The WA Grand Final could see several first time championship winners this Saturday night and hoping to join that lucky group are Modified Bike racer Brett Allen and Junior Dragster driver Connor McClure.
Allen is set for a last round brawl with Justin Townson and Darrin McDonald, but has his eye just as much on the special Kate Scott Memorial trophy as he does the championship.
“The team had a get together before the season and as this is our last full season we decided that we should have a crack at going out number one,” he said. “I’m more interested in winning the Kate Scott Memorial trophy, which would also give me the championship as a bonus.”
The Kate Scott Memorial trophy honours Kate Scott, a crew member for drag racer Mick Sargent who was tragically killed in the Port Arthur massacre.
Allen has plenty of good karma on side, starting his season on a generous note.
“I think this season’s highlight would be winning the opening event followed by a runner up at the next meet and being able to donate the prize money to Bonnie Stevenson (an official at Perth Motorplex) for her treatment overseas,” he said.
Allen has not made it easy on himself since then though, adding wheelie bars to the bike and having to recover from two first round losses where he was struggling to get consistency.
“Darrin McDonald and my team mate Justin Townson are obviously the biggest threat for the championship, but there are 20 other very good racers there just waiting to knock you out,” he said. “Competing in WA is very tough and builds very good racers, underestimating any of the WA Modified Bike riders is very risky.”
Meanwhile, McClure might be sitting third in the Junior Dragster championship but he is still a hot chance of taking out the series win with just a few points separating him from brother Bailey McClure and Katrina Bowman who currently occupy the first two positions.
Out of the trio, Connor has had the better results from the last two events, striking form at the right time of the season.
“It would be awesome to win a championship and would mean a lot to my family and bragging rights over my brother,” he said.
“My toughest competitor will be (Bailey) as he is first in the points and has a consistent race car.”
Connor has had an up and down season, blowing up an engine early on in the piece.
“My biggest challenge has been trying to adapt to different engines throughout the season and being able to win races and stay competitive,” he said. “We blew an engine early in the season and had to have an old one in for three meets while the good one was fixed.
“I’m very pleased to be in the top three at the moment with such a competitive class.”
McClure did earn a rookie title, but this would be his first championship in an open category.
The WA Grand Final sees sportsman qualifying start from 9.45am with the main show from 6pm. As a bonus for the last major drag racing event of the season, kids will get free spectator entry with any paying adult.