Nhill-based Kermit Racing team recently completed their first event for 2023 at Winton Raceway, near Benalla. After a week of heavy rain, it was clear and cold on Saturday, with a wet track and an even wetter infield.
Changes to the way cars are grouped into different classes mean that Kermit is unlikely to end up on the race podium.
Despite this, Kermit Racing is a consistent winner in what the team members consider the most important part of the event, raising funds for people living with Rare Cancers. Kermit supporters donated $1,065 to this event. In total, Kermit Racing supporters have donated $12,650 of a combined total of $120,000 donated by Motor Events.
Despite a time infringement, Kermit Racing was awarded the Team Spirit Award for consistent focus on fundraising and their easy-going, friendly attitude both in the pits and on the track.
Twenty-two cars finished the event, from 34 starters, with Kermit Racing finishing 17th overall and 8th in class.
The eventual winners were a Nissan 350z, BMW E46 and a Subaru Imprezza. After 14 hours of racing, less than one lap separated the winners.
Winton Raceway recovery team were kept busy over the weekend rescuing cars that slid off the track and became bogged in the water-logged ‘giggle weeds’. Luckily, all the Kermit team avoided the mud.
David Morrison started the race, but a few laps in was called in with a transponder malfunction. The transponder is a small device attached to the underside of each car to automatically record data each time a car crosses the start/ finish line. This was the first of two stops to reposition the transponder, resulting in an unknown number of laps (possibly more than 20) not being recorded.
During the next driver stint with Peter Schneider at the wheel, the power steering pump failed. As the crew prepared to drive 70 kilometres to Shepparton to purchase a replacement pump, one of the other teams offered their spare pump. Paul Newcombe was able to adapt the wiring and Kermit was soon back on the track.
A more serious recovery took place on Saturday when a competitor’s car caught fire. Racing stopped for approximately 20 minutes as the emergency response team dealt with the incident.
Motor Events Racing is a budget class, described as being for people who don’t have enough time, talent or money to race regularly. However, safety considerations are never budget.
Although this fire was on the racetrack, the highest risk of fire is during refuelling. Teams must stop for a mandatory 5 minutes. This is to discourage teams from rushing and possibly not concentrating on risk mitigation.
Safety considerations include: the car turned off, the driver out of the car, all people in the refuelling area must have head to toe fireproof clothing, use of fire blankets over hot tyres and a crew member dedicated to holding a fire extinguisher directed at the fuel inlet. Kermit Racing incurred a penalty for a 4.32-minute fuel stop.
Sunday morning was also clear but very cold when the drivers’ briefing started at 7.30am.
During the last driver stint for the weekend, with Graeme Ussing driving, a light rain settled in. Kermit circulated all day Sunday with no unscheduled stops.
The big old falcon usually has a distinct rumble, but by the end of the race, it was sounding a little rough and there will need to be some investigating before the next race. This was the first event with a new braking system and at the end of 14 hours and 1,100 kilometres driving in race conditions, brake pads were in as-new condition and no post-race maintenance was required.
The next event will be at Tailem Bend in November – but look out for the team at the Nhill Show.
This article appeared in the Nhill Free Press & Kaniva Times, 5 July 2023.
