GOULBURN SPEEDWAY: BART WILKINSON MEMORIAL MEETING GP MIDGETS

Feature photo by: Maximum Action Phitography…Winner Adam Buckley

(By: Dean Thompson – DMT Media

The first of two Memorial races on the NSW Grand Prix Midget Racing Association’s calendar saw seven GP Midgets entrants, crew and supporters travel to Goulburn Speedway recently to contest the Bart Wilkinson Memorial event.

The fixture also doubled as round three of the Gulf Western Oil Super Series.

Adding to the importance of the Bart Wilkinson Memorial event, Bart’s daughter Sue Hardy and her husband Ian were in attendance with the beautiful “BKW Special” – the 1960 Micro Midget custom built machine raced by Bart.

Sixteen-year-old Tyler Lea piloted the White Ant Racing number 9 car this night, along with eighty-seven-year-old Wally Kermond making his comeback in the Central Coast Motor Group number 14 car. Andrew Walkerden also drove for the White Ant Racing, in the team’a number 25 car which marked his second run with NSW GP Midgets.

Gary Bower and Andrew Walkerden were the heat winners.

Lining up for the Bart Wilkinson Memorial feature event the highest point scorer Gary Bowyer (Bower Snr) started out of sixth position with Adam Buckley from fifth alongside him and in front of them were Riley Bowyer (Bower Jnr), Walkerden, Tyler Lea and Allan Black who started from the pole position slot.

As the field entered the track in a fantastic sight and formed up into position, Sue Hardy piloted her father’s BKW Special Micro Midget out onto the track and led the GP Midgets around for three laps, gaining a brilliant response from the crowd and pit area.

With fifteen laps ahead of them the race drivers got off to a clean start with Black taking advantage of his starting position to race into the lead, followed by Walkerden, Lea, Bowyer Jnr, Buckley, and Bowyer Snr.

By the end of lap one, Buckley had moved ahead of Bowyer Jnr into fourth place. On lap two, coming back onto the main straight, Buckley then went past both Lea and Walkerden in a quick move up the inside. On lap four, Walkerden made an error through turn two and this saw Bowyer Jnr and Bowyer Snr move ahead of him and into fourth and fifth places respectively,

On lap five Buckley make his move on Black for the lead, into turn one again on the inside and then put some space between himself and the pack following. Bowyer Snr then wasted little time rounding up Lea, then Black to claim second place in the race. Almost halfway through the race Buckley, led Bowyer Snr, Black, Bowyer Jnr who had now also moved past Lea, then Walkerden. The remaining laps saw Buckley pinning his ears back out front, with Bowyer Snr doing his best to keep pace but losing drive out wide, allowing Buckley to pull further away for a third track advantage. Into the final laps, Lea in fifth place kept the pressure on Black in fourth, having a great mini battle of their own. The final lap saw Buckley speed to the chequer in first place, followed by Bowyer Snr second Bowyer Jnr, Lea, Black, and Walkerden.

Gary Bowyer in action…Photo by: Maximum Action Photography

After the race, during the presentations on track, Bowyer Jnr (3^rd) said he “was happy with third after having some brake issues” and he thanked sponsors Arjan Motors & Gulf Western Oil. He also told the crowd know that the GP Midgets “are awesome cars and the best bang for buck, for what you pay they are awesome fun.” Bowyer Snr (2^nd) thanked the track and volunteers for a great night’s racing, also let he crowd know that there are “GP Midgets available for hire, there were two on the track with us tonight, get in touch with us via Facebook and we can hook you up”.

Feature Winner Buckley remarked: “I am just so proud to have won this Memorial, the Bart Wilkinson, it is the first memorial race I have won, and I am so happy, finally starting to drive this little jet the way it is supposed to be driven. I would also like to thank my supporters, my wife Angela & Beesafe Travel, Luke Geelan from Shore Hire, Ben Vicary from Gulf Western Oil, Gary & Amanda Bowyer from Arjan Motors, ASCT, Penrith City Tyres & Automotive, Control Hire, Infinity Finance Solutions and B & B Graphics. Also, our NSW GP Midget Club Sponsor West Sydney 4×4, Gabe is here supporting us tonight and they are amazing. Thanks also to Tony Kranitis and all the volunteers here at Goulburn Speedway, we love coming here and the track was just brilliant tonight.”

Another fantastic meeting at Goulburn was enjoyed by everyone. The track preparation by Tony Kranitis and the team at Goulburn Speedway looked spot on, along with the brand-new control tower looking magnificent and highlighting the work from the local committee.

Special thanks to New South Wales Grand Prix Midget Racing Association supporters;

Gulf Western Oil, Arjan Motors, White Ant Racing, Beesafe Travel, AOK Trophies, West Sydney 4WD, Panther Prestige Smash Repairs