It was a massive fortnight for four NSW-based Wingless Sprints racers during the NT Triple Challenge at Darwin’s Northline Speedway, which saw a mixed bag of results, a number of new friendships made, and a great time had by all.
On the NSW front, hard-charging Sydneysider Nathan Dicker made a strong start to his NT campaign and managed to keep it running throughout the three race meetings, earning spots on the feature-race podium on each night. Dicker claimed the final podium place in the Des J Nash Outlaw Challenge presented by Total Tools – Winnellie on opening night and backed it up the following weekend with two second-place finishes in the KeenQuip Racegear Feature and the NT Open Championship.
Dubbo’s Troy Carey also achieved some impressive results, finishing just off the podium in fourth in the Des J Nash Outlaw Challenge. Not quite able to get the jump on Dicker, but nonetheless showcasing his speed, Carey came home in third place behind the fellow New South Welshman in the following two nights.
While half of the NSW contingent saw significant success, the other half suffered a series of unfortunate events, beginning on opening night with Dubbo-based Craig Skene, also known as ‘The Veteran’, suffering an early retirement eight laps into the feature race for the Des J Nash Outlaw Challenge due to mechanical issues. On the same night, Sydney’s Jason Davis suffered an engine failure and in a fantastic show of hospitality, which was evident during their whole visit, local racer Brett Sommerville generously loaned Davis a spare engine, in order for him to compete the following weekend.
Davis ended his campaign with another unfortunate DNF and a sixth-place finish over the final two nights, while Skene came home in fifth place in the KeenQuip Racegear Feature, but was unable to start the feature race on the final night of racing due to being involved in a crash in the opening heat race which brought his night to a premature end.
Photo: Nakita Pollock Photography
In between the three race meetings, the NT Wingless Sprints took the opportunity to give their interstate visitors a taste of Australia’s Top End and made it their mission to ensure their guests enjoyed their stay.
On top of several group dinners and barbeques, the drivers were taken on a number of visits to the best the NT has to offer, including the Australian Aviation Heritage Centre, a boat ride on the crocodile-infested waters of the Mary River on the fringes of the Kakadu National Park, and a nerve-racking visit to Crocosaurus Park, where Dicker, Davis, Carey and Skene swam in a tank with a 6.5 metre crocodile.
One of the highlights of the fun-filled trip was when the NSW drivers paid a visit to the Holy Family Catholic Primary School, where over 200 children had the opportunity to sit in the race cars and have their photos taken.
With local car owner Kevin Quinlan supplying his vacant building to the teams as a workshop and accommodation during their time in Darwin, the NT Wingless Sprints definitely showed that hospitality is their strong suit and showed their guests that there was much more to enjoy in Darwin than just their racing.
The NT Wingless Sprints hope that hosting visitors for the NT Triple Challenge will become an annual event and that other states will follow NSW’s lead and jump on board to get a taste of Australia’s Top End.
The NSW drivers would like to give special thanks to the NT Wingless Sprints, Mike Borchardt and Shane Norman and their families, Kevin Quinlan, John and Kirsten Murdie and Nakita Pollock. They would also like to thank Northline Speedway, Howard Springs Tavern, Total Tools – Winnellie, Red Devil Fishing Charters, AM Cranes, Troy Carey Transport, Supreme Heat Firewood Supplies, Gibson Auto Sports, Dicker Glass and Glazing, and Repco – Dubbo.
To find out more about the NT Wingless Sprints, visit their website at www.awsr.com.au/nt, or LIKE them on Facebook by searching NT Wingless Sprints.