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15 MELROSE
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KELLER WINS OPENING ROUND

 By Phil Michell 12-12-06

Last years State V6 Sprint Series Champion Bradley Keller made an impressive start to the 2006/07 Series with victory in the opening round at Murray Bridge recently. With the biggest field of the season in the pit area the competition was extremely tough but Keller managed to hold off his rivals as he took maximum points in the 20 lap finale. Second across the line in the non-stop event was Nick Hall while Mount Barker resident Mark Harrington completed the podium finishers.

Earlier in the night three rounds of heats were conducted with the highest point scorers coming from the back in the final heat. Keller got his night off to a great start posting a win in heat one with Nathan Squiers drove his #77 Murphy to victory in heat two while Nick Hall claimed the final preliminary.

In the second feature event of the night Darren Brumfield defeated a massive field of 26 Street Stocks to claim the victory in round two of the MJS Street Stock Series. Second across the line was Nigel Reichstein, in one of the many MJS supported vehicles, with “Slick” Rick Emery having his best run of the season to claim third in the 20 lap decider.

Prior to the final four heats were conducted with Darren Tapley, Brumfield, Craig Buchanan and Reichstein all greeting the chequered flag ahead of the pack.

In addition to the two Series events the meeting also saw the flying Formula 500’s in action once again along with the Modified Sedans and Sidecars.

As they have all season the Formula’s put on another great display of racing on the 360 metre oval with three drivers sharing the victories. Tom Bowey defeated his cousin Luke in heat one with Luke Bowey getting the better of Shayne O’Shea and Tom Bowey in the second preliminary. But it was Mylor speedster Michael Wise who upstaged them all in the 12 lap final as he defeated rookie Jarrod Moore, Tom Bowey and Terry Marks.

In the Modified Sedans it was the “Tony McKenzie / Terry Brown Show” as they dominated proceedings as they shared the wins between them. McKenzie grabbed the opening event ahead of Brown while the results were reversed next time around. Brown then went on to take out the feature event with Robert Uren, Bronte Perkins and Andy Hille and McKenzie completing the top five.

The final racing category, the Sidecars, saw Mark Plaisted and Sam Harrison back up their stunning performance at the Sidecar Feature a month ago as crossed the line first in the 6 lap Sidecar Final. Second in the finale was local Mick Headland, with his passenger Paul Waters, while Mark Mitchell and Tom Golding rounded out the first three combinations.

The next meeting at the Murray Bridge Speedway will see the World Series Sprintcars tour roll into town with Round 2 of the annual Proton Jumbuck Speedweek Series on December 27. The field at this stage includes well over 30 of Australia’s best drivers (Tatnell, Dumesny, Murcott, March, Brazier etc) along with American’s Jason Johnson and Dean Jacobs.