2012 AORC decider this weekend
Based in the small hamlet of Mulgowie, just over an hour north of Brisbane in the foothills of the Darling Downs, the Mitsubishi Electric Lockyer Valley 300 is a new addition to the AORC calendar for 2012, so veterans and past competitors will have no advantage coming into this final round.
The new 80km track, which has been a collaborative effort between the Brisbane Sporting Car Club and the 12 property owners, combines fire trails, logging and farm tracks with a climb up and along the range. Throw in creek crossings and fast flowing paddock sections and the Mitsubishi Electric Lockyer Valley 300 is set to test man and machine alike. With 60 entries logged in for the event, that's a lot of men and a lot of machines!
In the box seat for the 2012 championship with 35 points heading into the final round is Matt Hanson and Leigh Wells in their #7 SMU Racing Jimco. Fresh from their win at round 3, the Teagle Excavations ARB Pines Enduro, Hanson will be aiming to continue his good form in the twin turbo V6 Jimco. Snapping hard at his heels will be MBL Sea Lake Mallee Rally victor, Brad Prout in the #9 Unicap Racing Jimco and a new comer to ProClass this season, Gerald Reid in the #39 Later Engineering V8. Both Prout and Reid are currently tied on 20 points each, so expect both to open the taps on their V8's in a bid to not only beat each other, but also hunt down the championship leader.
Also in the mix for the 2012 AORC title are Matt Coleman and Shawn Teagle. Runners up at the Pines Enduro, the Vic/SA pair currently sit on 15 points in their #55 Coleman Motorsport Alpha. They lead a fleet of other teams mathematically in with a chance of grasping the AORC crown, given that 30 points are on offer for the outright win in the Lockyer Valley.
Away from the outright championship, there are also plenty of battles to be had amongst the classes, too. The 3500cc naturally-aspirated Prolites have provided some of the most entertaining racing of the season and have once again threatened to bump their more powerful siblings, the ProClass buggies, off the podium. Watching Prolite class leader Matt Owen go toe to toe with McClelland, Marshall, Fehlaber and company will be one of the highlights of the weekend's racing. Local offroad identity Laurie Svenson will be making his debut in the Prolite class when he shares the driving of the recently repowered Stealth A-Arm with his son Tait.
In the Super 1650 class, reigning champ, Darryl Smith will be aiming to add another class title to the mantelpiece in his Alumicraft when he locks horns with fellow Victorian Brett Price and local ace Russell Hartnett. The event will also see entries on the national stage in the new side by side class for the first time, with the Polaris RZRs of Andrew North and the two car Snake Racing Team of Murphy and Smith taking the plunge into the Super 1650 category.
Performance 2WD honours will be played out between Victoria's Bernie Clohesy and South Australia's Scott Gould, with Queensland driver Paul Youman aiming to put a cat amongst the pigeons for the round win. With a huge lead in the Production 4WD Class, Rob Chapman is in the box seat to add another coveted #701 number plate for the family in the red Triton, backing up his son Clayton's win in the same racecar in 2010.
The Extreme 4WD Class championship will see Sandy Bowman duke it out for this year's honours with the revelation of the class this year, New Zealand's Raana Horan. Clayton Chapman and Luke Hall will be others to watch in the category, with the mighty Dodge Ram of Colin Hunter another one that's not be missed. With all entrants in this class showing blistering bursts of speed through 2012, their final battle in the Lockyer Valley will be one of the highlights of the weekend.
The Mitsubishi Electric Lockyer Valley 300 will launch from 5:00pm on Friday November 9 at Schultz's Meat Tavern on the Warrego Hwy at Plainlands, with scrutineering and a show and shine until 8:00pm. This will be a great opportunity to meet the drivers and grab an autograph before they hit the dirt.
Racing commences on the morning of Saturday, November 10 with the Prologue, Top Ten Shoot Out and the first trio of 80km laps of the long course, located just 11 km from Laidley at Mulgowie. With live commentary and refreshments on sale, spectators will be able to sit back and watch the big desert racers stretch their legs. Racing kicks off again at 8:30am on Sunday, November 11, which will see the race cars tackle another 3 laps of the long course.
Public entry to the Mulgowie start/finish line complex with be $10 per adult per day or $15 for the weekend, with children under 14 admitted free.
More information on the Mitsubishi Electric Lockyer Valley 300 can be found at www.offroadracing.com.au
Images: Randall Kilner, AORC media liaison.
