SALOON RACING

By TOM HAYES

 

TRARALGON saloon racer Tom Braz took out the Victorian Junior Speedway Title last month, putting an exclamation mark on his final junior season.

During the Christmas/New Year break, Tom, his dad Robert, and his brother Jack all worked together to build a brand new car for the second half of the season.

It turned out to be a fortuitous decision, as Tom raced that car for the very first time for the Victorian Junior Speedway Title, at his home track of Rosedale, across the weekend of February 15 and 16.

“It was so exciting going into the Victorian Title at my local track, Rosedale,” Tom said.

During the heats, Tom was setting the pace from the very start. In his first heat he started fourth and finished first, before he outdid himself in the second heat – starting 10th, climbing to finish first.

In the third heat, Tom started fourth and could only managed a second-place finish. Nonetheless, he had done enough to start in pole position for the feature race.

“I was so nervous because it was a Victorian Title and I was in a brand new car that I hadn’t even driven before, so I was nervous and excited,” he said.

Despite the nerves, “with good heat results and the car was going great guns, performance and handling, I started on pole”.

Tom held pace of the race throughout, but it wasn’t without some outside noise that brought some tension to the finish of the feature race.

After 20 laps of the Rosedale track, Tom was waived the white flag signalling the last lap, and with only two corners to go until the chequered flag, another competitor had stopped on track, bringing out the green and white chequered flag, adding another two laps to the race.

Simultaneously, due to the caution all cars would be bunched up again, meaning any lead Tom had extended throughout the race was eliminated.

“I was thinking and hoping nothing went wrong with the car with only two laps to go, and it was relief when I seen the white flag come out for a second time,” he said.

“To receive the chequered flag the next lap… I was thinking we done it as a family and as a racing team.

“We’ve had a great season so far, although (there is) still another four months to go before the end of the season.”

With a big finish to the season up ahead, Tom looks forward to reuniting with his brother in the men’s division next season.

“Next season I will be moving up to the men’s division, which is exciting because I get to race my brother again,” Tom said.

“The men’s division is a huge step up.

“I hope to keep improving on my driving skills in the men’s division and competing with the best drivers and hopefully give my older brother and run for his money!”

Tom and team would like to thank their sponsors for their support so far this season, including Traralgon Tyre Service, Gippsland Signs, Bursons, Olivier Panels Works, and Autobarn Traralgon. A special thanks also goes out to Image Worx for supplying their photos.