The Victorian Mini-Lightning Sprints Club season is upon us, and the club has been busy in the off-season putting together a tremendous calendar that will see the class travel to venues they have not been at in recent years, along with continuing to compete at their old favourites that include the Nyora, Rosedale, and Laang tracks.
A new committee is in place with Rahmon Rivero the President. Jason Lynn a life member of the club is Vice President, former President Maureen Sell is the Secretary this season and Ally Moore the Treasurer.
The list of registered Victorian cars has increased to twelve with a number of new competitors joining an already talented contingent.
Here is the list of Victorian registered competitors for the season.
– Victoria 7 car owned by Ally Moore to have guest drivers, Scott Burchett the first to have a go
– Victoria 17 car driven by Andrew Burleigh
– Victoria 24 car driven by Jason Lynn
– Victoria 26 car driven by Ally Moore
– Victoria 27 car driven by Maureen Sell
– Victoria 29 car driven by Chris Skilton
– Victoria 37 car driven by Luke Graham
– Victoria 47 car driven by Rahmon Rivero
– Victoria 50 car driven by Jason Alie
– Victoria 69 car driven by Harley Graham
– Victoria 72 car shared by rookies Liz Peach and Sam Bushe (partners)
– Victoria 92 car driven by Carolanne Skilton
Media liaison officer for the club Maureen Sell is excited about the influx of new drivers to the club. “We are thrilled to have Chris Skilton and his daughter Carolanne getting behind the wheels. Last season the family spent some time following us and assisting us at some race events in preparation to getting on track; it is great to see that happen. From my own family Liz and her partner Sam have both never raced and they will share a car together through the season.”
Maureen continued to share “Jason Alie who has had a brief feel for the class last season is set to go and carries on from the previous involvement in the club from David Alie. We also have a couple of Sydney based drivers who have become members with us and registered their cars locally, cousins Luke and Harley Graham. Their connection to the club is that Danny Stone also from Sydney comes to Victoria to race on a regular basis and occasionally Peter Styles also. The Graham’s started to travel down with Danny and have become enamoured with the Victorian club. This is terrific as we continue to highlight our cost effective and fast and thrilling class to potential interested onlookers.”
The much-changed Nagambie racetrack is the first event for the season coming up on November 26th, the first day of a two-day show for that club. The Mini-Lightning Sprints will zip around the large sized track hoping to show locals keen on open wheel racing what they offer as a class; given that, Rushworth is a venue not far away that also hosts the class. Unfortunately, for this season the weather resulted in cancellation of our Rushworth date, we hope to be back on their calendar soon.
Following the season start, will be a sensational event at Wangaratta City Raceway that looks set to have a strong field of entrants in the pits on race night including the interested New South Wales competitors that have reached out to the Victorian club. The ‘Highway Challenge’ that has been named given most drivers will come up or down the Hume Highway at some point on their way to the track is looking likely to have a minimum of seven New South Wales competitors and possibly ten.
We can tell you, the event will be sponsored by and known as ‘Skilly’s Tyre & Auto Highway Challenge’. The business is in Heathcote and owned by Marcus Skilbeck, more details coming in future media.
In January, the Mini-Lightning Sprints head out to Nyora for round one of the three round ‘Gold Cup’ series. This mini-series will see everybody from first to last will pick up something from the prize pool. The second round of the series is the next event on the club calendar on February the 4th at Laang Speedway whilst after the Victorian title the series closes out at Rosedale Speedway on March the 18th. Points across the three events decides the outcome.
Nyora Raceway after holding the successful Australian title last season will hold the Victorian title this year with many competitors from the national title keen to come back to the Nyora noting the size of the track is perfect although interesting, for the class. This will be on February the 25th.
The Victorian club will have a break in April to allow competitors who wish to travel to the national title in Toowoomba to do so. The Australian title is being held on April 22nd and the 23rd.
Other local race meetings this season include
Nyora – 11th February
Swan Hill – 25th March
Rosedale – 13th May
Darlington – 27th May
The Victorian Mini-Lightning Sprints Club also have some great supporters they would like to thank and look forward to hearing from some more businesses who would like to contribute contingency prizes or financial sponsorship of events. We can name including their business in the title and provide a great night’s entertainment package to you and your connections. Reach out to the club if that interests you.
Interested readers keen to ask questions about Mini-Lightning Sprints can contact either Rahmon on 0409 215 209 or Maureen on 0430 398 843
Thank you to these businesses who in one way or another are supporting us;
Skilly’s Tyre and Auto
Ultimate Awards
DMT Sports Media
Moore Pics
Written by
Dean Thompson
DMT Sports Media
For Victorian Mini – Lightning Sprints Club
