PROMISING sprintcar driver Matt Dumesny knows it will take time to rebuild his extensive set up lost in a truck fire.
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But the son of Australian speedway great Max Dumesny is adjusting and busy preparing for his fourth Lucas Oil Grand Annual Sprintcar Classic.
Dumesny, 22, will kick-start his campaign on Friday night – just a fortnight after his truck was engulfed in flames.
“I was travelling to Murray Bridge for a pretty big race when the inner right rear tyre blew,” he said.
“It was a 42-degree day and with the heat up it went up straight away.
“We pretty much lost everything except the car and the mule.”
Dumesny said he heard a large bang and immediately knew his team was in trouble.
He lost important tools in the fire and expects it to take time for his team replenish its stocks completely.
“It wasn’t the best feeling watching (it burn)...with all the hard work we put into the truck,” he said.
“Even now we’re struggling because all the little bits you use, we don’t have. It takes years and years to collect tools.”
Dumesny turned his misfortune into a positive and decided to race hours after the incident.
He finished the A-Main fourth after starting on pole.
“In my gut I wasn’t that keen. I was pretty devastated and Dad said ‘you are there, we are not quitters. Show your face.’,” Dumesny said.
“It was the best thing we could have done.
“I ended up on pole in the feature and made quick time. It was a pretty good night but the motor let me down at the end of the race. I led for 20 laps, it was a good effort considering.”
Dumesny, along with his dad and younger brother Marcus, will compete at Avalon on Wednesday and Mount Gambier on Thursday in preparation for the three-day classic. The family has high hopes for its annual trek to Warrnambool.
“Hopefully we’ll have good qualifying nights and put on a good show on the Sunday night,” Dumesny said.
“It’d be awesome if we all get in the show. It’s always been my favourite race since I was a kid.”