Oval extravaganza simply rocks

Competitive racing in all classes saw many seasoned drivers fighting it out with the upcoming youngsters for top honours, when the Spring Club Oval Championships Extravaganza came to town.

Brakpan was proud of no fewer than three local residents – Frik Kruger, Rieckerd Louwrens and Shaun Fourie – making it to the chequered flag first in their respective class finals on the night.

The “Kids in Racing” and more senior karting competitors turned out in their numbers, but it was the big guns who ruled the night.

Frik Kruger (number 31), in his Ford Escort, won all three heats of the combined 1600 Stockrod and 1660 class.

Kruger steered his KS Discount Midas-backed Escort through the pack from the rear of the grid in heat one.

Heat two saw an inverted start grid and, again, Kruger’s 30-plus years of oval racing experience showed as he opened the gap on the rest of the field, lap after lap.

The final race saw the experienced driver again claim the flag, with Jossie MacDonald in his Datsun, the first Stockrod home, joining him on a lap of honour.

The Pinto’s were another hotly contested class and again the younger drivers had to take a back seat.

Class winner Koos Koekemoer (number five), who has been racing since 1973, made no secret of the fact that the other competitors were to race for a place – no handouts – as he claimed victory and took home the trophy.

Mauritz Nigrini (number 69) was having a great race until a broken accelerator cable forced him to the infield in the finals.

Chantelle Lewis (number 109) made the women proud and drove a great final race after battling with some mechanical problems earlier in the day.

Willie Greyvenstein (#SA2), in his superbly turned out Formula 2 Midget, and Johnny “The Streaker” Archer (number 11), experienced a hard fought battle to the flag, with Greyvenstein just having the edge and taking the win on the night.

Be it known that it was not “Pensioners’ Day” at the track on Saturday, but the old men of racing were simply in top form and showed they still have what it takes.

Between Kruger, Koekemoer, Greyvenstein, Archer and Sprint class winner Charles Carlsson, they have around 150 years of oval racing experience.

Just another reason why you should not miss an event at The Rock – eternal youth and longevity guaranteed.

On his maiden race in Super Midgets, young Shaun Fourie (number 17) showed that he also had more racing fuel than blood pumping through his veins.

Fourie drove a faultless race and this polite 16-year-old driver definitely deserved the top podium finish.

Petrolheads can look forward to more great performances from this youngster, who hails from the Fourie/Johnson racing stables.

Second to cross the line in the final heat was yet another woman driver, Rina Kotzé (number 52).

The Lexus V8 Flexi class offered entertaining racing, with promoter Basie Louwrens, piloting the two-seater SKF (number 75) with fearless female co-drivers.

However, it was the youngsters who claimed all three podium places at prize-giving for this class, with Rieckerd Louwrens (number 13) in first, followed by Chante Wiese (number 14) and the tiny tot Amoré Wiese (number seven) in third place.

For those seeking the thrill of V8 thunder, the Outlaws Sprints did not disappoint.

Shane Carlsson and Dewald Kotzé took to the battle but it was the more senior Charles Carlsson who got to the line first in the final heat.

With an increased number of entrants for the Formula N race, winning was not to be easy.

Close racing and fierce competition made competitors fight for track position throughout the night.

Johan Deysel in his yellow Golf perfected the corners and had the straight-line speed, but another young racer, Jordan Larsson, racing the Seef Fourie Karcher Datsun, proved to be the master on the night.

Tactical driving allowed for a masterful overtaking manoeuvre in the finals and saw Larsson take the chequered flag first.

Be sure not to miss the next oval event, on Saturday, October 10.