BRAD’S NOT BAD AT WINTON

The weather was fine and hot at Winton Motor Raceway over the weekend, and Haines Bros. Earthmoving V8DVS pilot Brad Lowe was similarly summery in the second round of his 2009 Fujitsu Series campaign.

The talented Western Sydneysider produced a couple of pleasing drives over the weekend and netted fourth overall – eclipsing the disappointment of Adelaide’s Clipsal 500 event where Lowe fought mechanical gremlins.

“The car was great all weekend,” smiled Lowe, “the engine was good and we had good car speed. If anything my driving let me down on a couple of crucial occasions but for the most we were fast.”

Lowe qualified the Haines Bros Earthmoving / Custom Wheels and Tyres Penrith ex Mark Winterbottom BF Falcon in third place with a 1.25.365 which garnered him a second row start for Race One later that day.

“We started third and we finished third,” Lowe recalls, “there wasn’t much in the way of passing because everyone was pretty well the same speed. We did have a narrow miss with the rest of the field when James Moffat was turned around but for the most we were locked into third.”

Race Two was not quite as positive.

“We ended up at the back and came back to 9th but by then the damage had been done. We found out later that the right front tyre had been over-inflated and that made it difficult in left hand turns. It upset the balance of the car and I didn’t compensate for it one on occasion in particular. I ended up going off the track and losing several spots.”

Indeed the freight train raced on by and Lowe was forced to play catch up.

Race Three saw Brad begin from fifth and move to fourth by the fall of the chequers, ending a pretty consistent weekend.

“I’m pleased that the car was good, it gives me some real confidence coming into Townsville that we’re in the ballpark set up and car speed wise.”

The only disappointment for Brad personally at Winton was that his long supporting Dad Brendan couldn’t be there because he’s recovering from shoulder surgery.

“I think it’s like only the second ever race I’ve been in that Dad couldn’t be there for,” frowns Brad, “but I don’t think he’ll miss any more this year.”

Brad would like to thank the following sponsors for their support of his Matthew White Racing prepped Haines Bros Earthmoving Falcon:

Haines Bros Earthmoving
Custom Wheels and Tyres Penrith
Lowes Plant Repairs
Autosports (www.autosports.com.au)
Antalfi & Co – Motor Body Repairs
TBD – United Security Services