The Grand Prix Midgets made a return to Redline Raceway with a serious hit out in round three of the Ballistic Performance Parts series as a prelude to the upcoming Australian title that will be at the same venue later in the season. Interest was high with a V8 Dunlop Series driver in the event along with eight others & eventual winner Trevor Perry, who had to pedal hard to finish on top in victory lane.

Chris Fowler (# 13 Castrol – Suzuki) started from the front row in the first heat with Trevor Perry alongside, Lisa Chalcraft, Paul Perry, Travis Florimell, Louis Rodriguez, Nathan Caddy, Jason Crawford & Garry Jacobson the before mentioned driver from the Dunlop series, son of former national Modified Sedan Champion Peter & a likely future Sprintcar driver.

On the way to the race track Rodriguez broke an axle on his trailer and had to fix that before arriving at the track on time to join heat one whilst Fowler didn’t get to start the heat losing drive just before a session of hot laps was about to commence.

Trevor Perry (# 55 Perry Bros Chassis – Suzuki) leapt to the race lead, Chalcraft slipped into second place with Paul Perry, Rodriguez, Crawford, Florimell, Caddy & Jacobson in his first ever speedway race following. Paul Perry passed Chalcraft on the third lap to move into second, Jacobson past Florimell on lap four & both Rodriguez then Crawford (# 50 R & P Stainer Grinding Services - Yamaha) past Chalcraft in the final couple of laps whilst Florimell pulled infield with fuel issues.

Trevor Perry took the win from his brother Paul Perry, Rodriguez, Crawford who owns and drives a Compact Speedcar & had an offer of a drive in a Mark Shiells owned car for the night, Chalcraft, Caddy & Jacobson (# 5 Pitstop Mowers – Suzuki) .

Caddy & Florimell began from the front in heat two with Trevor Perry & Fowler on the second row then Paul Perry, Chalcraft, Jacobson & Crawford.

Rodriguez didn’t make it out to the track trying to find an overheating issue before later finding the car had a faulty gauge.

With Florimell (# 81 Prestige Steelcraft – MV Augusto) out of place, Fowler moved into position two and got the jump at the green and took the lead until again losing drive in turn one leaving the field to scramble in every which direction to avoid the stranded # 13 in the middle of the track.

With the caution lights thrown & a restart required Chalcraft (# 15 Oil Hydraulics Shepparton – Suzuki) got a great start to lead start to finish in the second heat. Caddy was second ahead of Paul Perry, Florimell, Crawford, Jacobson & Trevor Perry until on lap three Crawford’s engine expired putting him out of racing for the rest of the night.

Caddy pulled infield on lap four and later found an engine plate had come loose and dropped which gave him the horrible noise he heard that made him pull infield.

Jacobson passed Flormiell on lap five with Florimell still suffering fuel issues then over the next couple of laps Trevor Perry passed both Florimell & Jacobson. Chalcraft won from Paul Perry (#6 Perry Brothers Chassis – Suzuki), Trevor Perry, Jacobson & Florimell.

The final heat race started with Chalcraft, Paul Perry, Rodriguez, Florimell, Caddy, Fowler, Trevor Perry & Jacobson ready to do battle and Chalcraft once again began the strongest.

Rodriguez in second was in front of Caddy, Trevor Perry, Fowler, Paul Perry, Jacobson & Florimell then on lap two a caution light came on when Paul Perry spun in front of Caddy. Both cars finished infield & on the caution lap Fowler again had problems this time he ran out of fuel after spending so much time during the break between heats trying to fix his driveline and not getting around to topping up.

Trevor Perry spun on lap four and went back to the rear of the field & Chalcraft continued to lead everybody to the finish line with Jacobson finishing second from Rodriguez, Trevor Perry & Florimell. After the conclusion of the third heat as the cars were re-entering the pits the steering broke on Chalcrafts car causing her to hit the pit gate with a bit of force breaking the front end of the car leaving the crew some work to do to make the final.

Nine cars greeted the starter for the final after Caddy (# 10 D Mac Property Services – Suzuki) elected to sit out the race with engine issues & with the club rules putting lowest points to the front Fowler having zero points after three failure to finish results started from pole position with Florimell alongside, Rodriguez, Paul Perry, Trevor Perry, Chalcraft & rookie Jacobson at the rear.

Fowler’s time in pole position was short lived when he pulled infield on the warm up lap with his engine sounding out of tune. Rodriguez led from lap one from Paul Perry & Trevor Perry.

Florimell joined Fowler in the infield on lap one still having issues with his car.

With Rodriguez still leading, on lap four Trevor Perry assumed second place getting past Paul with all three drivers in a close tight battle, unfortunately for Rodriguez when he pushed a little high towards the end of the race Trevor Perry was right there to snatch the lead and the win whilst Paul Perry pulled infield with a couple laps to go and Rodriguez (# 47 D Mac Property Services – Suzuki) attained a flat right front on lap ten causing a caution.
Trevor Perry the winner from Jacobson & Chalcraft.

The Midgets next race on January 31st at Avalon Raceway for the Jason Glynn Memorial which doubles as a Ballistic Performance Parts series round. This round will is also a past and present members meeting and the club invite all past and present members to join them in the pits at the conclusion of the meeting to catch up and relive the good old days.

Ballistic Performance Parts Masters Series points table after 3 rounds & AGM attendance:

1: Lisa Chalcraft 216 pts
2: Trevor Perry 214 pts
3: Ashley Booker 195 pts
4: Louis Rodriguez 189 pts
5: Chris Fowler 172 pts
6: Paul Perry 151 pts
7: Nathan Caddy 143 pts
8: Garry Jacobson 137 pts
9: Darren Power 122 pts
10: Travis Florimell 108 pts

Victorian Grand Prix Midgets would like to thank their Club Sponsors:
Ballistic Performance Parts
Oil Hydraulics
Perry Bros Chassis
Dmac Property Services
Marine Innovations
Super Balance Automotive
Pitstop Mowers

Written by
Dean Thompson
DMT Sports Media
For Victorian Grand Prix Midgets

Trevor Perry on his way to a win at Redline Raceway (C) Inaction Photos