Oz Late Model

After twice finishing runner-up in the Late Model Nationals, Bunbury's Brad Blake claimed victory in an eventful third running of the event at the Quit Motorplex Kwinana Beach (WA) on March 27.

Twenty-one cars contested the event that commenced with Time Trials, followed by four Heat races, and a 25-lap Feature. In the Main event, Blake tangled with Brad Ludlow on the back straight as he tried an inside pass for the lead with nine laps remaining. The Motorplex Chief Steward Keith Mann sent Ludlow to the rear in a controversial decision - many onlookers feeling it was simply a racing incident and that the two Brad's should have been left up front to battle it out. Blake went on to score over Super Sedan star Marc Giancola and Jaron Crane - with Ludlow charging back to fourth in a brilliant performance.

"I'm stoked," said Blake after winning the title. "I'm so glad to get the monkey off my back, to be honest". "It was quite a race. I set my car up for the last ten laps and I just sat there biding my time. I didn't do anything stupid". "And as you know I got up to second". "I caught up to Brad (Ludlow) very fast. I knew I had his measure". "He made a mistake - the gap was there. He must have turned down and hit me - and I smacked the wall". "I was lucky to finish. The car was so smashed up."

Marc Giancola had this to say - "It was our first real night out so to finish second was great". "It was a hard race. The track was pretty slick so you had to be on the ball - and use your head more than the gas pedal."

And third man home Jaron Crane - "It feels unreal. It's my first good finish - I can't complain about coming in third. It was a hard race – we all sort of slowed down towards the finish. You had to keep it as close to the wall as possible and just stick there."

After the hot laps Brad Ludlow found the Ford Dealer Team #2 Mustang was not running properly, so he was forced to eject AMCA Nationals regular Jac Dolmans Jr from the spare #21 Chevy. Time Trials saw Craig Vosbergen the only driver able to get into the seventeen second bracket - his 17.89 second effort eclipsing his father Bert (18.01), Bruce Trenaman (18.03), Mark Duncombe (18.15) and Marc Giancola (18.15). Surprisingly, Brad Blake was only seventh fastest (18.18), just ahead of Brad Ludlow (18.45).

Heat 1 lineup was - Row 1 - Craig Vosbergen, Bruce Trenaman; 2 – Mark Duncombe, Brad Blake; 3 - Mark Matthews, Derrol Crane; 4 - Kevin Bell, Warren Bishop; 5 - Jaron Crane, Willie Powell. Craig jumped out ahead of Trenaman and they maintained their positions up to the flag. Blake grabbed third spot from Duncombe with Derrol Crane and Bell further back.

The second Heat saw Bert Vosbergen and Marc Giancola share the front row. Behind were Ben Ludlow & Brad Ludlow; Ryan Halliday & Matt Nylander; Mark Nylander & Matt Goodlad; Rob MacGregor & Paul de Lacy. Bert was tapped from behind along the back straight and spun, so they lined up again. Giancola raced around Bert with Brad and Ben Ludlow in hot pursuit. With a couple of laps remaining, Brad Ludlow got by Bert for second - and then Ben Ludlow charged up on the inside of Bert on the line, but failed by centimetres to improve his position.

The reverse grid Heat 3 lineup was as follows:- Row 1 - de Lacy & Jaron Crane; 2 - Goodlad & Bell; 3 - Matt Nylander & Matthews; 4 - Brad Ludlow & Duncombe; 5 - Giancola & Craig Vosbergen. Jaron Crane headed Bell, while further back Duncombe dived between two cars in a brilliant move. de Lacy and Giancola then came together with the latter spinning to the infield. Jaron Crane was challenged by the flying Brad Ludlow, who charged past on lap 4. With three remaining Ludlow's machine slowed and his great effort was all for nothing. Jaron Crane went on to score victory over Duncombe, backmarker Craig Vosbergen, Bell and Matt Nylander.

Heat 4 saw Bishop & MacGregor up front, followed by Derrol Crane & Mark Nylander; Blake & Halliday; Trenaman & Ben Ludlow; with Bert Vosbergen at the rear. MacGregor went high at the start with Halliday racing into the lead. Blake powered up to second, as further back Trenaman exited with a blown rear tyre. At mid-distance Blake shot under Halliday to hit the front. Derrol Crane hung on for third ahead of Ben Ludlow, Bert Vosbergen and Bishop.

Now it was Championship time!

Eighteen cars faced the starter - Row 1 - Craig Vosbergen, Bert Vosbergen; 2 - Brad Blake, Mark Duncombe; 3 - Ben Ludlow, Derrol Crane; 4 - Marc Giancola, Bruce Trenaman; 5 - Ryan Halliday, Matt Nylander; 6 - Kevin Bell, Mark Matthews; 7 - Jaron Crane, Brad Ludlow; 8 – Matt Goodlad, Warren Bishop; 9 - Rob MacGregor, Mark Nylander.

Bert jumped best with Blake slipping under Craig. Duncombe was given a tap and spun, with Derrol Crane and Matt Nylander crashing into him. Both Duncombe and young Nylander were sidelined. Again it was Bert in front, with Derrol Crane going around Craig – they came together with Derrol sliding onto the infield. Bert headed Blake, Halliday and Brad Ludlow when Mark Nylander looped bringing on the caution lights. Underway once more, it was the defending Oz Champion Halliday who was putting plenty of pressure on Blake. Then Ludlow raced up to second spot. Craig Vosbergen charged by Halliday along the back straight, and then crunched the Pits Bend fence.

At the restart Brad Ludlow went by Bert for the lead. Derrol Crane then contacted the fence on the main straight. Fourteen laps remained as Brad Ludlow led away Bert, Blake, Halliday and Ben Ludlow. Several circuits later Blake got by Bert and began to close on the leader. Brad Ludlow slid a little wide through turn 2 and clipped the back straight fence. As he came down off the wall, Blake was coming through on the inside. Both cars came together with Blake nosing into the fence. Ludlow was sent to the rear.

With nine laps to go, the race order was - Blake, Bert Vosbergen, Ben Ludlow, Trenaman, Giancola, Jaron Crane, Goodlad, Bishop, Matthews, MacGregor and Brad Ludlow. Blake set the pace with Bert and Ben Ludlow dueling for second. A couple of laps further in and Giancola slipped by Ben Ludlow and closed on Bert. Only two from home Bert slid sideways coming onto the back straight.

Blake went on to win - lapping MacGregor - as he crossed the line in front of Giancola, Jaron Crane, Brad Ludlow, Ben Ludlow, Trenaman, Bishop and MacGregor.

Late Model Australian Championship - Quit Motorplex Kwinana Beach - Saturday March 27, 2004.

Time Trial: 1. Craig Vosbergen 17.89 seconds, 2. Bert Vosbergen 18.01, 3. Bruce Trenaman 18.03, 4. Mark Duncombe 18.15, 5. Marc Giancola 18.15, 6. Ben Ludlow 18.16, 7. Brad Blake 18.18, 8. Brad Ludlow 18.45, 9. Mark Matthews 18.46, 10. Ryan Halliday 18.48, 11. Derrol Crane 18.50, 12. Matt Nylander 18.74, 13. Kevin Bell 18.89, 14. Daryl Clayden 19.02, 15. Mark Nylander 19.02, 16. Matt Goodlad 19.17, 17. Jaron Crane 19.38, 18. Rob MacGregor 19.49, 19. Warren Bishop 19.57, 20. Paul Delacy 20.58, 21. Willie Powell no time.

Heat 1 (10 laps): 1. Craig Vosbergen, 2. Bruce Trenaman, 3. Brad Blake, 4. Mark Duncombe, 5. Derrol Crane, 6. Kevin Bell, 7. Jaron Crane, 8. Mark Matthews, 9. Warren Bishop; 2:49.39.

Heat 2 (10 laps): 1. Marc Giancola, 2. Brad Ludlow, 3. Bert Vosbergen, 4. Ben Ludlow, 5. Matt Nylander, 6. Matt Goodlad, 7. Paul De Lacy, 8. Rob MacGregor; 2:51.13.

Heat 3 (10 laps): 1. Jaron Crane, 2. Mark Duncombe, 3. Craig Vosbergen, 4. Kevin Bell, 5. Matt Nylander, 6. Matt Goodlad, 7. Mark Matthews; no time.

Heat 4 (10 laps): 1. Brad Blake, 2. Ryan Halliday, 3. Derrol Crane, 4. Ben Ludlow, 5. Bert Vosbergen, 6. Warren Bishop. 7. Rob MacGregor, 8. Mark Nylander; 2:51.79.

Feature (25 laps): 1. Brad Blake, 2. Marc Giancola, 3. Jaron Crane, 4. Brad Ludlow, 5. Ben Ludlow, 6. Bruce Trenaman, 7. Warren Bishop, 8. Mark Matthews, 9. Rob MacGregor; no time.