by Dean Thompson
Closing out Drouin Speedway's big season was a terrific day of action that provided the packed house with plenty of thrills and laughter.
Dillon Siely won in limited sportsman, Aaron Laidlaw in division two hot rods, Chase Ingram in standard saloons and his brother Liam Ingram in junior standard saloons, whilst Pakenham man Damien Miller won the demolition derby and Beau Evans crossed the line first in the ramp racing.
However, it was Brendan Sheedy, after flying over ramps without any rubber left on his front left wheel and only the rim dragging along underneath the car, that had crowd eating out of the palms of his hands. A clear favourite of the day.
Nine new racing records were set including, for the second meeting in succession, a new one-lap and 15-lap record for the open standard saloons. This time it was set by first-time senior age racer Chase Ingram from Warragul.
Rookie driver Adam Bywater, an accomplished circuit racer trying his hand in the speedway world, claimed victory in the first of five heat races.
Chase Ingram then won the second heat in his first ever senior race.
Bunyip racer Jeff Blencowe won the third and the fourth heat races, before Mark Miles won the last heat, himself setting a new 10-lap record for his class at Drouin Speedway.
Ingram then took the lead from the start of the race. Over the course of 15 laps, Ingram was able to get away to an almost six-second margin. Brodie Robertson made his way forward, having to pass Jay Miles and Mitch and Jeff Blencowe on his way to second spot.
Ingram set a one-lap record for open standard saloons of 19.004 and a 15-lap record of 4:57.273 in defeating Robertson, Mitch Blencowe, Jeff Blencowe and Chris Miles.
Making it a family double, Liam Ingram then won the final of the junior standard saloons.
Nathan Miles won heat one, with Ingram winning heat two. Miles won the third heat race before leading lap one of the final.
His race came to a sudden end with mechanical issues before his teammate Hunter Carey led the next lap, as the door opened for Ingram to make his way to the front and go on to secure his first win in a final.
Division two hot rods made their first visit in a while to Drouin Speedway. While racing the night before elsewhere did effect the car count on race day, it didn't dampen the enthusiasm.
Aaron Laidlaw and Keven Stoopman put on two terrific heat race displays, changing positions between the two of them numerous times in both races.
Laidlaw won both of the races, the first by just 0.032 of a second before Daniel Angus won heat number three.
Laidlaw set an eight-lap heat race record before going on to set a new 12-lap record in the final on his way to beating Daniel Angus by almost 10 seconds.
Jamie Angus, after being absent from racing for six seasons, finished in third; a triumphant return from a major road accident that almost claimed his legs.
Adam Leach from New South Wales finished in fourth, still coming to grips with speedway racing himself as a recent starter in the sport.
Limited sportsman were invited to compete, having not seen Drouin Speedway for at least 20 years.
Darren Adams from Corinella was the first winner of the day before Mal Siely set an eight-lap record and what would become the one-lap record for the class of 17.793 in winning heat number two.
Dillon Siely then won heat race number three, just defeating his father in a terrific race-long battle before father and son were at it again in the final.
Dillon beat Mal by less than a second in the race, with Matthew Hurley passing Darren Adams for third and Adams rounding out the top four.
Ella Sheedy set a six-lap record in the women's standard saloons and, on points, was able to pip Amanda Pritchett for the day's honours.
Beau Evans, Wayne Gibson, Ella Sheedy and Brendan Sheedy were all super entertaining in the ramp racing, with the latter three hitting the middle of the ramp numerous times and, in Brendan Sheedy's case, almost every time.
With his car all torn up, the crowd gave him a rousing voice of approval for his entertainment, whilst Beau Evans went for line honours and the chequered flag, which was - in the crowd's eyes - second prize.
Finishing off the big day, numerous Drouin regulars including Brendan Sheedy, Matt Leek, Damien Miller and Mitch Blencowe lined up in the Demolition Derby with Luke Farley and Kayn Shmal - two regular demolition derby entrants - amongst the field.
Miller, who has had success in state titles and big races like the 100-lap derby, then out crashed and smashed the others to take his station wagon to victory in the $3000 event.
Drouin Speedway will now be in recess until the next season of racing begins, with a lot of maintenance work at the track to take place in the off-season.
Big plans to continue to improve the already much-improved racetrack are ready to go ahead.
Setting up a corporate hospitality box for businesses is also something the club would like to get operational.