After two intense days of competition at the Perth Motorplex for the ANDRA Grand Final as part of the 52nd MacTrack Westernationals, the 2022/2023 Summit Racing Equipment Sportsman Series champions have been crowned.
Claiming the ultimate reward for their efforts over the Summit Racing Equipment Sportsman Series season were Ross Lamattina (Summit Racing Equipment Junior Dragster), Tommy Turic (Super Street), Brian Alvisio (Modified Bike), Lance Larcombe (Super Sedan), Simon Barlow (Modified), Alan Mahnkoph (Supercharged Outlaws), Leon Davies (Top Sportsman), Joe Khoury (Competition Bike), Adrian Vella (Super Stock) and Craig Geddes (Competition). While Super Gas did not contest the event, Robert Bergamin was also heralded as the champion for this bracket.
Proudly being awarded as runners-up in the title chase were Sarah Osborne (Summit Racing Equipment Junior Dragster), Lisa Garbellini (Super Street), Brian Hotker (Modified Bike), Peter Tzokas (Super Sedan), Daniel Hodgins (Modified), Doina Day (Supercharged Outlaws), Glenn Henley (Top Sportsman), Jake Hamilton-Moderate (Competition Bike), Tom Dimitropoulos (Super Stock) and Madison Brown (Competition). Renee Cockerill was confirmed as the runner-up in Super Gas.
A number of these racers had their hands full at the presentations, with Davies and Vella taking out event victories – in fact, Vella clean-swept the event by not only being the Super Stock champion, but also the top qualifier and event winner – Mahnkoph, Barlow and Geddes also claiming the Decoglaze Glass Splashbacks Top Qualifier Medallions for their brackets, and Lamattina, Alvisio and Geddes claimed the runner-up event honours for their brackets.
Joining Vella and Davies in the winner’s circle were fellow event victors Tyler Jarvis (Summit Racing Equipment Junior Dragster), Paul Garbellini (Super Street), Chris Fryer (Modified Bike), Brodie Zappia (Super Sedan), Paul Ryan (Modified), Kasey McClure (Supercharged Outlaws), Daniel Natalotto (Competition Bike) and Michael Buckley (Competition), while Lisa Garbellini (Super Street), Glenn Sterkenburg (Super Sedan), Jeff Acton (Modified), Cory Read (Top Sportsman), Norbert Claite (Supercharged Outlaws), Troy Thompson (Competition Bike) and Steve Norman (Super Stock) joined Lamattina, Alvisio and Geddes in claiming the event runner-up honours.
Also celebrated at the presentations were the Decoglaze Glass Splashbacks Top Qualifiers, with Vella, Barlow, Geddes and Mahnkoph joined by Seth Jarvis (Summit Racing Equipment Junior Dragster), Chris Allen (Modified Bike), Steph Gullotto (Super Street), Brodie Zappia (Super Sedan), Jason Stares (Top Sportsman) and Daniel Natalotto (Competition Bike) in receiving the medallions.
Larcombe in particular had plenty to smile about, claiming the prestigious John Storm Memorial Trophy and Summit Racing Equipment Sportsman Series Super Sedan Australian Championship.
Commissioned in memory of Mr John Storm, the first National Director of ANDRA, the John Storm Memorial Trophy is an annual national award made to the competitor in Group Two, Three or Four who scores the highest total overall points from all rounds of the Summit Racing Equipment Sportsman Series, including the final event.
“This is beyond my wildest dreams to be honest, it is something I never thought that we would achieve,” Larcombe said.
“This is actually making me feel quite humble to be honest. I never envisaged that we would win a Championship, and the John Storm Memorial was just never something that I contemplated being a part of, because I just never thought it would happen.
“It is hard for us to travel with work and home commitments, it is hard to get away from home, so it is quite humbling to know that we – and I don’t like to say I, it is ‘we’, it is a team effort – could find ourselves in this position where we have not only won the Summit Racing Equipment Sportsman Series Super Sedan Championship, but also the John Storm Memorial.
“It is just amazing, and beyond my wildest dreams to know that we have earned more points than anyone this season. I don’t think it has really sunk in yet, I really don’t yet have a grasp of it.
“I would like to thank my partner Donna – without her support it just wouldn’t happen – and her son, my stepson Alex. I really wish they could be here with us this weekend but due to circumstances beyond our control they aren’t able to be.
“I also want to thank our crew – Ryan, Pete, Jason, George, Reg and all of the other people that have supported me over the years and had words of encouragement for us – sometimes this sport can be hard, it can be a cruel sport and sometimes the expense and the time away can feel hard to justify, but when you do things like this is just makes it all worth it.
“Finally, thank you to my sponsors for their support – Cleveland Freightlines, RT Racecraft, Overland Locksmiths, Rhemac Motors, Outlaw Speed Shop, SA Race Trans, and Precision Porting.
“Also when it comes to the Championship, I want to thank the other Super Sedan competitors for all of their support, because even when you don’t think people are watching, they are, and they are supporting.”
Also taking to the track at the Perth Motorplex on Sunday was racing for the Burson Auto Parts Australian Top Fuel Championship and the Australian Drag Racing Championship (ADRC) Top Doorslammers and Top Fuel Motorcycles. With Phil Read, Daniel Gregorini and Benny Stevens taking out the top honours for Top Fuel, Top Doorslammer and Top Fuel Motorcycle respectively.
For results from today’s action at the Perth Motorplex, please click here
Further details from the ANDRA Grand Final weekend including national record updates and quotes from more of our winning racers will be released across this coming week.
ANDRA thanks the Perth Motorplex and all of its volunteers and sponsors for an outstanding race track and a well-run event.
For full results from the ANDRA Grand Finals, please click here.