Ex pat Victorian now New South Wales based Mark Brown turned in arguably one of the finest performances ever seen by a driver in Speedcar racing last weekend in Warrnambool when he won round 8 of the Speedcar Super Series. Starting the final from position 18 on the grid Brown stormed through the classy field to eventually take the lead four laps from the finish of the 30 lap A-main. Carrying race winning form into this weekends 69th Australian Speedcar Championship at Avalon Raceway is a positive thing for one of the sentimental favourites.

Brown is one of a handful of seasoned Australian Speedcar racers who has never won the national title despite a career that spans 24 years. Arguably the best performed driver in Australia in the past three seasons, Brown has virtually won everything there is to win in Speedcar racing with the Australian Title the last box to tick for the 39 year old ace.

“Mate you will know what it means if I win the Australian title I am telling you.”

“You will not see a celebration like it and I have been planning it for five years!”

One gets the feeling that this just isn’t another race for the driver who cut his teeth in Speedcar racing at the now defunct Melbourne Speedbowl as a 16-year-old. Brown has held a monopoly on the Speedcar Super Series where he is on the verge of securing a fourth successive series win while a record 13 A-main wins last summer prove the speed of the man known simply as the ‘Brown Dog’. Notching up his fourth win last weekend is seemingly a far cry from last summers impressive results however a season high six runner up finishes have seen Brown as one of the quickest drivers all year.

The fact that six of the past seven Australian Speedcar Titles including the 2009 edition have gone to American professionals makes Brown more than a little uncomfortable. The prestige that the event carries encourages the International contestants however Brown’s desire to win Speedcar racing’s holy grail is more than evident.

“They (American’s) don’t really know what it means to us. Last year I went in pretty relaxed and just raced where I qualified badly in sixth and I just thought that I still had these guys covered.”

“That was a real kick in the ass and this year I am going to go for broke. I know I have to qualify up at the front against Kevin (Swindell), Davey Ray, Brad Mosen and those guys so that’s my plan.”

“I just think with all the bad luck that I have had this year I reckon this is my time but who knows. I am confident but anything can happen but I am telling you if I win you will know about it!”

Brown led the 2007 Australian Speedcar Title held at Toowoomba yet American star Jerry Coons foiled what looked like Brown’s breakthrough win.

“I went close at Toowoomba against Jerry. I made a massive blue and I saw the white flag but it didn’t even register. I took the lead past the flag and coming out of turn 2 I just bobbled the front end a little bit and I stayed on the throttle and he came through on me and he only beat me by about a foot.”

Brown’s final preparations are now complete on the Mike and Gina Rinkin owned bright pink #69 Speedcar. A fresh Barry Graham Hawk engine that Brown favours has been installed in recent events and following last weekends stunning result he is more than ready for what lays ahead at Avalon Raceway this weekend.

2010 Australian Speedcar Title Schedule.

Wednesday 17th Feb 2010
Machine Examinations 12 – 4pm
Official Practice – Free Entry for Spectators 6 - 8pm

Thursday 18th Feb 2010
Ford Discovery Centre – Corner Gheringhap and Brougham Streets, Geelong
Drivers Briefing 4:30pm
Function and Calcutta 5:30 – 10:30pm

Friday 19th Feb 2010
Engine Starts 6pm
Racing Starts 7pm
Each driver will contest three heats

Saturday 20th Feb 2010
Engine Starts 6pm approx.
Racing Starts 7pm
Each driver will contest a remaining heat, B-main, Top 8 Pole Shuffle and 40 lap Championship Final


2010 Australian Speedcar Title Nominations – Avalon Raceway, February 19 – 20, 2010.

A1 Kevin Swindell (USA)

V3 Peter Ghent
V5 Darren Power
V8 Mark Craven
V10 Travis Mills
V13 Andy Pearce
V17 Robbie Gordon
V21 Craig Hume
V33 Craig Smith
V97 David Crabtree

SA2 Matt Coombe
SA5 John McKay
SA7 Tim Crouch
SA9 Ben Dillon
SA71 Davey Ray (USA)

NT11 Les Robertson

Q5 Adam Wallis
Q7 Grant Draney
Q13 Brett Foreman
Q14 Mick Harders
Q24 John Davidson
Q29 Brad Mosen (NZ)
Q41 Brendan Palmer
Q55 Brad Sloan
Q68 Syd Whittaker
Q75 Robert Mackay
Q91 Brock Hallett
Q96 Chris Singleton
Q99 Brock Dean

WA12 Vaughan Manders
WA14 Neville Lance
WA21 Dene McAllan
WA24 Dayne Kingshott
WA54 Jason Roser
WA56 Spare Car
WA76 Keith Giles

N6 Ant Brien
N7 Nathan Smee
N9 Scott Glazebrook
N25 Spare car for N7
N11 Harley Bishop
N53 Rod Francis
N69 Mark Brown
N70 Michael Rinkin
N76 Troy Jordan
N78 Troy Jenkins

Website; www.avalonraceway.com

For more info contact Jeff Drew 0418 160 985 / Gavin White email gwxp@speedway.net.au


AVALON RACEWAY SEASON CALENDAR 2009/2010

February
Wednesday 17th - Speedcar Australian Title Practice

Friday 19th - Speedcar Australian Title, Super Sedans

Saturday 20th - Speedcar Australian Title, Modified Production Sedans

March
Sunday 7th - SRA Eureka Sprintcar Series Rd 10, Formula 500 TRI Steel Victorian Stampede Series Rd 5, V8 Dirt Modifieds

Saturday 20th - AMCA Nationals, Junior Sedans, Street Stocks, Wingless Sprints

April
Friday 2nd - Easter Sprintcar Trail Rd 1, Super Rods, 4 Cylinder Demo, Fireworks