
Shane rolls
out of contention
Sunday
January 28, 2007
Click here for the video of the roll over
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Click on each photo for an enlargement

A sad
end to the night of racing for Shane Macdonald saw the Linmac
Automotive Commodore climb the Rockhampton fence and roll once
landing back on its wheels. What even made it more sour was that
Macdonald was running in third place at the time challenging Glenn
Pagel for 2nd.
Shane
had one more qualifying heat on the Saturday night in which he
started from position five. Macdonald advanced forward going around
the outside of Brian Learoyd. The two cars then displaying some
great side by side racing. A close finish between four cars saw
Shane pick up 3rd or 4th placing. Michael Hally won the heat with
Dennis Shallcrosse 2nd, Darryl Niesler 3rd or 4th and Brian Learoyd
5th.
Shane
Qualified from 15th place in the 35 lap feature. They had not even
completed one lap before a few cars come together bringing on a
complete restart. The same thing happenned again with several cars
being involved after Michael Hally hit the fence which saw a multi
car pile up. Several innocent cars were put out of the race with
damage. Shane was now to start in 5th place with another complete
restart. Shane settled down in 5th place racing against Glenn
Pagel. Adrian Stott pulled out while running third which left Shane
in 4th. Pagel and Macdonald come together in turn one which saw
Pagel lose control and spinning. The yellows come on as both cars
were put back in their original positions as it was classed as a
racing incident.
Another
car pulled out being Todd Doyle who was leading, which moved
Macdonald into 3rd. With about 10 laps remaining Macdonald was
looking down the barrel of a podium finish, but Macdonald ran wide
coming out of turn four. Dennis Shallcrosse then got up the inside
of Macdonald up the front straight, Shane stayed on the outside but
Shallcrosse hit a wet patch in the turn as the two cars contacted
which Macdonald then hit the fence as the car rode up the fence and
rolled. Shane got out of the safety of the roll cage which served
its purpose. Macdonald said "I didn't know what was happening until
I saw the ground right at my head".
The
impact wrecked the suspension on both front wheels and the k-frame.
The roof has been squashed and there is a hole in the sump from
hitting the wall. At this stage everything else seems to be ok and
intact. With some luck and a lot of hard work the team will be
aiming to have the car ready for the next round of the series at
Maryborough Speedway on the 24th February.

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