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No luck for
Macdonald's in Endurance Race
Posted: 20/06/04
The
very last race meeting at Brisbane International Speedway for this
season was held Saturday night, with different races held. There
were 2 practice heats held for East Coast A Grade, and then "King of
the Ring", which is a 20 lap race with about 24 cars in it, from all
different classes. Then there was the 50 lap Endurance Race, which
saw one driver race the first 25 laps, then the race is stopped, and
you are given 2 minutes to swap drivers and re-fuel your car. Then
the race is re-started in your positions where you finished the
first 25 laps.
Shane Macdonald drove in the first heat, trying to get the feel of
the car, driving his brothers car #32. Shane put his foot down
passing numerous cars, showing he was ready for the Endurance race.
Nathan Macdonald drove in the second heat, ensuring the car was
right, after having trouble with the alternator belt coming off.
Nathan chose to drive in the King of the Ring, having to start
towards the rear in the 20 car field, as the slower cars were put at
the front, and the faster cars at the back. Macdonald passed about
5 cars until he got squashed between 2 cars, which dropped him back
some places, but he got going again, picking his way through the
field, trying to keep the car straight for the Endurance race later
on. Macdonald ended up with a 3rd place after 20 laps. In the
Endurance race, Nathan chose to go first. Out of the 20 or so cars,
Macdonald was picked out of a hat to start 5th. When the green flag
dropped, Macdonald made 2 places after the first corner to be in
3rd, then got up into 2nd, and was attempting to pass the leader
when Macdonald ran up the back of the car in front. The yellow
lights then come on because of a separate incident. Macdonald was
told by an official that he was losing water, the water light then
come on in the car, so Macdonald pulled onto the infield only to
discover that the front radiator cap had somehow come off after
hitting the race leader.
Another radiator cap was found on the infield and the car was filled
back up with water. By this time the race had started again and
Macdonald had lost about 15 laps. But Nathan got out on the track
and kept going, finishing his stint. Nathan pulled onto the
infield, swapping with Shane, and putting a splash of fuel in the
car. On the restart, Shane was put into 3rd position, because some
cars were too slow to get back out on the track, even though he was
a few laps down. But this didn't phase Shane as he soon moved into
2nd following the leader.
Macdonald then come up on lapped traffic, and got tangled up with
another car, which the officials deemed Macdonald's fault, putting
him to the rear. Shane kept on charging through, and as he was
passing a pack of cars, one car got out of control and tagged
Macdonald in the right rear tyre, which shot him into another car,
and then the same car that hit him, hit Macdonald again. The
caution lights come on and the race was restarted. Macdonald's car
was still driveable, but after racing again, the tail shaft was
rubbing on the floor of the car as the bottom diff arm had been
bent. Macdonald then backed off, and just cruised around to finish
the race. Not a good night for the two brothers, gaining all but a
bent race car. The car will be repaired through the week to be
ready for Rockhampton Speedway next weekend.

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