|
June 9, 2016
A motor racing track has sprung into existence in the back streets of the Wondai Industrial Estate … all ready for this weekend’s inaugural Wondai Street Sprints.
Concrete fencing now lines the track – which features freshly laid bitumen – tyre barriers have been positioned at strategic points, and direction signs have appeared on the Bunya Highway.
Organisers have been working hard to make sure everything is ready for an event that could become a highlight of the sporting year in the South Burnett.
A hundred entrants have nominated, in classes including historic, touring cars, sports sedans, racing cars and “special interest”.
Racing will begin at 9:00am on Saturday and Sunday and finish at 4:30pm on Saturday and 3:00pm on Sunday.
A one-day pass for spectators is $15 (or $25 for both days). Under 14s are free.
On Sunday, a Show and Shine will also be held in the sports oval adjacent to the racetrack.
South Burnett car enthusiasts can register on the day at the gate.
Judging will run from 9:00am to 12:30pm with trophies presented at 1:00pm.
There will be trophies for:
- Classic Sedan pre-1966
- Classic Sedan 1967 – 1986
- Classic Sports Car pre-1966
- Classic Sports Car 1967 – 1986
- Vintage / Veteran
- Classic Commercial
- Modified / Hot Rod
- Motorcycle
- Classic Caravan
- Modern
- Club Attendance
* * *
- Download list of entrants (69kb PDF)
* * *
Vikki Paxton
An entrant to keep an eye out for at the weekend is female driver Vikki Paxton, from Yatala, whose story is as inspiring as her driving.
Vikki will be behind the wheel of her distinctive open-wheel Dallara, but it’s a miracle that she can drive – or even walk – at all.
Back in 1991, Vikki was a promising Formula Ford driver when her world fell apart at Amaroo Park.
Qualifying 12th, she was working her way through the field when she got a bump and spun.
“I was trying to select 1st gear and spin 360 and keep going,” she said.
“Unbeknown to me when I was hit he damaged the gear linkage at the back of the car and I couldn’t select the gear.
“I was stranded in the middle of the track.
“A back runner ignored the double yellows and hit me full bore straight into my hip.
“I broke my jaw, back, L6 and L7 (vertebrae), shattered my pelvis, many ribs, internal injuries and neck injuries.
“Just breathing was a major effort.
“I was told I would never walk again, however that was not in my agenda.
“After 15 years of gruelling and painful rehab I walk and run and all I wanted to do was get back in a racecar.
“So my awesome husband built me a car.
“The Dallara Formula 3 came to us as a bare chassis.
“We grafted a Lexus 4 litre V8 as a power plant with an F3000 Indy Lola complete rear end to cope with the horsepower.
“It was a major and challenging build to undertake and we have fabricated everything by hand.”
Related articles:
