Next ‘road circuit’ event
Brands Hatch
29 &30 October ‘11
Next ‘oval’ event
2012
dates to be released
Dates
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Rockingham Oval TEAM REPORT
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With the grid numbers so low, this meeting was looking to be a shambles. The pickup trucks are great on the oval but could they put on a show with 9 trucks? The answer was surprising but the answer being a bigYES and ‘then some!’
Lee Rogers in The Chocolate Pizza Company sponsored #69 truck was looking forward to this first visit of 2011 to the Rockingham Oval . He was hoping that the investment in the fuel injection system which has recently been added to his truck would be beneficial on the 1.5 mile banked oval.
With this being the trucks first visit to the oval this year, the championship had a 30 minute free practice, the normal 20 minute qualifying session and two 25 lap races, but unfortunately the day was once again to end far too soon for the #69 team.
In the free practice session, Lee completed several laps and then returned into pit lane just to check tyre pressures and temperatures and for the crew to carry out a visual check to make sure there were no fluid leaks. With everything appearing fine, Lee returned back out onto the oval.
Lee reported back on the team radio that the truck was feeling quite good and that it felt like he had more power coming out of the corners which was a good sign relating to the recent engine upgrade. A couple laps later, Lee was once again back on the radio saying that he just had a misfire but stayed out and the problem appeared to disappear, however, a couple laps later Lee once again reported a misfire and said that he would be coming back into pit lane to investigate, with that the engine stopped and Lee pulled the #69 truck off the track into a safe position.
Initial thoughts were that it might be a fuel problem (although the team were very confident that the #69 hadn’t run out of fuel and the tank was filled quite high for this 30 minute practice session).
Once towed back into the garages, the team set about locating the problem. The fuel pump appeared to be working and there was still lots of fuel in the tank. With the bonnet up, it was found that the engine had no compression and the team believe that the engine may have dropped a valve (possibly due to a broken valve seal).
With no spare engine, the team loaded the #69 truck back onto the trailer. The team will now start stripping down the engine to ascertain the damage.
Race 1 result:
1. Carl Boardley #41
2. Steve Dance #16
3. Paul ‘Winkle’ Tompkins #12
4. Michael Smith #93
5. Neil Tressler #37
6. Charlie Weaver #20
7. Antony Hawkins #98
DNF. Nic Grindrod #22
DNS. Lee Rogers #69
Race 2 result:
1. Paul ‘Winkle’ Tompkins #12
2. Steve Dance #16
3. Neil Tressler #37
4. Charlie Weaver #20
DNF. Nic Grindrod #22
DNF. Antony Hawkins #98
DNF. Carl Boardley #41
DNF. Michael Smith #93
DNS. Lee Rogers #69
Although only a handful of trucks in attendance for this event (please also see our item titled ‘Shocking Numbers;......stunning races!’ (please CLICK HERE), the two races were unbelievable. A real credit to those drivers racing.
A special mention must go to Paul ‘Winkle’ Tompkins #12 for a stunning 3rd in race 1 but then his maiden race victory in race 2. A special mention also to Neil Tressler #37 for a well deserved 3rd in race two. Neil drove two excellent races staying with the lead pack. Last but not least, well done to Charlie Weaver #20 (who himself had some problems throughout the day) on a great debut where the #20 truck looked quick and comfortable on the oval.
And finally, it was great to see Antony Hawkins #98 back on the grid.
