Karters Set To Blast Into Ballarat This Weekend

16 September 2010

Kart racers from various parts of the state are heading to Ballarat to contest round five of the Victorian country series to be held at the Haddon Park venue this Sunday.

Ballarat's Dale Beaton on his way to winning the
Australian Championship in April. Pic: photowagon.com.au

The penultimate round of the 2010 series will see a number of Ballarat karters looking to capitalise on their home track advantage after strong performances recently at the Hamilton round. This weekend's event will also feature the Mort Page Memorial for competitors in the Senior National Pro class.

The Mort Page Memorial feature class will be keenly contested among a number of Ballarat drivers for whom the event holds significant prestige and honour. It is in recognition and memory of Mort Page and the Page family’s long association with the Ballarat Kart Club since 1978.

On-going service to the club still continues with one of Mort’s sons John Page being a racer, committee member and regular Technical Inspector/Scrutineer. John’s wife Debbie is the Race Secretary at all club days and open meetings, both are deserving Life Members of the club.

John, a previous winner of the Memorial, will compete in the class and also present the Mort Page Perpetual Shield to the winner, on behalf of the family.

Traditionally the title is bestowed upon the winner of the final, so as an interesting diversion from the Country Series ‘all points count system,’ the winner of the Mort Page Memorial will be the winner of the final under the ‘final only counts’ system.

Of the series’ regular competitors, Ashley Quiddington, was very competitive in both Senior National Light and Senior National Pro classes at Hamilton. He gave reigning Australian champions Dale Beaton and Aaron Johnstone a good run for their money at the front of the field of both categories.

Ballarat’s own Beaton has been a front-runner in the Senior National categories for many years and after ten years of trying he finally broke through to capture his maiden Australian championship earlier this year. Since winning the green and gold plate at Puckapunyal in April he has continued his championship winning form across the state.

Other local drivers expected to feature prominently Craig Widgery (Clubman Over 40) and Mick Angwin (Clubman Super Heavy) of the ‘Widgery Performance Racing’ team were also near the pointy end of the field at Hamilton (Craig won heat two) and could be well worth watching at home.

Last year’s winner of the Mort Page Memorial was Tyler Cramer from Bendigo.