THE Hawkesbury had its share of speedway drivers in the second round of the Sydney Sprintcar Premiership at the Valvoline Raceway at Granville on Saturday, October 11.
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Courtney O’Hehir of Wilberforce, as well as Kelly Linigen and Jimmy Matchett, both of Londonderry, were competing.
O’Hehir, a hairdresser, attempted to get her career first A-Main on Saturday night but it was not to be.
While none of our homegrown reps took home a trophy, they did well, with Linigen coming in at 16th and Bellbowen at 11th.
O’Hehir — and Tony Bellbowen of Cranebrook — have known each other since they first met at the speedway at the age of nine.
They have been ‘‘on again and off again partners’’ for the last four years.
“’’Courtney finds my commitment to speedway a bit hard to take sometimes, and I can understand that, but I want to make this my living one day and I’m determined to achieve that goal,’’ Bellbowen said.
‘‘She’s lucky enough to have her stepdad Cam Burnham work on her car whereas I’m pretty much hands-on with my team on the mechanical aspect.”
O’Hehir is in her third season racing in the hectic Wingless Sprint category – a class that features an enormous field each week, very competitive racing and some spectacular race incidents that can bring unsuspecting drivers undone.
“Courtney had a huge crash a couple of seasons ago where she injured her vertebrae and it knocked her around a bit,’’ Bellbowen said.
‘‘To her credit she’s come back and she’s racing really well.
‘‘Racing is a confidence thing.
‘‘If your confidence gets knocked around it affects your results.
‘‘She’s got a good season ahead of her I’m sure.”
For Bellbowen, now in his fifth season in sprintcars, the new summer promises plenty.
In the opening event of the season at Valvoline Raceway on October 4 the apprentice fitter and turner for UGL in Auburn led many laps of the feature race before finishing third behind eventual winner Victorian Jamie Veal and Toby’s older brother, Roddy Bellbowen.
“Any time you can lead a race at Valvoline Raceway it’s a good night,” Toby Bellbowen said.
“I’ve just got to learn how to finish off and get the win.
‘‘This year I want our first big win and I hope a few more will follow after that happens.”
He is the son of former Compact Speedcar, Speedcar and Sprintcar hard charger Rod Bowen – a man who also spent time as a part-owner of the Sydney Speedway until late this year when a new group purchased it.
“Dad raced for 11 years on and off and in that time he scored some significant results.’’
