faultless race to win from West, Hovey, Welsh, Lawless, Matthey and Meakins.

The Sdav head to Western Speedway Hamilton on February the 6th and then the ‘Podger Memorial’ at Simpson on the 20th of February.

The SDAV Club would like to thank their minor sponsors:

Mega Auto Parts
Ribeau Interstate Transport Carrier
Tony Delmo Radiator Service
Bob Fisher Automotive
Meehan’s Race Engines

Written by Dean Thompson
DMT Media
0412061208
dmtmedia@speedway.net.au