3rd-4th October 2020 Interclub
Challenge Results
The Douglas Shire
Motor Sport Association hosted the second round of the Interclub
Challenge against FNQ Motor Sport Club over the October long
weekend.
The club held a commanding 13 to 7 point lead after the first round
held at Herberton and were confident of pulling off a threepeat
after having won in 2018 and 2019.
Of course the Cairns Club had other ideas and enlisted some of their
gun drivers for the event in the likes of Graeme Colls, Phil Pike
both driving Subaru WRXs and Rick Ranscombe. Ranscombe who is a
member of both clubs, raced for FNQ (traitor) along with their
President, Kylie Portelli and her partner Sam Madge. Both were
driving their newly acquired BMW E36.
Heading the line up for the local club was former club champion,
Heath Barry along with John and Krista Kenna, Shane North and Rob
Bassett.
With points awarded to the top five outright plus class winners the
importance of finishing in the top five was paramount.
By the end of racing on Saturday only six seconds separated the top
five drivers. Ranscombe had powered his Nissan Pulsar in to first
place, less than .1 of a second ahead of Barry. Late penalties to
Colls and Pike dropped the pair to third and fourth respectively
while John Kenna rounded out the top five.
Krista Kenna , sixth outright held a commanding lead over Deb
Melrose in the Ladies class. In the rear wheel drive class, Rob
Bassett held a narrow lead over Sam Madge.
The points tally still in DSMSA’s favour 21 to 19 points.
After a hearty breakfast on Sunday morning, racing resumed at a
frenetic pace with Ranscombe, Barry and Colls all recording fastest
times.
The DSMSA suffered an early set back when Shane North, who had been
in sixth place over night was forced to retire with gearbox problems
in his Ford Laser. The major problem being half of it was on the
ground.
Sam Madge was starting to get a handle on his new Beamer and was
slowly able to close the gap to Rob Bassett, eventually finishing
fifteen seconds ahead and securing the all important point in the
rear wheel drive class.
By the final run for the day, a two lap dash around the outside
track, Colls had powered his Subaru back into second place
effectively ensuring a win for the Cairns Club, but another late
penalty for striking a course marker (probably while he was busy
adjusting his sunvisor) dropped him back down to third place.
Ranscombe showed why he is the current club champion, steering his
Nissan into first place ahead of the gallant Barry, who spent all
weekend fighting off the more powerful all wheel drives of Colls,
Pike and John Kenna.
Krista Kenna was sixth outright and first in the Ladies class ahead
of Deb Melrose and Kylie Portelli
Josh Yendle and Daniel Andrews battled hard all weekend to win the
junior class with Yendle’s experience proving the difference.
The Challenge points were added up and after a full weekend’s racing
both clubs were tied on 20 points.
A race off was quickly organised between the two clubs fastest
driver. A two lap sprint around the bottom loop in the club Camry.
Both drivers pushed the Camry to its limits while the clubs stood by
and cheered their driver. Alas there can be only one winner and
Ranscombe was just too quick for Barry winning by less than half a
second and securing the trophy for the Cairns Club.
Heath praised Rick’s efforts in winning, but noted that as he was at
a disadvantage. “I was first out so had cold tyres” he said “They
were nice and warm when Rick hopped in”
Although disappointed DSMSA club president Bob Errey paid tribute to
the efforts of his clubs drivers. “We tried hard all weekend but
came up just short. That’s racing I guess” he said “Well done to the
Cairns mob, they deserved the win”
