Ross Maclean Victorian # 1 has a nice ring to it, & on April the 16th Maclean became the Victorian Goulburn Ovens Sedan Association state title holder when he out gunned the complete field to take a strong start to finish victory over Nathan Shortis & Scott Callander.

Wangaratta Speedway was the host venue and four heat races with each driver competing in three was the format for the night to qualify for the thirty lap title race.

Local hope Tom Barnard (# 69 Mills Race Engines – VS Commodore) was up against a number of Corowa & Albury based drivers in his quest to become a Victorian champion & right out of the blocks he showed he was going to be a driver that was capable of winning when he took victory in the very first heat, a race in which a number of drivers didn’t finish for one reason or another.

Barnard took a win ahead of Maclean & Clint Henderson in his powerful LS1 powered VE Commodore supported by Corowa Kitchens & Cabinets, Callander, Chelsea Cornelius, Mark Pollard & Stuart Balins with a win margin that was only .536 of a second. Those that couldn’t finish this race included Mick Quinn with electrical fuel pump issues, Trevor Mills a blown camshaft, Ross Richardson a cracked rack after he crunched the concrete wall, Mick Bunt in his TE Cortina powered by a 250 Crossflow engine with oil pressure concern & Bowers with fuel pump problems.

In the second heat Maclean blitzed when the track was at its best and set a one lap time of 18.816 which was almost a second fastest the other divisions per lap. Maclean took a great win from Shortis (# 83 Stickermon Stickers – VY Commodore), Barnard, Pollard, Henderson, Dave Walton, Mitch Watts & Balins whilst Bowers (# 82 LJ Hooker Real Estate – VS Commodore) suffered with the same electrical issues he had earlier.

Richardson who had travelled all the way from Cobar, got his car back on track after replacing the rack at the front end and knowing he needed a good run set about getting clean air quickly and spun in turn one, of lap one which only had him sent to the rear by the stewards.

Bowers woes continued as he finished infield Henderson & Cornelius (# 76 Cornelius Prestige Panels – VH Commodore) both ended infield with flat tyres and Walton took a great win ahead of Callander, Shortis, Bunt, Barnard, Richardson, Watts & Balins. Walton was only .262 of a second in front of Callander (# 24 Jindera Automotive – EA Falcon) as the crossed the line. Other cars that did not finish included Quinn still trying to figure out the issue with his fuel pump in the KMA Signs & Signwriting VL Commodore.

Maclean secured the all important pole position for the final when he scored the win in the final heat ahead of Richardson who finally had a good run. Walton’s (# 43 Maverick Boats – Chrysler Centura) momentum from the previous heat win carried him to a third place with Shortis, Cornelius, Pollard, Callander & Watts (# 54 Ace Smash Repairs – VB Commodore) all finishing.

With the starting line up determined the field headed on track with Maclean leading Barnard, Walton, Shortis, Callander, Richardson, Henderson, Pollard (# 18 BB Freight – VH Commodore), Cornelius, Balins, Watts & Bowers for the Victorian title pre race presentation.

Barnard after all the hard work had a broken panard bar before he even started the race & his car just would not take off at the green flag. Things got worse when his exhaust started to fall off after breaking loose and the crash crew had to pull that off.

He rejoined the field and still had nothing to go with off the start line and Maclean showed everybody his tail as he took off. Shortis, Walton, Callander & Henderson were all amongst a scrap of their own as Bowers, Richardson (# PJN Sheds – EL Falcon), Walton, Cornelius all succumbed to mechanical issues and retired from the thirty lap race.

At the time, Cornelius mentioned she thought she had broken the differential, Walton broke a power steering pump & Richardson had a flat right front.

Maclean was being chased by Shortis & Henderson was in the picture until he dropped back thinking he heard the steward call a caution light. Nobody else heard that call and they ripped past him. Maclean went on to win his first ever Victorian title from Shortis, Callander, Watts who started second last in the field and Pollard to complete the top five.

Henderson, Balins (# 22 QA Kitchens – VR Commodore) & Barnard all finished.

After the race media spoke to the winner Ross Maclean. “I have tried for a long time to win a title and finally it has happened. It is a great feeling and to have all my family here to share this memory is just magical. I would like to congratulate the other drivers, thank Wangaratta for an awesome track and thank all my supporters.”

Goulburn Ovens Sedan Association would like to thank the sponsors.
Max’s Motor Museum – Corowa
Maverick Boats – Corowa
Elle Mae Hair & Beauty – Corowa
Corowa Kitchens & Cabinets
Psychic Tina – Leeton
Wahgunyah Rock Yard – Wahgunyah
Stevo’s Painting Services
Cornelius Classic Panels – Corowa
Ace Smash Repairs – Leeton
MP Sheds – Leeton
Corowa Glass – Corowa
Dunkley Paint & Panels – Corowa
Sf photo graphix - Mulwala

Written by
Dean Thompson
DMT Sports Media
For Goulburn Ovens Sedan Association

Winner - Ross Maclean (C) sf photo graphix / Sara Flowerday

2nd - Nathan Shortis (C) sf photo graphix / Sara Flowerday

3rd - Scott Callander (C) sf photo graphix / Sara Flowerday