Monday,
19 February 2007
NSR PR
The freshly painted white
Kingsfeld Excavation and Haulage Speedcar 6 returned to
Tyrepower Parramatta City Raceway last Saturday night for the
final round of the 2006-2007 Speedcar Super Series.
Timing a 16.004 second lap in
the two lap sprint to the chequered flag, Smee was labelled 11th
fastest of all competitors in time trials, earning second row
starting positions in both of his heats. With the first race
underway from an inside row 3rd position, Nathan shot to the
highline through turns one and two allowing a fellow racer to
slip under, snatching his position. Relegated to 4th for the
entire lap, Nathan steered down low and reclaimed the spot
shooting under into turn one. Running smoothly across the middle
line and low through turns three and four, Nathan finished his
first heat in a solid 3rd position.
After one false
start for heat number two, the green flag flew with NSR heading
to the outside line to stake his claim on the lead. Running
wheel to wheel against the pole sitter through turns two, three
and four, it was on the turn four exit where Nathan was able to
secure the lead. Screaming down the main straight and continuing
on with a steady pace over the next 7 laps; Nathan crossed the
finish line in first place, setting the fastest lap time along
the way. Having earned valuable points; Nathan Smee Racing were
now locked in to run the SSS pole shuffle.
Photo by Gavin Skene
www.StillShots.com.au
From position 8 on the A Main starting grid, Nathan jumped on the gas and began
moving forward by the back straight on the opening lap. Now in 6th and switching
to the low line he applied racing pressure over the next four laps before the
yellows were pulled for a spinning car. With the race restarted, and as the cars
in front began to reshuffle, Smee shot down low
with 29 laps remaining. Maneuvering his 6 machine into position,
Nathan tailed the back of a car for two entire
laps looking for a clean pass on all lines of the circuit. Working his way low
through turns one and two, it looked like Smee
had grabbed an advantage before the door was closed on the lowline position down
the back straight.
Photo by Lauren King
www.KingImages.com.au
Shooting up high to the outside
line, Nathan drove hard into turn three to pass on the right
hand side, as the other car moved up track with intentions on
the same track space; the Kingsfeld Excavation and Haulage
Stealth came off second best.
The Speedcar quickly turned up track, dug in and began a series
of sickening barrel rolls heading towards the concrete pit
fence. Landing upside down facing the wall, Nathan was lifted
onto all four wheels before exiting the vehicle (without
assistance) and began the long trek back to meet his worried
family and crew. With extensive damage to the chassis, the car
was returned to the pits; another devastating blow for the team
in their first year.
Suffering ill effects from the crash on Monday, Nathan received
the all clear from doctor's a day later "We're just going to
have a break for a little while, with the season nearly over and
two crashes I was lucky to walk away from, we'll take our time
pulling the car apart and see what happens from there."
Photo by Gavin Skene
www.StillShots.com.au
QUICK RESULTS
TIME
TRIALS
|
RESULT |
FASTEST LAP
TIME |
|
11 |
16.004 seconds |
HEAT ONE
|
START POSITION |
FINISH |
|
3 |
3 |
|
HEAT TWO |
START POSITION |
FINISH |
|
4 |
1 |
|
FEATURE |
START POSITION |
FINISH |
|
8 |
dnf |
2007 has been a costly year for the team with two destroyed
chassis after two horrifying crashes in less than six weeks; with Nathan
now on the mend, the question is when will Nathan Smee Racing
return to the track?
Nathan Smee Racing would like to thank their valuable Sponsors:
