General News
24 February, 2021
Gange wins 44th Trevor Podger Memorial
COLAC’S Neville Gange claimed the 44th running of the Trevor Podger Memorial last Saturday.
COLAC’S Neville Gange claimed the 44th running of the Trevor Podger Memorial last Saturday.
A field of 15 cars faced the starter for the 25 lap final with Gange claiming the feature event for the first time in his career.
He finished almost a second clear of Ewan McKenzie, with last year’s winner Jamie May a further two seconds back in third.
Paul Verhoeven and Allan Pitcher rounded out the top five, with only 11 drivers finishing the event.
The line-up for the final saw highest point scorer Stan Marco Snr starting from position one with Michael Coad on his outside.
May, McKenzie, Verhoeven and Stan Marco Jr followed, with Dane Court, George Woolstencroft, SDAV’s Allan Pitcher, Billy Grist, Jacob Pitcher, Rod Smith, SDAV pair Thomas Marco and Daniel Mills and Gange rounding out the field.
From the fall of the green, it was Stan Marco Snr who led the way from McKenzie, Coad and May, with the race coming to caution when the back of the pack became untidy resulting in Allan Pitcher spinning.
From the restart Marco Snr continued to lead the way with Coad and McKenzie locked in a tight battle for the minors, before Coad’s car came to a smoking halt as his engine detonated on lap nine.
Marco Snr continued to set the pace at the restart with McKenzie and May in pursuit, while Gange was able to pass May and elevate himself into third position on lap 10.
The race again came to a halt with 15 laps remaining when the car of Jacob Pitcher rolled to a stop, seeing the field once again re-grouped.
Gange used the restart to his advantage and while the two leaders were duelling, he dived under McKenzie before accounting for Marco Snr the following lap.
With 10 laps remaining something in the front end of Marco Snr’s car failed, bringing the race to a halt once again, before Gange set the pace on the restart, with McKenzie trying everything in his repertoire to successfully move into the lead.
With six laps remaining Gange and McKenzie exchanged the lead, before the former hit the front once again with three laps to go, going on to claim his maiden Trevor Podger Memorial victory.
The night’s meeting also saw the VMPA Modified Production contest heats and a final.
The A main saw 18 cars face the starter for the 25 lap final which was won by Todd Atkins.
He was a narrow victor from Brock Atkins, with the pair finishing a second clear of Wade McCarthy, with Kye Walters and Nick Cockerill finishing fourth and fifth respectively.
The evening was rounded out by the Compact Speedcars, with the A main event attracting 12 starters including Justin Paull who blitzed the field to claim victory.
He finished five seconds clear of Michael Conway, with Daniel James, Mark Cecil and Kyle Sharpe rounding out the top five.
Simpson’s next event is set down for Saturday, March 6 and will feature the Victorian 360 Sprintcar Title, Wingless Sprints (Front Row Challenge) and Speedcars.