14th May 2017 Khanacross and Motorkhana results

With some competitors “not allowed” to compete because of Mothers Day commitments a smaller than usual field of drivers lined up for the fourth round of the Douglas Shire Motor Sports Association’s 2017 Club Championship last Sunday.

Held at the club’s North Mossman track the Khanacross and Junior Motorkhana had been postponed from the previous Sunday due to wet weather.

Despite the rain of the previous week the track was dry and in good condition ensuring some fast lap times over the day.

Fresh from a forth place finish at the first round of the NQ Khanacross Series in Proserpine two weeks ago, fifteen year old Heath Barry was quick out of the blocks, setting the fastest time on the first run in his Nissan Micra.

This set the scene for the rest of the day as Barry clocked fastest times on all twelve runs, finishing nearly one minute clear of his nearest rival.

Cairns driver, Rick Ranscombe tried hard all day to match Barry’s times but despite his best efforts, his Toyota Corolla was unable to catch the club’s 2016 champion and he was forced to settle for second spot.

John Kenna and fiancée Krista O’Dell had a ding-dong battle for third, with both pushing their Ford Laser to the limits. They swapped fastest times regularly and there was only seconds separating them for much of the day. Unfortunately for O’Dell a couple of slow runs late in the day allowed Kenna to pull away and claim third spot.

Anthony Baldwin was the first of the rear wheel drive cars bringing home his Holden Commodore in fifth spot, despite spinning on the second last run and coping a penalty for hitting a track marker.

Just two competitors lined up in the Junior Motorkhana for twelve and thirteen year olds. Brooklyn Henry started the day strongly recording fastest time on the first ten runs. After that Mackenzie Barry picked up the pace beating Henry on the last seven. Fortunately Henry had built up a large enough lead to hang on for the win ahead of the fast finishing Barry.

Following his win on Sunday, his second for the year and his fourth in Proserpine Heath has set his sights on the Australian Khanacross Championship in Melbourne in November. “Dad is going to take two weeks off work and tow the car down for me and I am going to fly down on the Friday” Barry said “Its going to be a real challenge but I am looking forward to it”

Heath’s father, Craig said that the biggest hurdle was the expense of the 6000km round trip towing the racecar to Victoria. “We have already got some sponsors on board including Zammataro Plumbing, Marano’s Fuels, BME Electrical, Mossman Tyre Service and S & A Automotive” he said “and the club is going to help with some fund raising too, but I think the experience will do him good and you never know, he might come to the attention of some big team bosses down there.”