The 8th and 9th September 2018 - Interclub Challenge -  Khanacross results

After trying for five years and with last years heart breaking one point loss still fresh in their minds the Douglas Shire Motor Sports Association again took on the Cairns based FNQ Motor Sport Club in the annual interclub challenge.

Held under clear skies over two days at the Reef and Rainforest Track at North Mossman, the club entered the second and final round trailing nine points to eleven.

The Cairns club were keen to keep their unbeaten record in tact and bought several of their gun drivers up for the event, including Kevin Durose, Rowan Trewick. Phil Pyke and Andrew Horn.

Thirty-six drivers in total lined up for the two day khanacross, one of the biggest fields ever at the track.

Right from the start Trewick was on the pace, setting fastest times in his Toyota Celica but with points on offer for the top five places all eyes were on the next four drivers.

By the end of racing on Saturday night Graeme Colls had steered his Subaru into second place, followed by Rick Ranscombe in his Nissan Pulsar. Greg Erwin and Heath Barry rounded out the top five.

Cairns driver, Chris Wieden was the surprise package of day one, powering his V8 Nissan Patrol into sixth spot.

This meant that four of the top five drivers were from the DSMSA and they had taken the lead in the points table 22 to 18.

Sunday dawned with much anticipation. With only seconds separating drivers, could the FNQ guys mount a challenge and regain the lead or could the local club hang on for a much deserved win.

Unfortunately for Ranscombe a slow first run dropped him out of the top five and allowed Erwin and Barry to move up one spot each.

The big move of the day was from local driver and club stalwart Shane North who drove the wheels off his Hyundai Excel to jump from eight place to fifth.

Horn also mounted a late challenge to move up several spots but it was too little too late
as the local drivers held there nerve under intense pressure and secured the win 22 points to 18.

Club President, Bob Errey was ecstatic after the win. “We have been trying for five years to win this thing and to finally do it is just fantastic” he said.” Well done to all our club members who raced hard and never gave up”

The clubs next event is on the Monday of the Queens Birthday long weekend.