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2nd June 2011

NATIONAL HONOURS ON THE LINE IN MOUNT ISA

Lydon Dodge in action during the 2010 Queensland Dirt Track Championships at Mount Isa

Lydon Dodge in action during the 2010 Queensland Dirt Track Championships at Mount Isa

The stakes will be high when kart racers take to the Lagoon Park Raceway in Mount Isa, Queensland later this month (June 17-19) for the Dirt Track Nationals.

With the event being held on the 466-metre oil-sealed dirt circuit it offers a great opportunity for sprint karters to experience a different style of racing, in their regular equipment, as they chase championship honours.

“The Dirt Track Nationals is an event which the Mount Isa Club has been working towards for a couple of years now and we’re looking forward to putting on a great show for both our local and visiting competitors,” said Club President Matthew Whitehead.

“Everyone who travelled to last year’s Queensland Titles, that were held in Mount Isa, left full of praise for the event after having a great time with some great country hospitality and exciting racing.”

Unlike other championships in the Australian Karting Association, the Dirt Track Nationals will be decided over six heats with every race counting towards the overall pointscore.

In last year’s Queensland Dirt Track Championships it was Cairns driver Lydon Dodge, current leader in the Yamaha Challenge held alongside the CIK Stars of Karting Series, who won the Clubman Light category.

“I really enjoyed racing at Mount Isa last year, it was probably one of the most enjoyable race meetings I had all year,” said Dodge.

“The track had surprisingly more grip than what I thought it would have, it’s got concrete corners and oil sealed dirt on the straights.  The level of grip was very similar to racing on a cold morning in Melbourne but off line it is very slippery.

“When you are looking to pass someone you’ve really got to be on your game and make the pass stick, you can’t sit there and wait for something to happen.

“While there wasn’t the large numbers that we’re used to at major karting events, the hospitality of the local people was unreal, by the end of the weekend I almost felt like I was a local.  I’m disappointed that the Dirt Track Nationals clashes with the CIK Stars of Karting round in Melbourne otherwise I would have been a certain starter.”

Local youngster Emmily O’Brien is the current Queensland Champion in Junior National Light and will enter as one of the favourites to win the National Title in the same class.

Another driver who has entered for the event is South Australian Jeff Redjeppi, who won the Clubman Heavy crown in 1999 – the same year as current Formula Ford driver Tom Williamson claimed the Junior National Light crown.

For competitors looking to enter the event, the nomination fee is only $80 and the Supplementary Regulations can be viewed by clicking here.