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Former Tasmanian champion Phillip Townsend has extended his lead in the $70,000 National Pies Super Sedan Series after a convincing victory in round four at the Mountain Dew Ice International Speedway at Latrobe on Saturday night.

The series round was the main event on the Wyllie Tiles Christmas Fireworks Spectacular meeting and a quality field ensured the sparks were flying on the track as well as high above the arena.

Townsend, of Ulverstone, qualified on grid three for the 30-lap final, but had muscled his way into second past Hobart's Steve Latham after only two laps.

Fellow Hobart driver Bruno Jetson started on pole position after a great performance in the heats with a first and a second, but a minor mistake on lap six allowed Townsend and Latham by as the southern driver slipped to third place.

Townsend and Latham were able to open up a gap as Jetson came under fire from former State champion Brad Smith, of Devonport.

As the race approached the halfway mark, Townsend and Latham were closing fast on lapped traffic.

Ulverstone rookie and former street stock sedan driver Troy Auton was in their sights as Latham slipped underneath and Townsend chose the high way around.

However, the latter spun, causing a stoppage, which officials ruled was in fact caused by Auton, allowing Townsend back in front for the re-start.

At the re-start, contact between Brad Smith and Bruno Jetson resulted in a rear puncture for Jetson, ending his race a lap later on the in-field.

Townsend and Latham again cleared out to a handy break as Smith was also able to put some space between himself and the charging pack.

The order remained unchanged in the closing laps with Latham pressuring Townsend all the way with Smith third.

The same programme saw Tasmanian mini-sprint champion Kerry Short extending his lead in the Palmers Plumbing Mini- sprint Super Series after dominating round four, winning both heats and the final.

In other events on the support programme, Ulverstone V8 AMCA driver Corey Smith made it back to victories after also winning the AMCA final at Carrick last week, this time beating home Devonport's Marcus Alexander and Longford driver Matthew Smith.

New Norfolk's Dwayne Sonners proved too strong in the Tassie sixes final after jumping Forest driver Wayne Smith, who dominated the heats and qualified on pole position before finishing second ahead of Hobart's Ashley Madden.

RESULTS - $70,000 National Pies Super Sedan Series (round four) - Heat one: S. Latham, 1; S. Hughes, 2; G. Hopkins, 3. Heat two: P. Townsend, 1; B. Jetson, 2; B. Dawkins, 3. Heat three: B. Jetson, 1; G. Hopkins, 2; J. Harper, 3. Heat four: B. Smith, 1; A. Manion, 2; S. Latham, 3. Final (30 laps): P. Townsend, 1; S. Latham, 2; B. Smith, 3.

Palmers Plumbing Mini-sprint Super Series (round four) Heat one K. Short, 1; L. Redpath, 2; C. Mason, 3. Heat two: K. Short, 1; L. Redpath, 2; N. Hale, 3. Final (12 laps): K. Short, 1; L. Redpath, 2; N. Hale, 3.

V8 AMCA nationals Heat one: C. Bagorski, 1; M. Alexander, 2; C. Hughes, 3. Heat two: M. Alexander, 1; C. Smith, 2; M. Smith, 3. Heat three: C. Smith, 1; K. Millwood, 2; G. Stevens, 3. Final (15 laps): C. Smith, 1; M. Alexander, 2; M. Smith, 3.

Tassie sixes Heat one: W. Smith, 1; D. Sonners, 2; D. Bos, 3. Heat two: A. Madden, 1; M. Cleary, 2; D. Sonners, 3. Heat three: W. Smith, 1; L. Gunn, 2; M. Cleary, 3. Final (12 laps): D. Sonners., 1; W. Smith, 2; A. Madden, 3.

Junior sedans Heat one: A. Ryder, 1; B. Webster, 2; S. Doubloon, 3. Heat two: S. Dobson, 1; L. Stone, 2; B. Webster, 3. Final (12 laps): S. Dobson, 1; A, Ryder, 2; B. Webster, 3.

Hobart driver Bruno Jetson was making up for lost time in round four of the $70,000 National Pies Super Sedan Series at Latrobe's Mountain Dew Ice International Speedway yesterday.

Jetson missed the first round of the series and failed to finish the final of round three on his home track two weeks ago, to be languishing at the bottom of the points table before last night's Latrobe round, which was the main event on the Wyllie Tiles Christmas Fireworks Spectacular meeting.

The set-up on Jetson's car allowed him to get the power to the ground in awesome form as he raced away to a win and a second in his heats to qualify on pole position for the 30-lap final.

Former Tasmanian champion and series leader Phillip Townsend, of Ulverstone, was also in good form and on target to maintain his series lead with a win and a fourth from his two heats, with series points allocated for heats as well as the final.

Another former State champion in Devonport's Brad Smith made a welcome return in his brand new Pontiac GTO after injuring his foot during the off-season.

In a quality field, yet another former State champion, Hellyer Beach driver Jarrod Harper, also drove well in his heats to qualify toward the front of the grid for what was shaping up as a final with no clear favourite.

On the same programme, State mini- sprint champion Kerry Short, of Burnie, extended his lead in the Palmers Plumbing Mini-sprint Super Series, winning both heats and the final after a consistent night.

Second generation driver Luke Redpath, of Sassafras, who is the son of former Australian champion Bobby Redpath, and Nathan Hale, of George Town had a great battle for the minor placings, trading places several times, before Redpath hung on for a solid second ahead of Hale.

RESULTS - $70,000 National Pies Super Sedan Series (round four) - Heat one: S. Latham, 1; S. Hughes, 2; G. Hopkins, 3. Heat two: P. Townsend, 1; B. Jetson, 2; B. Dawkins, 3. Heat three: B. Jetson, 1; G. Hopkins, 2; J. Harper, 3. Heat four: B. Smith, 1; A. Manion, 2; S. Latham, 3.

Palmers Plumbing Mini-sprint Super Series (round four) Heat one K. Short, 1; L. Redpath, 2; C. Mason, 3. Heat two: K. Short, 1; L. Redpath, 2; N. Hale, 3. Final (12 laps): K. Short, 1; L. Redpath, 2; N. Hale, 3.

V8 AMCA nationals Heat one: C. Bagorski, 1; M. Alexander, 2; C. Hughes, 3. Heat two: M. Alexander, 1; C. Smith, 2; M. Smith, 3. Heat three: C. Smith, 1; K. Millwood, 2; G. Stevens, 3.

Tassie sixes Heat one: W. Smith, 1; D. Sonners, 2; D. Bos, 3. Heat two: A. Madden, 1; M. Cleary, 2; D. Sonners, 3. Heat three: W. Smith, 1; L. Gunn, 2; M. Cleary, 3. Final (12 laps): D. Sonners., 1; W. Smith, 2; A. Madden, 3.

Junior sedans Heat one: A. Ryder, 1; B. Webster, 2; S. Doubloon, 3. Heat two: S. Dobson, 1; L. Stone, 2; B. Webster, 3. Final (12 laps): S. Dobson, 1; A, Ryder, 2; B. Webster, 3.

Ulverstone speedway V8 driver Phillip Townsend will be aiming to defend his lead in the $70,000 super sedan series when the fourth round is held at his home track, Latrobe, tomorrow night.

The round is the main event on the Christmas fireworks spectacular and Townsend will be doing his part to dampen the wick of his opponents, having won the first round of the series at Latrobe last month.

Round two at Carrick was washed out and Townsend finished third in round three in Hobart two weeks ago, giving him a handy break at the top of the points table.

Reigning Tasmanian champion David Nichols, of Launceston, is second in the series but after blowing an engine in his Pontiac Grand Prix in Hobart, seems an unlikely starter this weekend, presenting Townsend with a golden opportunity to extend his advantage.

The Hobart round was won by former State champion Jarrod Harper, of Hellyer Beach, who missed round one but will relish the chance to race on his home track again.

Hobart's Steve Latham, third in the series and runner-up last year, looks set for another consistent season if early rounds are any guide while Beaconsfield veteran Anthony Manion led the Hobart final until his Ford Taurus suffered suspension problems.

Former Tasmanian champion Brad Smith, of Devonport, makes his return in a brand new Pontiac GTO after missing the early part of the season as a result of a workshop injury.

The V8 debut of former street stock sedan racer Troy Auton, of Ulverstone, will also be watched with interest while experienced Latrobe veteran Gil Aylett could be a dark horse on his home track.

Other drivers in contention include Launceston's Adam Beechey, Grant Hopkins, of Devonport, Wayne Dillon, of New Norfolk, and Hobart's Bruno Jetson.

Saturday's programme will also include round four of the mini-sprint super series plus support events for V8 AMCA nationals, Tassie sixes and junior sedans. Gates open at 3pm and racing on the 21-event programme will start at 6pm. Santa Claus will arrive by helicopter with giveaways and the fireworks display will be around 9.30pm.

The mini-sprint super series will see a resumption of hostilities between reigning State champion Kerry Short, of Burnie, and former multiple State champion and last year's series winner Mick Cruse, of Launceston.

On Saturday night's speedway programme at Latrobe, Latrobe youngster Trent Bowerman recorded his first win in a final for junior sedans.

Bowerman, 15, started on pole for the final, but it was Brock Webster, of Sassafras, who started better from the outside and led for all but the last lap with Bowerman in pursuit.

However, Bowerman was able to find a better way around lapped traffic on the last lap to clinch an exciting victory.

State Formula 500 champion Matthew Redpath, of Sassafras, was in blistering form to win his divisional final in an awesome display, in which he lapped the entire field except for second-placed Damien Robbins, of Mole Creek.

New Norfolk's Dwayne Sonners continued his recent run of impressive results by winning the Tassie sixes final from Forrest driver Wayne Smith and first-year rookie Luke Gunn, who continues to show plenty of speed.

Former Australian street stock sedan champion Todd Auton, of Ulverstone, pressured State champion Troy Russell, also of Ulverstone, in their final for the entire race distance, before forcing his way into the lead and victory after a great last lap tussle.

Sidecar combination Stephen Hinds and Doyle Vernon scored their first victory of the season in the sidecar final after getting a brilliant start from gate two and leading all the way to finish.

Launceston's speedway driver Jason Dawkins became the third winner in as many rounds of the $70,000 Farmers Union Iced Coffee sprintcar series after taking victory in round 3 at Latrobe's International Speedway on Saturday night.

But the second generation racer, is still well down the points table after a disastrous second round on his home track at Carrick the week before in which he crashed heavily.

Determined to make up for lost time, Dawkins won both his heats on Saturday night to qualify on pole position for the 30-lap final.

But his win was anything but an all-the-way victory and came only after a titanic struggle with former State champion Adrian Redpath, of Latrobe, who eventually finished third, but gained enough points to take the series lead.

Launceston's Kurt Luttrell was second in Saturday night's final and after two previous consistent rounds, is now second overall in the series.

Dawkins started strongly, but Redpath was brilliant and nailed Luttrell and Johns at the green light to jump into second place.

Six laps into the journey Dawkins and Redpath were getting on to the back of lapped traffic, where Redpath showed no fear to snatch the lead.

Dawkins responded and chased before Redpath clipped a safety cone, which bounced into the traffic, causing a stoppage.

Redpath was relegated two places for the re-start as a result of his indiscretion, with Dawkins starting in front of Luttrell, who had passed Johns and Redpath.

But Redpath started brilliantly again and soon stole second place back from Luttrell as he once again started to zero in on Dawkins.

However, just as he looked likely to make a move, he clipped a slower car and lost momentum, allowing Dawkins to sneak away and Luttrell to blast past back into second.

The top three bunched up again in the closing laps, but Dawkins had Luttrell well- covered, who in turn was able to hold Redpath at bay until the chequered flag.

Launceston speedway racer Jason Dawkins drove himself back into contention for the $70,000 Farmers Union Iced Coffee Sprintcar Series by qualifying on pole position for the final of round three at Latrobe's Mountain Dew Ice International Speedway last night.

After a disastrous second round on his home track at Carrick last week in which he crashed heavily in the first heat and gained no points for the round, Dawkins made amends last night, winning both his heats.

Starting on the front row in his first heat, Dawkins jumped away and was never headed, but he worked hard in his second heat after starting in grid five.

Former State champion Adrian Redpath, of Latrobe, was also in blistering form on his home track after winning the second round at Carrick last week.

Redpath won the first heat convincingly on near lap-record pace and finished fourth in his second heat after starting at the rear of the grid to qualify well up the grid for the final.

Launceston's Kurt Luttrell was also consistent after finishing second last week, scoring two seconds from two heats last night to also qualify well for the final.

Last night's sprintcar round was the main event on the Tasmanian Printer Cartridge Company Laser of Speed meeting and the first and only hit-out for local Tasmanian drivers at Latrobe before next month's round of the World Series Sprintcar championship on December 15.

Earlier on last night's programme, sidecar combination Stephen Hinds and Doyle Vernon scored their first victory of the season in the sidecar final.

After getting a brilliant start from gate two, the determined pair was never headed and withstood several challenges from Nick Broomhall and Darryl Bakes to record a good win.

Former State champions Bernard Sheals and Jamie Rainbow finished third, but were lucky to start in the final, originally qualifying as reserves, but getting a run when Sulphur Creek brothers Adam and Andrew Beattie were disqualified after Andrew lost his grip and fell off, forcing a re-start.

Results

$70,000 Farmers Union Iced Coffee Sprintcar Series (round three) Heat one: A. Redpath, 1; A. Johns, 2; K. Luttrell, 3. Heat two: J. Dawkins, 1; A. House, 2; J. Bricknell, 3. Heat three: R. Dawkins, 1; K. Luttrell, 2; T. Smith, 3. Heat four: J. Dawkins, 1; P. Coates, 2; A. Alexander, 3.

Formula 500 speedcars Heat one: D. Robbins, 1; M. Redpath, 2; M. Hardy, 3. Heat two: D. Robbins, 1; M. Redpath, 2; B. Poulton, 3.

Tassie sixes Heat one: D. Sonners, 1; M. Cleary, 2; W. Smith, 3. Heat two: A. Madden, 1; D. Sonners, 2; S. Waters, 3. Heat three: L. Gunn, 1; W. Smith, 2; T, Russell, 3.

Street stock sedans Heat one: T. Russell, 1; A. Garwood, 2; B. Cooper, 3. Heat two: T. Russell, 1; C. Bauld, 2; A. Garwood, 3.

Junior sedans Heat one: A. Ryder, 1; T. Bowerman, 2; L. Stone, 3. Heat two: B. Webster, 1; S. Dobson, 2; T. Bowerman, 3.

Sidecars Heat one: B. Wyllie and A. Blackaby, 1; N. Broomhall and D. Bakes, 2. Heat two: S. Hind and D. Vernon, 1:H. Pickett and T. Crowden, 2; A. Airey and S. Banham, 3. Heat three: B. Sheals and J. Rainbow, 1; Adam and Andrew Beattie, 2; H. Pickett and T. Crowden, 3. Heat four: N. Broomhall and D. Bakes, 1; B. Wyllie and A. Blackaby, 2; S. Hind and D. Vernon, 3. Heat five: N. Broomhall and D. Bakes, 1; S. Hind and D. Vernon, 2; B. Sheals and J. Rainbow, 3 . Heat six: Adam and Andrew Beattie, 1; H. Pickett and T. Crowden, 3. Final (4 laps): S. Hind and D. Vernon, 1; N. Broomhall and D. Bakes, 2; B. Sheals and J. Rainbow, 3 .

Former Tasmanian speedway sprintcar champion Adrian Redpath will be seeking back-to- back wins in the $70,000 sprintcar series when the Statewide series heads to his home track at Latrobe tomorrow.

Redpath won the second round at Carrick last Sunday after crashing out of the final in round one in Hobart the previous week.

With this weekend's third round the first of the series at Latrobe, Redpath's rivals would have reason to respect him after he recently unofficially broke the lap record in practice.

At Carrick, Redpath stormed from grid four in the final to win a titanic struggle with reigning State champion Robin Dawkins, of Launceston, who crashed out in lapped traffic while leading.

Dawkins has performed brilliantly in the heats only to strike dramas in the finals. His son Jason, also from Launceston, had been in good early-season form before crashing badly at Carrick last week, but should be back in action and keen to improve on his first-round second placing.

Tomorrow will also be the only hit-out for Tasmanian drivers before they tackle the best in Australia and overseas in Latrobe's round of the World Series Sprintcar championship on December 15.

Other contenders this weekend include first-round winner Tony Smith, of Devonport, 2005 series winner Kurt Luttrell, of Launceston, Spreyton veteran Phill Coates and impressive Launceston rookie Kane Cruse, who have all been on the podium in the opening two rounds.

First-year driver Shannon Wynne-Allen, of George Town, has shown glimpses of form, as has Smithton racer Ashley House, while Launceston's Gerry Hoekstra will be out to turn around an early-season run of bad luck.

Ulverstone's Anthony Johns made his first appearance in the series last week and will be stronger with more laps under his belt, as will former State champion Geoff Lette, of Scottsdale.

Support racing tomorrow will include events for Formula 500s, Tassie sixes, street stock sedans, junior sedans and sidecars. Gates open at 3pm and racing starts at 6pm.

Sprintcar spoils: All-conquering Donny Schatz heads a three- man American contingent ready to battle Australia's best in the 14-round national sprintcar series starting in Perth this weekend.

Schatz, the biggest name in American sprintcar racing, clinched his second consecutive US title last week. The North Dakota racer dominated the season with 19 main event wins and collected over $500,000 in prizemoney.

He's joined by countrymen Jason Johnson, who finished runner-up in the Australian series last season, and Mark Dobmeier. The series will visit Hobart and Latrobe.

Honors were shared in the opening heats of the Barry Radford Memorial race for V8 super sedans at Latrobe's International Speedway last night in the opening meeting of the 2007-08 Tasmanian speedway season.

Reigning State champion David Nichols, of Launceston, won the first heat in his new Chev Monte Carlo after early leader Gil Aylett, of Latrobe, encountered problems with his Holden Commodore.

One in front Nichols, who also won last season's super sedan series, of which last night's main event was the first round for this season, was never headed, although Hobart driver Steve Latham, pressured Nichols for the lead on several occasions in a tough race, before finishing second ahead of former State champion Phillip Townsend, of Ulverstone.

Townsend had come from well down the grid and made amends in the second heat with a good win from a front-row start, ahead of Beaconsfield veteran Anthony Manion, Nichols and Latham.

The result meant a toss of the coin would be required to determine a front-row start for the final.

Pole position for the final was left vacant as a sign of respect for Wayne Radford, son of the later Barry Radford, who passed away of a sudden heart attack on Monday while preparing his late father's car for the memorial race.

Consistency paid off for George Town's Nathan Hale in round one of the mini-sprint super series.

Hale qualified on grid three for the final, but advanced to second early after pole qualifier and reigning State champion Kerry Short, of Burnie, developed mechanical problems with his car and retired in-field.

Second-generation racer Luke Redpath, of Sassafras, inherited the lead, but it was short lived as he too developed problems.

Hale became the third leader of the final, but was determined not to go the same way as his rivals and extended the break to record a solid victory over Fingal racer Alistair Freeman and veteran Graham Viney.

RESULTS - Barry Radford Memorial Race ($70,000 National Pies Super Sedan Series, round one) Heat one: D. Nichols, 1; S. Latham, 2; P. Townsend, 3. Heat two: P. Townsend, 1; A. Manion, 2; D. Nichols, 3.

Palmers Plumbing Tasmanian Mini-sprint Super Series (round one) Heat one: L. Redpath, 1; K. Short, 2; N. Hale, 3. Heat two: K. Short, 1; L. Redpath, 2; G. Viney, 3. Final (12 laps): N. Hale, 1; A. Freeman, 2; G. Viney, 3.

Kevin Harris Memorial Race (speedkarts) Heat one: J. Knight, 1; S. Lawrence, 2; S. Hanson, 3. Heat two: C. Smith, 1; G. Lawrence, 2; J. Dransfield, 3. Heat three: J. Knight, 1; S. Lawrence, 2; B. Overton, 3. Heat four: B. Harris, 1; B. Jackson, 2; J. Smith, 3. Heat five: J. Knight, 1; B. Overton, 2; S. Hanson, 3. Heat six: B. Jackson, 1; B. Harris, 2; G. McCarthy, 3. Final (10 laps): B. Harris, 1; B. Jackson, 2; C. Smith, 3. Second division final (8 laps): J. Knight, 1; B. Overton, 2; S. Hanson , 3.

Formula 500 speedcars Heat one: S. Robbins, 1; D. Robbins, 2; D. Johns, 3. Heat two: M. Redpath, 1; D. Robbins, 2; E/ Dobson, 3. Final (12 laps):

Modified production sedans - Heat one: L. Taylor, 1; T. Warren, 2; M. Farrell, 3. Heat two: L. Taylor, 1; L. Price, 2; ; J. Howe, 3.. Final (12 laps): T. Warren, 1; L. Taylor, 2; M. Farrell, 3.

Junior sedans Heat one: B. Webster, 1; S. Dobson, 2; S. Gunn, 3. Heat two: S. Dobson, 1; B. Webster, 2; S. Gunn, 3. Final (12 laps): S. Dobson, 1; A. Ryder, 2; L. Stone, 3.

Sidecars Heat one: Adam Beattie and Adam Beattie, 1; B. Sheals and J. Rainbow, 2; N. Broomhall and D. Bakes, 3. Heat two: S. Hind and D. Vernon, 1; R. Barker and S. Blizzard, 2; A. Airey and A. J. Beattie, 3. Heat three: B. Sheals and J. Rainbow, 1; Andrew and Adam Beattie, 2; A. Airey and A. J. Beattie, 3. Heat four: B. Wyllie and A. Blackaby, 1; N. Broomhall and D. Bakes, 2; S. Hind and D. Vernon, 3. Heat five: N. Broomhall and D. Bakes, 1; B. Sheals and J. Rainbow, 2; S. Hind and D. Vernon, 3. Heat six: B. Wyllie and A. Blackaby, 1; Andrew and Adam Beattie, 2; A. Airey and A. J. Beattie, 3. Final ( 4 laps): B. Wyllie and A. Blackaby, 1; Adam and Andrew Beattie, 2; B. Sheals and J. Rainbow, 3.

Launceston speedway driver David Nichols will be hoping to start where he finished off last season when the 2007-08 Tasmanian speedway season gets under way at Latrobe tonight.

It was a successful partnership last year, with Nichols winning the 10-round National Pies Super Sedan series in the final round and claiming a fifth State title in the $100,000 2007 Monte Carlo rocket car owned by Steve Jessup.

"This will be the second year we've raced the car and we hope to win the opening round," Nichols said yesterday.

The super sedans opening round will be raced over three 12-lap heats with a 30-lap final.

Nichols said he had been racing super sedans since catching the bug in 1982.

He said it required a combination of car, driver and crew in order to be successful.

"Steve owns the car and Ian Clark our mechanic and our pit crew all play their part," he said.

He said he expected keen competition in tonight's opening round of the National Pies Super sedan series from the likes of Hellyer's Jarrod Harper, two-time Australian champion Kevin Purdon, of Deloraine, former State champion Phillip Townsend, of Ulverstone, and Devonport's Brad Smith.

"It was a successful season for us last year and we'd love to go back- to-back in the series and win another State title," Nichols said.

The 2007-08 Tasmanian speedway season will blast into action at Latrobe's Mountain Dew Ice International Speedway tonight with the traditional season opener, the Southern Cross Television Back to the Track Attack Meeting.

The feature event on the program will be the Barry Radford Memorial Race for V8 super sedans, which will also double as the first round of the $70,000 National Pies Super Sedan Series.

Phillip Townsend will be giving his Searoad Logistics Grand Prix Pontiac a run.

Keep an eye on the red and blue number 43.

Townsend has had some good results and a few podium finishes last season when the car was new and is looking forward to better things this year.

He's been driving for 34 years, and his car is a high- quality product, so he will be hard to beat.

His aim for this season is to win the Australian title in Mildura, and he wants a few wins under his belt at home first.

Reigning State champion David Nichols will be hard to beat, and big improver of last season Hobart's Steve Latham will debut a new Pontiac and could be a serious chance as well.

Tonight's season opener will also include round one of the Palmers Plumbing Mini-sprint Super Series, which will also be conducted Statewide over 10 rounds, plus support class racing for Formula 500 speedcars, modified production sedans, junior sedans, speedkarts and sidecars.

Gates will open at 3pm and racing on the 30-event program will start at 5pm, with the pit-walk for spectators between 4.45pm and 5.15pm.

Libby Bingham speaks to Barry and Wayne Radford's family, Page 3.

Three years after pulling his father from the wreck of a speedway crash, Wayne Radford still cried at night for the loss of a man he had always raced alongside.

Barry Radford was a Coastal speedway legend who died due to complications from his crash injuries, 13 days after the accident happened in November, 2004.

His still grieving son, Wayne, 47, died suddenly this week as he was getting set to pay his touching and personal tribute.

It is now down to Wayne's son, Jade, to bravely do his best tonight to honour both the men he loved.

Jade will present his grandfather's trophy to the winner of the third annual Barry Radford Memorial Race.

Lorraine Radford said she would be at the Latrobe speedway to support her grandson and her son's partner Pietta Linnane - and to honour her lost family members.

"My word I will be there.

"I'll be strong for Wayne and Barry," Mrs Radford said as she struggled to fight tears.

Her son's death has been a "real shock" to his family and friends.

"It's very hard to deal with - he had not been sick," Mrs Radford said.

Wayne - a skidder and forklift driver - had not cared as much about racing after he lost his father, she said.

Instead he worked hard to maintain Barry's Holden Commodore.

"He did not care if he raced again, except in Barry's car in tonight's memorial race," Mrs Radford said.

"He had really been working on that car. "Just before he died he was painting his father's car.

"Wayne sat down because he did not feel right and he had a heart attack."

The Coastal speedway fraternity is set to turn out in force tonight for the season opener.

Pole position in the final of the Barry Radford Memorial will be left vacant as a mark of respect for Wayne, whose funeral was held only yesterday at Penguin.

Monster trucks, freestyle motocross and jet vans will keep rev heads of all persuasions entertained at Latrobe Speedway tomorrow night.

Following last weekend's sell-out event at New Norfolk, the second Tasmanian show of the Monsters Tour Of Destruction will feature four monster machines - nicknamed Outback Thunder, Monster Patrol, Batman and Scooby Doo.

The Demons Of Dirt motocross stunt show and jet vans will also electrify motorsport fans in a three- and-a-half hour show for the whole family.

Freestyle motocross rider Josh Burdon said yesterday: "We have performed the show all over Australia and travel for 11 months of the year.

"The response has been excellent to the show and the crowd numbers have been great because of the appeal of the monster trucks."

Latrobe Speedway gates open at 3pm with a pit party opening at 4pm.

Burdon said: "The public can come in and see the monster trucks and jet vans up close, as well as get photos and autographs off the drivers and bike riders, before the show starts at 6pm."

Burdon said the monster trucks were worth between $250-$300,000 each and were owned by Australian monster truck champion Clive Featherby.

Former national champion Robbie Farr, of Queensland, has struck the first major blow in his bid to win the Murcott's 24-Hour Australian sprintcar championship at the International Speedway at Latrobe.

After topping early qualifying on Friday night and eventually taking second-fastest time, Farr won Saturday night's 25-lap preliminary final in an action-packed night of racing.

West Australian Ryan Farrell, who topped Friday night's time trials, continued his form on Saturday to qualify on pole position for the preliminary final.

Farrell jumped away to an early lead from former Devonport driver David Murcott, now based in Melbourne, and Farr, who had qualified on grid three.

Launceston veteran Robin Dawkins was the top Tasmanian, starting out of grid four, with reigning Tasmanian champ Adrian Redpath, of Latrobe, in fifth.

Murcott was determined to do well on his former home track and found a way past Farrell in lapped traffic, but only held the lead for a short time as Farr charged past him to take the top spot.

The race was stopped soon afterwards when Sydney driver Mitchell Dumesny crashed heavily on the front straight with an end-for-end roll.

At the restart, Farrell jumped Murcott, but the former Devonport driver came back at him half a lap later, and subsequent contact sent Murcott into a wild roll and damaged Farrell's rear suspension, ending the night for both hopefuls.

Back in the pack, reigning Australian champion Brooke Tatnell, of Sydney, had been looking ominously threatening, despite starting from grid nine, and was gradually working his way towards the front.

At the time of the Murcott-Farrell incident he was in fourth, but was bumped up to second for the re-start.

Redpath had also got the better of Dawkins and was elevated to third when hostilities resumed.

The remaining 10 laps were fairly uneventful.

Farr took the chequered flag from the defending champion, who closed the gap in the final stages, with Redpath a close third.

Farr's one and only Australian championship win was in 2004, but he is now a step closer to a second title.

A crowd of more than 15,000 is expected at the Latrobe International Speedway over the next three days for the Murcott's 24-Hour Australian Sprintcar Championship.

The championship has attracted a field of almost 50 cars from all states, including reigning champion Brooke Tatnell, who has flown in from his US base to defend his crown.

The talented field also boasts a number of former Australian champions, state champions and former national champions from other divisions before they stepped up to speedway's equivalent of Formula One.

Included among the contenders are former three-times champion Max Dumesny, of Sydney, who is also a six-times World Series champion and won one of the two World Series rounds hosted by Latrobe in December.

Dumesny, who also won his first Australian title in Tasmania back in 1991, will be looking for a similar result this weekend.

While the World Series is spread over 16 rounds, the Australian title is considered the biggest one-off speedway event in the country. Other hopefuls include former national champion Robbie Farr, of Queensland, Australia's fastest woman on clay, Kelly Linnigen, and up-and-coming WA hot-shot Ryan Farrell.

Tasmania will have a strong representation on home soil, with the best chances of a local upset likely to come from reigning Tasmanian champion Adrian Redpath, of Latrobe, and Launceston's Jason Dawkins, both second-generation sprintcar racers.

The championship will get under way tomorrow from 7pm, with official practice and time trials, followed by corporate rides in one of only two two-seater sprintcars in existence in Australia, as well as rides for competition winners from several promotions run in recent weeks in conjunction with the championship.

Saturday's racing starts at 6pm, with 12 heats and a preliminary final run for valuable championship points, plus support racing from street-stock sedans and Formula 500 speedcars.

On Sunday there will be four more heats, two semi-finals and the all-important 40-lap final to decide the Australian champion. Support racing will again coming from street stock sedans and Formula 500 speedcars.

Gates open at 3pm both days. Racing starts at 6pm.

Ulverstone super Sedan driver Jason McPherson put on yet another spectacular drive in the 50-lap event at Hobart International Speedway on Friday night.

McPherson came into the meeting the favourite to win after he took a trifecta a fortnight ago, and didn't disappoint with awesome driving.

McPherson's second and third heat placings put him back in a provisional position of sixth for the pole shuffle and, ultimately, fifth for the final.

Hobart favourite Leon Cleary was the biggest mover in the pole shuffle and not only beat Ulverstone veteran Phillip Townsend, but continued to move through the remaining cars and land pole position. Fellow southerner Steve Latham found himself on the outside of Cleary in second after a win and a second in his heats.

After several re-starts in the final, McPherson put the pressure on the leading cars as he attempted to make a move around the outside of the field and successfully pass Townsend to settle in third.

Cleary and McPherson came together in a fight for second place, a contest decided when Cleary broke an axle and was forced to retire.

McPherson closed on Latham and the pair put in an entertaining side-by -side battle, providing the experience and driving ability to win without making much, if any, contact.

Another stoppage gave McPherson another chance to find the right line around Latham, which he did a few laps later taking the risk of the move around the outside of Latham.

McPherson explained that he felt like a weight had been lifted off his shoulders.

"After the last meeting (when he won the Kelvin Ransley Memorial) I felt a lot of pressure to do well tonight," he said.

"It's nice when people think I'm going to do so well but it does make you think harder about having a good result. It's such a good feeling to win this event."

McPherson now returns to Ulverstone to prepare for his next ambition -- the $30,000 Grand Prix at Latrobe next weekend.

Hobart will host its next meeting on February 10.

Tasmanian speedway fans can look forward to the biggest field of super sedans ever seen in the state this season, when more than 20 of the state's top drivers hit the track tomorrow night at Hobart International Speedway.

A field of 20-plus cars, including interstate competitors, will take to the track to vie for the honours and higher than normal prize money in the annual Super Sedan Grand National.

The race is the second highest paying event in the state.

Only the Latrobe Grand Prix, which will be run next weekend, offers greater prize money.

Ulverstone's Jason McPherson will be the favourite tomorrow night, after an outstanding drive that won the Kelvin Ransley Memorial in Hobart a fortnight ago. McPherson wrapped up victory with a spectacular trifecta.

He convincingly won both his heats before crossing the line more than half a lap ahead of second place getter, Bruno Jetson.

While McPherson won handsomely at the most recent meeting, he can expect stiff competition from the field of top V8 racers.

Tasmanian champion Jarrod Harper is back after blowing his engine at Latrobe a month ago.

Harper will be keen to get the extra track time and make sure everything is right for the Latrobe Grand Prix next weekend.

Racing on the infield track gets underway at 4pm and gates open at 2pm.

Hobart International Speedway hosts its final meeting of 2006 tomorrow night.

The super sedan series has produced some of the best racing seen in the state in several years.

The southern favourite duo of Bruno Jetson and Steve Latham are battling to stay at the top of the points ladder.

Jetson and Latham are the only southern racers in the top five, Latham leading Ulverstone's Jason McPherson by just eight points.

Tasmanian champion Jarrod Harper, of Hellyer Beach, is third.

Fellow southerner Mick Bagorski has also been producing some of the best racing of his career this season.

The Super Sedan guys will be contesting round five of the series at Latrobe today.

Then it will be round six in Hobart tomorrow night. On the support program, the modified production sedans will make a rare appearance at the Hobart track, along with the Tas sedans, who turned up to the last southern meeting with a massive 20-car field.

For the Tas sedans it will mean the final chance to get their cars right and achieve a good result before the annual Tas Sedan Classic, which will be held at the Hobart venue's next meeting.

The Classic is one of the most important races of the year, second to only the state championship.

The local top-running duo of Chris Gallagher and Dwaine Sonners, both of New Norfolk, are sure to put on some awesome racing as they continue their usual streak of running nose to nose to cross the line in first place.

However, they are guaranteed to have some stiff competition from Steve Jetson, who missed last meeting and will be trying to make up lost ground.

The junior sedans may show up with a slightly diminished field -- compared with their usual numbers of 10 or more -- after they did a bit of crashin' and bashin' at Carrick's Boxing Day meeting on Tuesday night.

New Norfolk's Josh Triffit made hard contact with the wall, injuring his ankle with a suspected fracture, while the Bursons car of Josh Claridge followed suit and also hit the wall.

Claridge got his foot caught inside the car in the process.

The biggest event in the juniors at Carrick was when Emma Dobson, 17, had a spectacular roll-over, one of the biggest flips seen so far this season.

Emma will, however, be present tomorrow night, as the team works overtime to get the car ready.

Emma's brother Shaun, 14, will also be in contention, and has so far been unbeatable.

Shaun has won every final at every track this season.

However, with the juniors' first Tasmanian championship only weeks away, the other junior drivers will be keen to break his winning streak and give themselves a good starting point for the title.

The Bombers Cup will round off during the New Year's Eve program, with the usual entertainment sure to be on the cards. State title-holder David Hart will be a favourite.
However, the best tip for the night would be the defending Cup winner, Andy Russell.

Russell, who is also a former state champion, has won the main event twice and the Cup three times.

He has a long track record of success in the bomber division and it is not unusual to see him win three out of three events on any given night.
Gates open at 2.30pm.

Children's entertainment starts at 4pm and racing begins at 6pm.

Melbourne, Oct 24 (Bernama) -- Proton Cars Australia has announced it will once again be the naming rights sponsor for Australia's premier speedway racing series, World Series Sprintcar (WSS) Championship, marking the third year as major backer of the highly popular dirt track racing championship.

The 2005/2006 series will be contested over 19 rounds starting in Brisbane on Nov 12, and finishing back in Brisbane on Jan 14.

The success of the sponsorship of the national sprint car series over the past two years has enabled Proton to increase its market penetration, particularly in a number of key regional areas where the cost-efficient Jumbuck utility has been showcased.

Tens of thousands of speedway fans flocked to tracks around Australia to catch the cream of Australian sprintcar racing battling with some of the best and most exciting drivers from the United States.

This year Proton World Series Sprintcars has again attracted a star-studded driver line-up with leading Sprintcar stars from the US and Australia, including defending WSS champion Max Dumesny, Brooke Tatnell and Robbie Farr.

Proton Cars Australia's Managing Director John Startari said the sponsorship had enabled Proton to deliver its marketing message to an enormous number of potential buyers in regional and rural areas as well as key city markets.

Speedway attracts enormous numbers of loyal fans who range across a broad spectrum of occupations and socio-economic groups, Startari said.

"With most of the Proton World Series rounds being run in rural or semi- rural areas and close to a number of our key dealers, it has provided perfect vehicle to showcase the Proton brand and product like the Jumbuck.

"Our research shows speedway is a perfect fit for Jumbuck and that speedway fans are enormously loyal to companies that support the sport.

Behind drag racing and V8 Supercars, speedway attracts the biggest crowd in Australian motorsport which also makes this sponsorship very good value, he said.

Winner of the overall Proton World Series will receive a new Proton GEN 2 five-door hatch.

The expanded Series will for the first time feature a round in Rockhampton, Queensland, as well as two rounds at Latrobe Speedway near Launceston in Tasmania, marking the first time the Proton WSS has visited the Apple Isle.

After the opening two rounds in Brisbane, there will be two rounds in Adelaide, Toowoomba, Geelong and Warrnambool, with single rounds in Wagga, Mildura, Moama Echuca, Murray Bridge and Mount Gambier before the finale in Brisbane on Jan 14.

The championship will be televised on the Nine Network's Speedmachine across this summer.

Car driving youths who have been causing a nuisance in the Mersey Bluff area of Devonport are being offered use of the Latrobe Speedway.

The offer was made at a public meeting last night to discuss residents' concerns about dangerous driving and antisocial behaviour in the area.

Promoter John Carr says he has offered the speedway as a place where car enthusiasts can show off their vehicles.

Mr Carr says community groups now need to discuss how to make it happen.

"And we sit down and work out what facilities we can use at the Latrobe Speedway that would be of benefit to these people," he said.

"I am not talking about being a race car driver, but it's about mentoring of young people, using the facilities we have there that in a way is of both benefit to the young people and in turn would benefit...the people in town who had that harassment problem."

The Latrobe Speedway will host two rounds of the world series sprint cars in December.

Drivers from every state and two from the United States will compete for $70,000 in prize money.

Series' general manager Wade Aunger says nearly 40 cars will race at Latrobe and some will reach speeds of 220 kilometres per hour.

Latrobe will host rounds seven and eight of the series on December 8 and 9.