 Jack "The Hustler" Elsegood has wrapped up his championship winning campaign at the new Sydney Homebush Olympic circuit, last weekend, driving the Coopers Pale Ale Racing Ford Falcon V8 Ute. It was the fourth time that Elsegood had been in a championship winning position in his V8 Ute career, that has spanned eight seasons.
In 2007, Elsegood was robbed of the title in the very last race at Phillip Island, when a tyre delaminated and tore out the power cable to the engine management system, with only 3 laps to go. Grant Johnson went on to take the silverware.
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Naturally Elsegood was all smiles, after the final race of the year.
"I actually feel more relieved than anything else, said Jack.
"It has been a real roller coaster ride during the last few rounds. At Sandown everything went wrong and I got blamed for a startline crash but then it turned out that everyone else had an even worse time than me!
"Then at Bathurst, I thought it was all over, after I tangled with Layton Crambrook, but then he got pinged for something illegal and he lost all his points, so I was back in the hunt.
"This weekend was one that could have gone anyway, considering its new for all.
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"I just wanted to keep it clean and not get tangled up with anyone else. And now we've done it, I'm just relieved.
"A huge thank you must go to Glenn Cooper, who without his support over the last five years, I wouldn't be standing here now. Also to the team at Hi Tech Motorsports and Eric Stanford, for his help and guidance. It's been a real team effort.
Jack's weekend had started perfectly, setting the fastest time around the virginal circuit, but it would be George Miedecke that would set the standard for the weekend, knocking the lap times below 1m50s.
Qualifying had to be abandoned after 2 laps, with only 4 cars making it across the start line – Miedecke leading the way.
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It made little difference at the front in the qualifying re-run with Miedecke taking a strong pole position 1.48.0355, from defending champion Crambrook (1.48.5935), Andrew Fisher (1.48.7364) and Jack (1.49.2917).
For all intents and purposes it was a straight forward race, with no passing at the front, obviously a trademark of such a narrow street circuit.
The reverse grid race was somewhat different, with Elsegood starting off P13. He moved quickly into 12th but became caught up in a random accident on the 2nd lap, dropping him down to 20th. It was now a case of being careful and threading the needle back to the top part of the field. The race was however shortened to only 4 laps, making it a tough exercise. Jack would finish 16th.
And so we came to the final race of the season and once again Jack was in a position to not only win the V8 Ute title but to lose it as well. A DNF could cost him dearly.
Starting 8th, he moved quickly to 7th and onto 5th for the flag. It was a clever display of heroics and calm, where one silly move, especially at the ultra slippery turn 8, could have cost him the title.
Miedecke took the win and the round victory, but dropped to 4th in the championship, beaten by a fast closing Kim Jane. Grant Johnson took the runner up title.
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So now to 2010. A new decade. Will Jack Elsegood return to defend his title? or will be move to a different category now that the championship has been won? What ever the outcome, you'll see the Coopers livery up front and on the winners podium next year.
Merry Christmas to all. |
If you are looking for 2005-2008 Race Reports and Image Galleries you'll find them in our Archives Area.
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