Avalon WSS Rnd7

Preparing for battle

We made it out to Avalon Speedway 'the Place for Pace' last Friday for my annual methanol fix. We must have been among the first to arrive for the open 'Pit Party'. Some party but quite a few fans turned up for the hour (3-4) for a look-see. I did manage a few snaps but being the photographer I am I won't bore you with too many, just one of the 25 car, well some of it looking pretty quiet while being prepared for battle.
The pits were busy with modified golf buggy's, little mobile mechanics buzzing everywhere collecting there Hoosiers for the night ahead. We wandered back to our chairs for a relax in the sun until the cars were rolled out for engine start. 48 cars were pushed away in groups of 8 for their start and five hotlaps. What seemed like minutes later all 48 cars sat burbling on the infield in a thunderous rumble and there wasn't a sub-woofer in sight. It's was amazing how the crew members survived the fumes. Six o'clock and the first two cars were pushed away for time trials. With transponder timing there is no question as to accuracy and results are instantly shown and sorted on "the big screen". The top 38 cars were in the 12 second range and it was Brooke Tatnell on top with a 12.197. Our guy James was only to set eleventh fastest time with a 12.495 but it did place him mid-pack in his heats and the opportunity to collect points. With the time trial points and two rounds of heats tallied James found himself in the Silver Shootout (yet another time trial) which he 'won' and stuck around for the Gold Shootout. Nearly a half second quicker than his rivals Jame McFadden had earned himself pole for the A-Main. A bit of a half-time was to follow, a wet down of the track and a Modified support race and it was time for the all important B-Main and a chance for the top six finishers to tag on the rear of the A-Main. It was a great race (as a B-Main usually is) won by ex-champ Gary Brazier who took a hammering all race from young spark Mitchell Dumsney. The field was set for the big one of the night and after the four wide salute and the US and AU anthems and a chance for a stretch we were prepared for any mayhem that may occur in the next 25 minutes. The green flag dropped and after a few attempts they were away. Tatnell, out of 2, rounded up James on lap one and held the lead until lap 18 when James passed him for the lead and was to go on for the win. So the horses were settled down and we rode home.