V8 veterans’ tricky fight on wet track
Close racing, with last-gasp off-road excursions determining the outcome of both heats.
CLOSE. Ben Morgenrood (IndyOil Mustang) and Terry Wilford (Hotwheels Mustang) get up close and personal during Saturday’s second Sports and GT race at Zwartkops. Picture: Tracksidepics.co.za.
That is how enthusiasts will remember Saturday’s SA Sports and GT races at Zwartkops.
The opening race saw reigning champion Ben Morgenrood (IndyOil Mustang), Franco di Matteo (Varta Batteries Jaguar) and Mackie Adlem (Adlem Auto Jaguar) fighting for the lead on a damp circuit.
Morgenrood worked his way to the front, but slid wide in the pit corner on the penultimate lap, letting his two adversaries through.
Di Mateo went on to win from Adlem and Morgenrood, with Terry Wilford (Motul Mustang), Larry Wilford (Hotwheels Corvette) and Romano Sartori (AMC Mustang) filling out the top six places.
The circuit was properly wet for race two, with Terry Wilford leading most of the way.
On the last lap, Morgenrood challenged for the lead, the two Mustangs made contact on the Table Top, and Wilford’s car ploughed through the sand trap.
Morgenrood took the win, leading home Terry Wilford, Larry Wilford, Willie Hepburn (Chev Corvette), Steve Smith (Ford Mustang) and Mackie Adlem.
v Robert Wolk (Midas FVW) coped the best with greasy track conditions to win both of the day’s Formula Volkswagen single seater races.
On both occasions, he was followed by Nicholas van Weely (Anglorand FVW) and Jason Campos (Hollard FVW).
v Youngster Scott Temple (Investchem Mygale) won both the Formula 1600 races from Keegan Campos (Hollard Mygale).
Graham Hepburn (Suburban Body Mygale) and Bevan Williams (Mygale) took turns in the respective third places.
v Gavin Lightfoot (ELF Kawasaki ZX10) led the opening Thunderbike race until the treacherous conditions caught him out, and he laid the bike down on the Table Top.
Brandon Goode (Kawasaki ZX10) took a narrow victory from Kyran de Lange (Silverton Midas Triumph) and Richard Carmody (Kawasaki ZX10).
Race two was held in a full scale storm, and only seven riders took to the treacherous tarmac.
Kyran de Lange won from Jesse Boshoff (Kawasaki ZX6) and Teddy Brooke (Kawasaki ZX10).
