At Avalon Raceway on Saturday night (Nov.4), Harley Bishop drove to an impressive treble with 2 Heat wins and the Midget Main, setting up an advantage in the “Linc Construction/Shadan Carpentry” Challenge series points score over closest rivals Darren Power, Luke Stanley, David Crabtree and Peter Ghent in an entertaining midget auto racing program.

In the pre-race drivers meeting midgets Chief Steward Sam Papa led members in observing a tribute of silence for Michael Figliomeni and drivers wore black armbands in respect for the late 4 times Australian Champion who passed away suddenly last week during a race meeting at Kwinana. Peter Ghent had a sign painted on his midget visor in his own personal mark of respect for the great “Figs”. Newcastle driver Anthony Collins was also welcomed in his first visit in a VSDA race meeting.

Fifteen midgets were on hand in the pits, however fuel pump problems plagued the chances of Darren Hossack # 22 Gaerte/Hawk throughout the night and a similar gremlin hampered Richard Emmerson # 7 Fontana/Beast in his heats, but thanks to David Crabtree and Jason Forbes who discovered the cause the problem was overcome for the Feature.

Heat 1 lined up Troy Jordan # 75 Mopar/Beast and Eden Jordan # 10 Fontana/Breka in Row 1. Darren Power # 59 Fontana/Stealth and Peter Ghent # 3 Hawk/Spike in Row 2. David Patterson # 4 turbo Renault/Murphy and Luke Stanley # 78 Fontana/Murphy in Row 3. Luke Truscott # 99 V4 Scat/Beast and Rodger Smaill V8 Rover/Stewart in Row 4.
With the Mopar really percolating on its best performance so far, Troy kept his foot in it for a very good win from Ghent and young Patterson who showed vastly improved driving talent to hold out Stanley for third.

Heat 2 saw Row 1: Anthony Collins # N49 Fontana/Stealth and David Crabtree # 97 Fontana/Breka. Row 2: Craig Smith # 55 Rotary/Smithcon and Harley Bishop # 2 Gaerte/Aggressor. Row 3: Barry Martin # 13 Canaday/Pearce alone, while Hossack and Emmerson were both scratchings.
Crabtree took the lead on the green and driving well, but eventually conceded to pressure from Bishop on the charge, while Collins took third ahead of Smith.

Heat 3 grid was Stanley & Patterson, Row 1. Ghent & Power, Row 2. Troy Jordan & Eden Jordan, Row 3. Smaill & Truscott, Row 4.
Stanley and Patterson continued their duel from Heat 1 until bowing to the superior speed of Ghent who won comfortably from the pair with Eden Jordan in fourth ahead of Power who was not having the best of nights with apparent handling problems. Also Troy Jordan, Smaill and Truscott were all non finishers.

Heat 4 field comprised Bishop & Emmerson, Row 1. Smith & Collins, Row 2. Crabtree & Martin, Row 3.
Bishop was on the loud pedal immediately with the smooth driving Crabtree putting in an impressive effort to keep in touch with the leadfooted leader. Martin was picking up the pace to take third from Collins, Smith and Emmerson still with an off song engine.

The Feature lined up Row 1: Bishop & Ghent
Row 2: Crabtree & Stanley
Row 3: Patterson & Collins
Row 4: Troy Jordan & Eden Jordan
Row 5: Smith & Power
Row 6: Emmerson & Truscott
Row 7: Hossack & Martin
Row 8: Smaill.

Ghent got a flyer at the start which the Chief Steward, not satisfied, abhorted. The second attempt was much more even with Bishop and Ghent dicing for the lead through turn one that saw Bishop doing the better with Crabtree and Stanley also on the pace and Troy Jordan closing fast. Patterson still putting in his best effort of his short career with Collins too going well had Power breathing down their exhaust pipes until his ill luck kicked in again when he spun to avoid Patterson and was collected hard by Eden Jordan in turn 3 to bring on the cautions. Power too damaged to continue, joined Hossack who didn’t make the start, on the infield. Jordan took up R.O.F. on the nose to tail restart and Bishop again showing out nicely in the lead. Ghent moving quickly and waiting for Bishop to make an error on the rough track was himself taken by surprize when he hooked a rut in the top bend, putting him momentarily out of shape and a fast moving silky Crabtree made an inside pass into second. Troy Jordan also on the move was suddenly forced to retire when a hose blew on his power steering pump, covering him in oil. Truscott with a recurring drive line problem was out. Emmerson and Collins having their own private duel mid field, swapped places a couple of times. The cautions were on again when Martin coasted to a halt against the turn one wall but was able to restart. Smaill and Smith joined the growing infield parking lot while Bishop went on to take his second successive Midget Main from Crabtree, Ghent, Stanley, Patterson, Eden Jordan, Collins, Emmerson and Martin.

RESULTS: “CHALLENGE SERIES” ROUND 3; Avalon Raceway. Nov. 4, 2006.
Heat 1: 1. Troy Jordan, 2. Peter Ghent, 3. David Patterson, 4. Luke Stanley.
Heat 2: 1. Harley Bishop, 2. David Crabtree, 3. Anthony Collins, 4. Craig Smith.
Heat 3: 1. Peter Ghent, 2. Luke Stanley, 3. David Patterson, 4. Eden Jordan.
Heat 4: 1. Harley Bishop, 2. David Crabtree, 3. Barry Martin, 4. Anthony Collins.
Feature: 1. Harley Bishop, 2. David Crabtree, 3. Peter Ghent, 4. Luke Stanley,
5. David Patterson, 6. Eden Jordan, 7. Anthony Collins, 8. Richard Emmerson,
9. Barry “Tiger” Martin.

Next Meeting: “Super Series” Round 2. TIMMIS, MILDURA; November 11, 2006.
Followed by: “Super Series” Round 3. AVALON RACEWAY; November 18, 2006

Harley Bishop (Gaerte/Aggressor) Made It Two On The Trot

Troy Jordan Boots The Mopar/Beast At Avalon

Newcastle's Anthony Collins (Fontana/Stealth)Welcomed Visitor.

Round 3 Challenge Podium (L-R) Peter Ghent,3rd; Harley Bishop,1st; David Crabtree, 2nd.

Peter Ghent's Visor Spells Tribute To Figs.

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