Disappointment Overshadows Promising Grand Annual Classic for Lines

29-1-2008

Although a Top 10 finish in the Grand Annual Sprintcar Classic at the weekend at Warrnambool’s Premier Speedway in Victoria is a result not to be sneezed at, Steve Lines was deeply disappointed with his ninth place finish at the 2007/08 season running.

Lines and his team, who started the feature race from position five in the field, failed to pick the setup of his # 45 SA Camden Neon Signs backed J&J and as a result he fell down the order to eventually finish in ninth place.

“Ninth certainly wasn’t where I wanted to be, as I had my sights set on a podium result, but with the slick track we messed up and went backwards, it’s as simple as that,” disappointed Lines said.

“We had a pretty good run in both of our heat races on the second night, and when the feature race came around, as we were well and truly off the money.”

For Lines the opening night of the Grand Annual Classic was a much happier affair after he finished just off the podium in the preliminary feature race in fourth place. Lines had held down third place in the preliminary feature race up until the closing stages when he drifted wide in a turn and that allowed Kerry Madsen to get by and take third place. After qualifying 17th in time trials, Lines finished with a win and a third place in his two heat races and started the preliminary feature race from position three.

The night before the Grand Annual Classic, Friday night (January 25) at Borderline Speedway in South Australia for the Kings Challenge, Lines, who had started from position 11 in the field, failed to advance out of the B-main after he had finished in third place, just one spot shy of a transfer spot. Lines had qualified third in time trials, but failed to finish either of his two heat races. In his opening heat race Lines’ car jumped out of gear and in the second heat race another car had pun out and he was collected and as a consequence recorded a DNF due to damage sustained.

Now Lines is looking forward to this weekend’s (January 31 – February 2) Australian Sprintcar Title at Tyrepower Parramatta City Raceway (TPCR) and is aiming for a solid result.

“I’ve set my sights on the podium, and I feel if everything clicks and a bit of luck goes our way then we can achieve our desired result,” he said.

“I only have minimal experience around TPCR, but that doesn’t faze me as I simply cannot wait for the weekend to get underway.”