THE Grand Annual Sprintcar Classic is a favourite among south-west drivers, many of whom grew up watching their idols race around the Premier Speedway track and are now hoping to emulate their feats.
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The Standard caught up with some of the region’s 2017 competitors to ask them about their classic experiences as they prepare for this weekend’s three-day showcase.
Tim Van Ginneken (Allansford)
FIRST CLASSIC: It would have been in 2012 and I think I might have made the D-Main, I can’t even remember. It was in my own car from memory and was my seventh or eighth meeting in my first car. Things have changed and I’ve got better gear and more laps (under my belt). It’s our fifth season over six years...I reckon you need a good four or five-year apprenticeship before you learn everything.
FONDEST MEMORY: I still remember watching Brooke Tatnell as a kid and I reckon in my second year in a classic heat race with Brooke we did slide jobs against each other and I thought that was great, being a young kid.
WORST MEMORY: Last year being one spot off an A-Main transfer spot with seven laps to go in the B-Main and then crashing.
FAVOURITE DRIVERS: Brad Keller and Steven Lines from South Australia. I raced against Linesy as a junior. He’s not big-headed. He gets excited but doesn’t go over the top. On track he races hard but always makes room and off the track he always stops and says hello. Brad is underrated and a clean driver and he’s a down-to-earth bloke.
PRE-RACE RITUALS: I always had to put my right-hand glove on before my left one and when I was first starting out in the pits (on the way to the track) I always wanted the left-hand side. I thought if I lined up on the right-hand side that it was bad luck. Lately I’ve been mixing it up and will go left the first heat and right the second. I always have my car loaded the night before too.
Darren Mollenoyux (Warrnambool)
FIRST CLASSIC: It was a fair while ago, I’d be guessing about 10 or 11 years. The classic has always been a pretty good experience for me. We’ve always done fairly well.
FONDEST MEMORY: One year they presented the drivers and we came down the hill and the atmosphere of it all (was great). Usually the driver presentations are something to remember.
WORST MEMORY: A few years ago we looked good on points. We were down to start in the first couple of rows and in the last heat race we were involved in a crash. We still made it in but instead of starting near the front we were near the back. That’s a lowlight that stands out.
FAVOURITE DRIVER: When I was young I looked up to Garry Brazier and his father Steve. I helped them and they got me started in the mechanics side of things. I don’t look up to anyone anymore but have a lot of respect for all of them.
PRE-RACE RITUAL: I don’t really have one, just do what you do and what will be will be. I try and put my best foot forward every time. Hopefully there’s an afterparty where we can celebrate or drown our sorrows.
JAMES McFADDEN (Warrnambool)
FIRST CLASSIC: I reckon my first classic was 2007 and it rained out and I was supposed to do the B-Main.
FONDEST MEMORY: I think winning preliminary nights have been the best. The classic hasn’t been that kind to us racing-wise.
WORST MEMORY: The night where we came from a long way back, probably 12th to third, and thought we had the car to win it and then a rock broke the nozzle off and we had to pull out.
FAVOURITE DRIVER: It would probably have to be Donny Schatz. I admire the way he races and how clean he is.
PRE-RACE RITUALS: None. I have a little sleep in the car before I go out. I am pretty relaxed and easygoing.
COREY McCULLAGH (WARRNAMBOOL)
FIRST CLASSIC: Two years ago in my first classic we got best presented car and crew, won a heat race and finished mid-pack in the B-Main, so we were pretty happy with that.
FONDEST MEMORY: Watching Kerry Madsen win sitting in turn two. At that time I never thought I’d get an opportunity to race too.
WORST MEMORY: Last year when we were in a transfer spot in the B-Main to make the A-Main and then having a parts failure which wrote our chassis off.
FAVOURITE DRIVER: Jamie Whincup (from V8 supercars). I think his natural ability and professionalism is something to strive for.
PRE-RACE RITUALS: None at all. I am just fussy with how I do things but that’s normal for me.
JACK LEE (Terang)
FIRST CLASSIC: I remember the hype of knowing it’s your local race and one of the biggest races in Australia. I know I missed the classic the first year I raced and then did the next one.
FONDEST MEMORY: Last year I ran really good in a preliminary race.
WORST MEMORY: I remember two or three years ago we crashed in both heat races, so that year we struggled.
FAVOURITE DRIVER: When I was growing up it was probably Max Dumesny because he was winning everything I suppose.
PRE-RACE RITUAL: Normally I try and be in form (laughs).
But I have nothing superstitious. I try and keep an open mind and make a good start.