King of the West - Niall Claims the Crown
A two round Access Linemarking Equipment TA2 King of the West title in Western Australia saw back to back race weekends at Wanneroo Raceway Perth and Collie Motorplex to launch the new
TA2 Western Series.
East Coast competitors Peter Robinson, Mark Crutcher and Rob Leonard made the long haul across the Nullabor. Joining the TA2 field included well known Sprintcar star Jason Pryde, father and son dairy farmers Brock and Brad Boley, experienced international racer Brett Niall, Clint Rayner, Ron Moller, Greg Freeman, and Camarodriver Glen Melling.
Clint Rayner won pole at Wanneroo on a wet track, before he came together with Brock Boley early in the race causing a safety car. At the restart, Niall bolted early copping a 5 second post-race penalty.
Pryde, the only front runner to stay on wets made the move on Niall for the lead into Turn 1, however faded later in the race in a great three way dice with Brad Boley taking the win in the Camaro after Nialls penalty was applied.
Brock Boley scored the win from the back of the grid in Race 2, while Pryde won the final race from Niall and Robinson after Brock Boley didn’t finish.
Round 2 of the TA2 King of the West title moved to Collie Motorplex, built around an old coal mine west of Bunbury. Two new names joined the field in Marc Watkins in the ex-Nathan Herne Dodge Challenger, now owned by Peter George, the TA2 Category representative in Perth, and Mark Cates taking delivery of former TA2 champ Russell Wrights Mustang only days before the race.
Niall scored pole by 0.10sec from Pryde and Brock Boley. Race 1 was wet as Robinson rolled the dice as the only one who gambled with slicks on a drying track. Brock Boley was the first to go at the final corner, while Crutcher made it up to second before spinning. Moller was another victim of the wet track, spinning twice, while Robinson closed on Pryde for third before Pryde spun on the final corner. Niall went on to win from a fast-finishing Robinson and Moller’s Camaro.
Robinson and Pryde came together at in Race 2 off the start with Pryde into the back of the Dodge in greasy conditions. Leonard was another to spin at Turn 10, while Moller, Crutcher and Brock Boley all ran hard nose to tail with Boley getting by Crutcher for third on lap 5. Moller made the move stick on Niall for the lead at the final corner to take the win. The final race for the King of the West title was a four way stoush between Niall, Pryde, Robinson and Crutcher. Brock Boley, Ron Moller and Mark Crutcher claimed the top 3 spots in the finale.
In the overall King of the West pointscore combining both the Wanneroo and Collie events, Camaro driver Brett Niall claimed the title by six points from Pryde and Robinson.
Posted in:TA2 Media |
Nathan Herne | American Diary
Nathan Herne made a lightning trip to the United States, with the support of TA2 and the series’ Technical Officer Cam Sendall. Herne was granted a wildcard entry for the final round of the American version of the TA2 Series at the Circuit of the Americas.
In addition to those racing commitments, Nathan also met with Chas Howe, the owner of Howe Racing Enterprises.
“I’ve had the chance to sit down and have dinner with the Howe family, which is pretty damn cool. I’ve been in contact with Chas Howe (owner of Howe Racing Enteprises who build all Australian chassis and my American chassis) since we started racing Trans Am in Australia, and he really has to be one of the nicest, smartest blokes I’ve met,” Herne said.
“He reminds me of a bloke from Lismore by the name of Danny Smith who helped myself and dad out a lot in the early days when it was just us working on the TA2 cars. Danny loved all Howe cars as they were similar to the cars he worked on in the States. So when we had our car in Lismore he was happy to help us out!
“Chas has some cool stories to tell about motorsport from all different points in history, he was telling me that the TA2 as a car has been sold in 20+ countries and has a running series in five of them. It’s pretty cool to think a formula like this has taken off so big around the world!”
Herne qualified 12th for the one hour race and made strong early progress to be in contention for a podium finish.
The two-time Australian Trans Am champion was battling for third place, only to make contact with his rival, damaging the front splitter and losing vital down- force. He soldiered on to finish fourth – an outstanding result amongst a 50+ car field.
“Well, that’s a wrap on the American trip! And damn, out of all of the racing I’ve ever done in my life, this American TA2 stuff – This is real motorsport!”
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Southern Division - Loscialpo’s Crown
Tempest Solutions Camaro driver Zach Loscialpo scored his first circuit racing championship win with victory in the 2022 TA2 Muscle Car Southern Series.
The first round in Sydney saw Kobelco Motorsport’s Michael Coulter lead the way after the night race in Sydney, finishing third overall for the round with Loscialpo fourth.
Coulter crashed out at The Bend during Round 2, while rookie Josh Haynes stole the show. He took overall round honours after a thrilling battle with eventual series champion Jett Johnson.
Former Toyota 86 and production car racer Dylan Thomas finished second with Loscialpo third of the Southern Series contenders.
Coulter was back on form at the third round at Winton to lead Nicholas Bates and John Holinger in the Southern Series, but Loscialpo’s consistency saw him head into the final round in Sydney in the lead of the points.
Loscialpo sealed the Southern Series at the final round in Sydney, when he scored his first overall round win ahead of Coulter and Bates, while Bates bested Coulter for second in the series.
Posted in:TA2 Media |
Brad Gartner Determined to Bounce Back after Terrifying Brake Failure and Crash
Solid points haul for Jackson Rice at Queensland Raceway
Dream Racing Australia’s Jackson Rice left Round 3 of the TA2 Muscle Car Series at Queensland Raceway with a solid bank of points keeping him well in the title fight. Entering the event five-points in arrears of series leader Dylan Thomas, Rice aimed to stay in touch and succeeded in doing this last weekend. Rice welcomed new sponsor Mudtamer car mats for Queensland Raceway where he qualified in third before finishing fourth in the Top 10 Shootout on a 1m 12.933s. Maintaining fourth in an uninterrupted opening race place set Rice up for a strong run of results as title rival Thomas remained in close proximity. Displacing Thomas in a chaotic Race 2 after a great start and clean overtake at Turn 3 enabled Rice to score a podium result in third. Dropping a wheel off cost Rice two spots as he dropped to fifth in the third event of the weekend leaving the 20-lap final to round out proceedings. As the weather changed ahead of the final event of the weekend, it led to many drivers including Rice entering the pits to change tyres. A fine charge through the field followed for Rice as he worked hard to keep the Mudtamer Ford Mustang on the circuit and avoid many incidents to cross the line fifth, although a 30s post-race penalty led to seventh. Although he has lost a little ground to Thomas as the deficit grew to 17-points, Rice will aim to reduce this at the next round of the TA2 Muscle Car Series at Morgan Park, Queensland on July 8-9.
QUOTESJackson Rice - #7 Mudtamer/Dream Racing Australia Ford Mustang
“It was good to get some points in the bank, I think we lost a little bit in terms of margin to the title leader,” said Rice.
“From a championship point of view, it’s going to be tight and close racing, which is what we want. “The guys at Mudtamer came out and they were fantastic. They spent the weekend with us, we introduced them to the Dream Racing Australia team and really appreciate the support I receive from them, so I hope to continue the partnership.
“I’m looking forward to Morgan Park as it is a very technical circuit as our cars traditionally stop, turn, rotate really well, so our short track set-ups are very strong, so I can really have a crack!”