8th September 2011

Isa karters take experience into weekend's club championships - from the North West Star

TWELVE North West karters gained valuable experience ahead of this weekend’s Mount Isa Club Championships when they recently competed in the Far North Queensland Titles held in Cairns.

Karters of varying experience made the trek to Cairns’ Kart Club’s Edmonton Raceway to compete against more han 80 karters across 11 categories.

In only his first year of racing, Cadets (7-11 years) karter Jordan Dew had a standout weekend, placing fifth in a field of nine karts. With the experience of kart set up and driving in a larger field, Dew will be looking to consolidate his step at the top of the podium at this weekend’s club championships.

After taking out the Junior Clubman (12-16 years) Australian National Championship on home soil earlier in the year, Callum Barr placed a highly respectable fourth place in only his second race meeting of the year.

Graham O’Brien and Guy Mears competed in the Touch and Go 100 category with O’Brien claiming Mount Isa’s first podium of the weekend, placing third with new karter Mears putting in a brilliant drive to place fourth.

Matthew Whitehead gained Mount Isa’s second podium when he placed second in Clubman Light.

Four Isa karters greeted the green light in the Clubman Heavy category with Paul Malouf placing 10th, Sam McAllister and Joel Akers thirteenth with Lindsay Bishop forced to retire early due to injury.

These karters gained an enormous amount of experience and are set to move up the grid at this weekend’s club championships.

Ryan Mackenzie poled fastest in qualifying for the Clubman Super Heavy and was in charge of the final until before spinning out. Adam Kuzmanovic moved up into second in the closing stages however an error of judgment while overtaking a backmarker also resulted in him watching from the sidelines.

In the end Travis Crowther was the sole Isa karter on track to greet the chequered flag and claimed Mount Isa’s third and final podium of the meeting placing third.

Mount Isa’s largest club race meeting, the Club Championships trophy meet is on this Saturday.