Whilst Speedway everywhere accept in the North of Australia is in the off season, Alexandra Speedway in Victoria fired up for the once a season 3 Hour Sedan Enduro with more than forty teams heading into battle against each other and the clock to complete as many laps as possible and the fourth edition of this event resulted in the first two time winners when Paul Turnbull & Dehne Sparrow from the Western Districts of Victoria took the win with the most laps ever completed in the time frame.

Completing a new record of 259 laps on the dog leg course, Turnbull & Sparrow didn’t have things all their way on race night with the teams of Greg Scott & David Donegan, Dion & Chris Bellman, Damien Miller & Lenny Bates, Corey Lincoln & Steve Lincoln all leading at stages before pit stops or breakages interfered with their results.

The meeting started with 8 qualifying heats in which each team completed two.

Brendan Miller got the ball rolling for his team with a win in the first heat of the afternoon with a 14 second win where laps were taking 40 plus seconds to complete. Sparrow competed in this heat finishing 16 seconds behind Miller whilst rookie Brock Fallon finished last however he learnt real quick as you will read.

Lenny Bates was able to win the second for his team partnering Damien Miller (Brendan’s brother) with an 11 second gap over Patrick Farry. Bates was circulating two seconds a lap faster than his competitors whilst Sprintcar driver Brad Warren finished third for his team.

Corey Lincoln completed the fastest first round heat with victory by just a second over Donegan in his Cortina powered by a 308ci GM motor. Darren Nelson was also close in this very strong heat finishing third for his team. The top four drivers all completed laps under 37 seconds.

Mick Lincoln began well for his combination with Robbie Gorman with a win by a second over Simon Bent with David Barrie the Marsh Modified Sedan state champion in third.

The second round was a complete turn around for the Fallon Brothers team with 100 lap Derby legend Luke Fallon hopping in the seat and taking the win ahead of Steve Lincoln in his EH Holden Super Saloon. Tim McPherson finished back in third. Fallon finished the race 11 seconds fastest than any completed so far with a time of 3 minutes 32.604 seconds. This would finish as the fastest heat of the night, only just, with Fallon also the first driver under 35 seconds a massive 2 seconds in a lap better than the best lap so far.

Jamie Lock from Bendigo was part of a four driver combination for the weekend along with his dad Rob & Mildura Street Stock lads Jake Drewett & current Australian Champion Robbie Faux. Jamie went on to win from Fred Cattermole & Gorman.

Damien Miller was able to make it two from two for his team winning a heat in a time just .042 slower than Fallon’s result. Stuart Robinson finished second 13 seconds behind and Andrew Suckling in third for his team. Miller became the first driver under 34 seconds on a lap with a 33.933 time record.

Finally the last heat race was won by Turnbull in a close one ahead of Greg Scott & Matt Nelson and once again only just behind Fallon’s heat race fast time.

The track condition was superb for the final with the following top ten starting line up.

Damien Miller – Lenny Bates, Corey Lincoln – Steve Lincoln, Dehne Sparrow – Paul Turnbull, Robbie Gorman – Mick Lincoln, David Donegan – Greg Scott, Brendan Miller – Dale Morrison, Stuart Robinson – David Barrie, Matt Nelson – Darren Nelson, Rob & Jamie Lock – Jake Drewett/Robbie Faux & Luke & Brock Fallon.

Combinations outside the top ten that were expected to work their way into the top ten all things going well included Tim McPherson & Hans Lovski, Simon & Shona Bent in her first adult race event, Brad Warren, Adam Parsons & Brad McClure, Formula 500 regulars Dion & Chris Bellman & Corowa combination Dave Walton & Clint Henderson.

The beginning of the race began with a back straight pile up at the tail of the field ending the race for a couple one car teams that had too much damage.

At the restart Damien Miller had the lead with Greg Scott & Corey Lincoln in tow as the trio blasted away from the pack and quickly caught the tail of the field and weaved in and out of the tail enders.

Scott got the lead around lap eleven and holding on until lap twenty when Miller snatched the lead back and soon set a fast one lap time of 33.900. Corey Lincoln followed him through into second place before Lincoln took the lead at lap forty seven & completing 86 in the first hour with team Matt & Darren Nelson leading briefly after the hour for a few laps from lap ninety four after Corey Lincoln headed to the pit enclosure to tag in his grandfather Steve.

After running a 33.325 second lap Matt Nelson’s car shut down right in front of the start finish line and needed the assistance of the push crew to get the car back to the pits to allow Uncle Darren to re-enter the track.

Team Miller and Bates had their own dramas with Bates breaking a differential and Miller having to come back out to continue on and lead from around the 100 lap mark to the 168 lap stage 2 hours into the race before team Turnbull & Sparrow took over.

As the race wore on teams dropped out of contention and Miller and Bates despite their extra pit time as a result of having one team car started to work their way back into contention and late in the race where making one and a half seconds a lap on the lead car.

Fuel became an issue however and Miller had to leave the track once more to refuel before returning to finish second. Turnbull driving the last stint for his team and with a set up not ideal due to damage earlier in the race to the rear of his car, drove a conservative stint to bring the team on home as the first two time winners of the Enduro.

After the race the winning drivers were delighted with the result. “Last time we won I could only do around ten laps before my car broke. To win this time and to do the stint I was able to and contribute to the win as much has me absolutely lost for words. It is redemption. I’m so very proud.” Said Sparrow.

“It hasn’t sunk in yet, what a race. The competition gets stronger and stronger at this race. The track was terrific. Dehne, drove as strong as we believed he would and I finished across the line with a damaged car still four laps ahead of second best. I love this track and these races!”

Official top ten results:
Turnbull & Sparrow – 259 laps
Miller & Bates – 255
Steve Lincoln & Corey Lincoln – 251
Fallon & Fallon - 248
Miller & Morrison – 247
Donegan & Scott – 233
Rob Bushall Snr & Jnr – 230
David Walton & Clint Henderson – 200
Stephen Hutchins & Leigh Griffin – 195
Fred Cattermole & Colin Ward – 195

Written by
Dean Thompson
DMT Sports Media
for Alexandra Speedway Club

Winners: Dehne Sparrow in LC Torana & Paul Turnbull in Commodore (C) Inaction Photos

Corey Lincoln completed over 90 Laps before needing to pit (C) Inaction Photos

Mildura's Jake Drewett & Australian Street Stock Champ Robbie Faux competed (C) Inaction Photos