WA Historics Rd 3
21 July, 2019 – Collie Motorplex, WA
There is nothing better than good sidecar racing and with the prospect of 12 outfits on the grid we were set for a good couple of six-lap races over the new Collie long track with a mix of P4, P5 and Modern outfits. If form counted for anything it would be a race between Jero Joyce/ Corey Blackman, who were returning from National Championship duties at Winton, Des Harvey/Joshua Wells, Murray Stronach/ Steve Marshall and the outfit of Dillan McDermott/Paul Matthews who have excelled in their first season riding a long outfit. However Joyce/Blackman failed to survive qualifying after a broken rose joint put them out for the day. McDermott/Matthews put the #25 outfit on pole with a time of 1:15.9870. Top P5 outfit was Ray Watkins/Paul Cubbitt in fourth place on the grid. McDermott/Matthews took the holeshot and was never headed throughout the 6 lap journey winning by 13.5 seconds from Harvey/Wells who got the better of Stronach/Marshall early in the race to finish ahead of McDermott/ Matthews, well ahead of Harvey/Wells with Stronach/Marshall a further 10 seconds in arrears. Fourth were Steve Marshall’s two sons Morgan and Dion with Sam Watson/Tony Keogh in fifth place on their F2 outfit. First P4 outfit home was Jeffery & Leanne Hord in seventh place. McDermott/Matthews bettered their own lap record with a 1:14.9450 second lap on the penultimate lap. Race 2 saw only 9 outfits grid up. Again the top three set the pace with McDermott/Matthews taking the lead from Harvey/Wells with Stronach/ Marshall filling the minor podium position. Watson/Keogh got the better of the Marshall Brothers finishing fourth and fifth respectively. Phil Brown/Rebecca Boggiano rounded out the top six. Best of the P4s was once again the husband and wife combo Jeffery and Leanne who finished just ahead of David Gapes/ David Mercer. McDermott/Matthews won the round with 50 points, second were Harvey/Wells with 40 points and third Stronach/Marshall on 36 points. Round four will be held on 25th August at the Collie Motorplex.