Star Studded Field for Ian Boettcher 5000
Author : Archerfield Speedway
Article courtesy of Super Sedan Association: This weekend, Brisbane is only the place to be for speedway sedan aficionados with competitors from four converging on Supercheap Auto Archerfield Speedway for the running of the inaugural Ian Boettcher 5000 on Saturday night (December 1).
The Super Sedan Association has joined forces with major sponsors East Coast Traffic Control, Nissan Finance, The Queensland Times and Think Money to establish this event in recognition of the contribution that Ipswich-based businessman and long-time speedway supporter Ian Boettcher has made to the sport. The 40-lap feature race will pay a cool $5000 to the winner, making it one of the richest races in the country.
Most of the biggest names in the country are amongst the star-studded field of drivers who will be contesting the event at the same venue that produced one of the most memorable Super Sedan races in history earlier this year.
Leading the charge and no doubt desperate to win the event honouring his team owner is two-time national title holder Darren Kane, fresh from winning his fourth consecutive New South Wales championship in Sydney last weekend.
Others bringing some superb form into this event are another former national champ in Steve Jordan, who has two feature race wins already this season and is yet to finish outside the top four in any event, and NSW’s Lachlan Onley, who has also two feature race wins so far this season and finished a very close second to Kane last weekend after leading the first 14 laps. Of course, Onley also finished runner-up in the epic Australian Championship final staged at Archerfield in May and will be desperate to make amends and climb the top step of the podium.
Three-time national champion Michael Nicola is returning to Queensland after having his last visit thwarted by rain two weeks ago in Toowoomba. The much-travelled veteran Victorian is a big race specialist and with five grand up for grabs, Nicola will have his eyes on the prize. Also making a long haul north for the event is South Australia’s Dave Gartner, who will be desperate to cast aside his lack of luck at the Brisbane circuit and enjoy the perfect preparation for the National Super Sedan Series which gets underway next weekend.
Other interstaters in the line-up include Victoria’s Ashley Bergmeier and the highly credentialed NSW-based duo of Wayne Brims and Ian Brims, both of whom are state championship winners, race extensively at Archerfield and should definitely be amongst the front runners.
Of course the home state contingent is also exceptionally strong and includes three National Series champions in Wayne Randall, Matt Pascoe and Michael Doblo, all of whom are also state championship victors. Pascoe, the current SSA series champion, finished on the podium in his season debut at Kingaroy last month, while Randall and Doblo will be making their first appearances of the season on Saturday night. Likewise, Gympie’s Mark Pagel has also selected this special event to kick off his 2012/2013 season.
The field also includes plenty of other contenders with the likes of Jason Campbell, Steve Pearce, Barry Craft, Dale Christensen, former SSA champion Paul Geary and Toowoomba young gun Sean Black, who is yet to finish outside the top four so far this season, more than capable of putting their local knowledge and experience to use in staging a serious raid on the major placings.
Also in the 24-car field are Greg Maher, Colin Moss, Rodney Craft, David Musch and Rockhampton’s Digger McCallum, with Tony Brinkman making a welcome return to competition at this very special event.
Sponsorship support for the race has been exceptional as, in addition to major sponsors East Coast Traffic Control, Nissan Finance, The Queensland Times and Think Money, lap sponsors have been secured for every lap of the feature event, boosting prizemoney for participating competitors. Furthermore, the event will be broadcast across Australia on the Foxtel and Austar television networks as part of the long running Chequered Flag motorsport program.
The format for the race will see each driver contest time trials to determine the grid positions for two rounds of qualifying heats, with the fastest drivers to start from the back of the pack. At the conclusion of the heats, the top 8 will contest a pole shootout to finalise the first four rows of the grid for the Ian Boettcher 5000 feature race.
A feast of Super Sedan action is the perfect way to spend the first night of summer and there is no doubt that this will be the biggest event on the SSA calendar for this season, launching what is shaping as a huge couple of weeks for Super Sedan fans across south east Queensland. Support events include Lightning Sprints, Formula 500’s, Wingless Sprints and Junior Sedans.
The Ian Boettcher 5000 is proudly supported by the following sponsors:
- East Coast Traffic Control
- The Queensland Times
- Think Money
- Nissan Finance
Lap Sponsors: Sweet Chassis, JD Racewear, Cheapaschips Body Jewellery, Rocklea Truck Parts, 4WD Accessories Direct, Kempy Race Pipes, Xtreme Force Roma, Sport Engines, Autoland Toowoomba, Glenwood Jumping Castles, Self Serve Auto Parts, ABC Spare Parts, Greg Maher Engines, Turner Racing, Darrell Hodges Racing, Aidan & Damon Musch.
Event Information:
Date: Saturday, December 1, 2012
Venue: Supercheap Auto Archerfield Speedway
Location: 63 Colebard Street West, Archerfield Qld
Adults: $25.00
Pensioners & Students (with Photo ID): $20.00
Teens: 13 - 15 yrs: $13.00, Children: 5 - 12 yrs: $6.00
Family Passes: $50.00 (2 adults + 2 children 12 yrs or under)
General admission gates open 4:00pm, early racing from 4:30pm, main programme from 6:00pm.
Parking is available at the track for $3.00. Racing finishes by 10.30pm.
Programmed events include: Super Sedans, Lightning Sprints, Wingless Sprints, ASCF Junior Sedans, Formula 500's, Stockcars, BIS Sedans.
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