Goulburn Ovens Sedan Association drivers competed at Wangaratta for the lead up event to the upcoming Victorian title and a number of drivers took advantage to put together a set up they could leave in for the start of race night for the title event, local members at Wangaratta the Powell brothers from Beechworth had a great night between them picking up plenty of association points in the heat races before Liam Powell took the win in the feature race.

Nine heat races made it a busy night for association racers with each driver competing in three of those. Leeton registered and Corowa based racer Mitch Watts (# 54 VL Commodore – Ace Smash Repairs) has been very consistent so far this season and is quietly confident of a strong result at the upcoming title, he picked up a race in the first ahead Glenn Hawkins, Sam Davey and Troy Frost.

From the back of the field Liam Powell passed the likes of his brother James and Mark Gordon and took then ahead of a very strong Jamie Atkin (# 12 VL Commodore – Rosco Race Engines), James Powell, Gordon and Ross Atkin managing to finish despite fuel problems making things difficult for him to do so.

Having flown in as usual from Brisbane, Chelsea Cornelius (# 76 VS Commodore – Cornelius Classic Panels) made her intentions clear when she took a win in her first race of the night coming out ahead of the likes of Tom Barnard, Andrew Robl and Nathan Shortis. Barnard finished second with Shortis, Robl, Jack Bear and Justin Granger (# 29 VK Commodore – JUTS Race Engines) making up the finishing order.

Davey (# 93 VL Commodore – Hartnett’s Transport) has been showing some consistency in the last couple of racing meetings and he was able to put that together in his second heat and take a win ahead of Watts, Frost and Hawkins.

James Powell (# 44 EL Falcon – Morey Warnock Automotive) reversed the tables on his brother by taking a win in the second heat for the brothers with Liam in second, Gordon, Jamie Atkin and his dad Ross Atkin still struggling with fuel issues.

Closing out round two of racing Cornelius converted her front row start to a second win of the evening finishing in front of Robl (# 19 VL Commodore – Wadley Kerbmakers), Bear and Granger.

Into round three and Frost joined the winners club for the night when he finished ahead of Watts and Davey before Liam Powell picked up his second win of the night in the next heat race finishing ahead of Gordon (# 91 VL Commodore – Euroley Engineering), Ross Atkin, Jamie Atkin, and James Powell.

Rounding out the qualifying heats there was heartbreak for Robl during the race when a lower control arm broke and he was unable to finish and left the fighting Bear (# VL Commodore – Hartnett Transport) crossing the line ahead of Cornelius and Granger.

A number of cars struggled to finish the nights racing however in a funny side note to the feature result long time racer Ross Atkin didn’t bother opting to have a nice cold can instead.

A thirty lap feature didn’t quite present itself as appetising for the 59year old, who used to back in the day get around alright. He elected to put the car on the trailer saying “Twenty years ago, yeah bring it on give me a 30 lap final, but tonight no thanks, I’ll let the young ones do all the hard work.”

Another who didn’t make it to the feature race was Ross Maclean who blew a diff in the first round of racing.

Liam Powell and Cornelius made up the front row with Watts, Davey, Frost and Gordon the top six on the grid. The second half of the feature field went James Powell, Bear, Granger, Jamie Atkin, Robl and Hawkins.

Liam Powell had some challengers during the race with his big rig a little different to handle than some of the 6 cylinder rockets, however Powell made the race his own taking the win ahead of Cornelius who must be delighted with her result before the upcoming title race, Watts, James Powell, Gordon, Frost, Davey, Jamie Atkin, Robl, Bear and Hawkins.

Next up for the Goulburn Ovens Sedan Association is the Victorian title on February the 24th at Speedway Wangaratta.

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

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

Wangaratta winner Liam Powell (C) Kalari Photography