Fellows Storms Home at the Pines


2010 Pines

David Fellows and Mark Bergamin have stormed home to convincingly win the Teagle Excavations ARB Pines Enduro held at Millicent on South Australia’s Limestone Coast on the weekend. Fellows tamed the tough and muddy track conditions created by the excessive rain that hammered the South East corner of Australia. Threading the Peter Kittle Motorsports Jimco through the Pine forests and leaving many water logged and bogged race cars in his wake. The win at this, the fourth round of the AORC has albeit sealed the 2010 championship for the South Australian based team, with just the final round in Queensland remaining.

Second outright was the giant killing Andrew Mowles in his Australian made Prolite Razorback. Whose naturally aspirated charge through the tracks of the Tantanoola State Forest in his single seater slayed many of the V8 and twin turbo V6 giants that normally dominate the event. It was Mowles first AORC podium finish and was a rewarding performance for the Centralian after showing great form since unleashing the new car this season.

The Victorian pairing of Jason Coreless and Paul Ward were another team to claim their first AORC podium at the Teagle Excavations ARB Pines Enduro. After launching their way into the top ten during Saturday’s prologue, Coreless didn’t look back on his way to greeting the chequered flag in third outright in their 2 litre turbo powered Rimco.

Rob Cowie locked away fourth outright in his Scat powered Prolite, with Matt Coleman and Shawn Teagle sealing fifth in their Alpha probuggy. Justin Anderson made a successful return to the AORC in his immaculate Tatum in sixth, while Mark Burrows was in podium contention until a flat tyre on the final lap relegated the former Australian champ to 7th. Wayne Bannan and Tony Fehlaber locked in 8th and 9th, and Alan Geradi capped off a good day for the Prolites finishing 10th.

The water and slippery conditions played havoc with big part of the field with a large number of tin tops, 4WD’s and buggies bogged and swamped on the exit lane from Teagle’s Quarry. Shannon Rentsch was out of the race early with his engine ingesting some water, while out in the forest Glenn Owen rolled after aqua-planing on a puddle then clipping a tree stump in his #30 Jimco. Dan Auricht was another to take a tumble, having a massive end over roll in his #8 Jimco at the 11km mark which saw it cartwheel through the air. In a testament to the strength of the cars, both crews walked away unscathed from the incidents.

At the end of the first lap the race was red flagged and the cars were pulled into parc ferme, while the organisers quickly worked on a solution to the exit to the quarry and at 1pm the race recommenced for two final laps. When the lights went green Travis Robinson led the field away, but Fellows soon assumed the lead when the West Australia retired with fuel pressure issues. The pole sitter Brad Prout was also out with engine issues on the second lap, while Greg Gartner was on the hunt for a podium finish until an excursion in to some tree stumps ended his day also.

On completion of the 3 laps there were 27 finishers. Geoff Roe won the Extreme 2WD Class in his Chev powered Geiser Trophy Truck and Jeff Loader took the Performance 2WD Class win in his Chev powered Navara. Geoff Pickering had a trouble free run in his Pajero to claim the Production 4WD Class and Colin Hunter recovered from being punted off the track early in the race to win the Extreme 4WD Class in his Jeep Grand Cherokee. Travis Conrad took the Super 1650 honours in the Honda Southern Cross and Grant Walker was unchallenged for victory in the Sportsman Class.

The final round of the 2010 Australian Off Road Championship will be the Albins Offroad Gear Goondiwindi 400 on the 15-17 of October in Queensland. With good rainfall drenching much of the eastern seaboard chances are the race may be another muddy affair.

David Fellows and Mark Bergamin have stormed home to convincingly win the Teagle Excavations ARB Pines Enduro held at Millicent on South Australia’s Limestone Coast on the weekend. Fellows tamed the tough and muddy track conditions created by the excessive rain that hammered the South East corner of Australia. Threading the Peter Kittle Motorsports Jimco through the Pine forests and leaving many water logged and bogged race cars in his wake. The win at this, the fourth round of the AORC has albeit sealed the 2010 championship for the South Australian based team, with just the final round in Queensland remaining.

Second outright was the giant killing Andrew Mowles in his Australian made Prolite Razorback. Whose naturally aspirated charge through the tracks of the Tantanoola State Forest in his single seater slayed many of the V8 and twin turbo V6 giants that normally dominate the event. It was Mowles first AORC podium finish and was a rewarding performance for the Centralian after showing great form since unleashing the new car this season.

The Victorian pairing of Jason Coreless and Paul Ward were another team to claim their first AORC podium at the Teagle Excavations ARB Pines Enduro. After launching their way into the top ten during Saturday’s prologue, Coreless didn’t look back on his way to greeting the chequered flag in third outright in their 2 litre turbo powered Rimco.

Rob Cowie locked away fourth outright in his Scat powered Prolite, with Matt Coleman and Shawn Teagle sealing fifth in their Alpha probuggy. Justin Anderson made a successful return to the AORC in his immaculate Tatum in sixth, while Mark Burrows was in podium contention until a flat tyre on the final lap relegated the former Australian champ to 7th. Wayne Bannan and Tony Fehlaber locked in 8th and 9th, and Alan Geradi capped off a good day for the Prolites finishing 10th.

The water and slippery conditions played havoc with big part of the field with a large number of tin tops, 4WD’s and buggies bogged and swamped on the exit lane from Teagle’s Quarry. Shannon Rentsch was out of the race early with his engine ingesting some water, while out in the forest Glenn Owen rolled after aqua-planing on a puddle then clipping a tree stump in his #30 Jimco. Dan Auricht was another to take a tumble, having a massive end over roll in his #8 Jimco at the 11km mark which saw it cartwheel through the air. In a testament to the strength of the cars, both crews walked away unscathed from the incidents.

At the end of the first lap the race was red flagged and the cars were pulled into parc ferme, while the organisers quickly worked on a solution to the exit to the quarry and at 1pm the race recommenced for two final laps. When the lights went green Travis Robinson led the field away, but Fellows soon assumed the lead when the West Australia retired with fuel pressure issues. The pole sitter Brad Prout was also out with engine issues on the second lap, while Greg Gartner was on the hunt for a podium finish until an excursion in to some tree stumps ended his day also.

On completion of the 3 laps there were 27 finishers. Geoff Roe won the Extreme 2WD Class in his Chev powered Geiser Trophy Truck and Jeff Loader took the Performance 2WD Class win in his Chev powered Navara. Geoff Pickering had a trouble free run in his Pajero to claim the Production 4WD Class and Colin Hunter recovered from being punted off the track early in the race to win the Extreme 4WD Class in his Jeep Grand Cherokee. Travis Conrad took the Super 1650 honours in the Honda Southern Cross and Grant Walker was unchallenged for victory in the Sportsman Class.

The final round of the 2010 Australian Off Road Championship will be the Albins Offroad Gear Goondiwindi 400 on the 15-17 of October in Queensland. With good rainfall drenching much of the eastern seaboard chances are the race may be another muddy affair.

[nggallery id=4]