This weekend the iFind Pipes N Cables Chariots of Thunder Series at the RDS Northline Speedway kicks off with the opening weekend of racing featuring the Darwin Title this Friday night before the Pope 65 Race on Saturday. The opening weekend will be followed by the two-night Northern Territory Title on August 26 – 27. With drivers from right across Australia and of course the Northern Territory set to take on the Darwin dirt oval the local fans are set for four nights of top class Sprintcar racing.
One driver who is really looking forward to the fortnight ahead is iFind Pipes N Cables owner Keith Phelps who will pilot his Maxwill 360ci powered #22. After sitting out of Sprintcar racing for almost 8 years Phelps got back behind the wheel again earlier this season and he has already managed to gain a podium result, an accomplishment he is extremely proud of.
“Finishing third earlier this season has been a highlight of my return to racing. I am really looking forward to the racing ahead despite only having a 360. I have raced 410’s before but we decided to run a 360 in my first season back which has proven to be a good decision” added Phelps as we spoke.
The car that Phelps has been utilising this year is the ex-Peter McIver owned machine that Ben Atkinson drove to a runner-up result in the Australian 360ci Title in Darwin last September. As a result, Peter has been instrumental in assisting with car set up and advice as Phelps become more comfortable in the car.
The fact that Keith is actually racing is a massive story in its self as he recently had a brain tumour removed by Dr Charlie Teo and every time he races he does so in support of the Brain Cancer Foundation.
“When I gave racing away it was because of work commitments but after having the brain tumour cut out last year I had a lot of thinking time and I put a bucket list together and I wanted to race again. Peter sold me the car and I got some great sponsors on board and I received a lot of encouragement to get back out there. When the chance to support the series came up I just wanted to be part of it and it was a great chance to give something back to my clients and family who have supported me. I just wanted them and their families to have a good night out in the VIP area and to show them that I appreciate their support” he added with great appreciation.
Along with Phelps the local contingent will consist of the likes of Jason McIver, Chace Karpenko, Danny Porter, Troy David, Jason Gebert, Caleb Gotts, Chris Harrison, Nick Halkitis and Simon Spitzbath.
In recent weeks the field for the Chariots of Thunder Series got an added boost with local racer Ben Atkinson confirming his entry along with Mount Gambier’s Glen Sutherland and New South Wales youngster Kyle Caunt.
Atkinson will return to his home track for the first time since his runner-up finish in the 2015 Australian 360ci Sprintcar Championship. The former Sydney Speedway Track Champion will team up with Jamie O’Neill with Atkinson set to pilot O’Neill’s equipment with his now familiar ACT #2 on the tail tank.
Sutherland is no stranger to the Northline Speedway having competed at the venue a couple of years ago. Over the past couple of seasons, the South Australian, affection ally known as Glen 20, has concentrated on the Victorian based SRA Series with some solid results and he could prove to be a driver to watch in his immaculate #20.
Unfortunately, Bendigo based racer Kristy Ellis, who was set to make her Northline Speedway debut, is now unable to make the trip north but despite her cancellation the official nomination list still stands at 22 drivers for the 2016 iFind Pipes N Cables Chariots of Thunder Sprintcar Series.