Round five of the HDS Modified Production Series rolled into Rockhampton, and so did the rain clouds.  The much anticipated round with $10,000 prize money on offer looked like mother nature may win, with several showers passing over the city during the day, but the skies started to clear up come race time.  Being a granite based track it held up well with only the first few races being really greasy, after that the track was superb.

Neil Coomber started the night off well, leading the first heat from start to finish.  Coomber was under siege later in the race by Gary Maroske and Brian Learoyd who come from 6th place.  Dale Grother pulled out with a flat right rear tyre.  Coomber crossed the line with Maroske in second and Learoyd third.

Steve Price and series leader Michael Hally battled for the lead in heat two which saw Hally make several desperate attempts at passing but couldn't pull it off.  Steve Price won the heat with Hally in second and Craig Mellor in third.

Greg Raymont stormed ahead to win heat three convincingly, while Glen Pagel finishing second and Todd Doyle third.

Dale Grother made amends for his flat tyre in his first heat, winning his second heat in spectacular fashion, pushing the Blackburn Performance Engines Cortina through for a comfortable victory.

Adrian Stott had his XF Falcon in motion for heat seven, leading the race from green to checker with a large gap back to second place Brendan Bayfield and Brian Learoyd in third and Michael Hally foruth. 

Gavin Fletcher lead away the field in heat eight, with Dale Grother in second and Shane Macdonald thrid.  Turn two saw Dale Grother and Shane Macdonald come together as Grother spun.  Craig Mellor and Graham Bing then had nowhere to go and collided with Grother, which resulted in Grother and Bing forced out with damage.  Gavin Fletcher also pulled out after leading the race.  This left Macdonald out in front.  Shane drove away with the heat win with Craig Mellor not far behind until Mellor spun.  Aiden Raymont finished in 2nd after being sent to the rear earlier.  Glenn Pagel finished in third. 

Current Queensland Champion Todd Doyle made his presence known in the final heat, making his way into the lead after a few laps and showing some good car speed.  Justin Smithwick was running a comfortable second until he spun as Greg Raymont ended up in the side of Smithwick trying to avoid the car.  Dennis Shallcrosse also ended up in the side of Raymont.  Fortunately all cars were able to restart with Smithwick at the rear.  Raymont made an outside move on the final corner around Steven Zahl to snatch second place.  Todd Doyle crossed the line in first, followed by Greg Raymont and Steven Zahl.

Night two is shaping up to be a fiercely fought battle for the series points lead as well as the prize pool for the feature race.  Be sure your there tonight to witness the fast paced action that this series brings.

The Modified Production Entrants group would like to thank all of the following sponsors for making this seasons championship possible.   

Hydraulic Drilling Services

Aussie Trackwear

Performance Wholesale

Rob’s Auto Transport

AAA Brisbane Tilt Tray Towing

Tracwell Motor Body Builders

Blackburn Performance Engines

Treads International

John & Coral Carrell’s Speedway Photography

Speedline Engineering

Oz Metal Recyclers

RCP Machining

Otech Oil & Lubricants

Mac1 Designs

Kingaroy Equipment Sales

Hillside Auto Dismantlers

Gympie Pool World

Geritz Earthmoving

Gav’s Engine’s

East Coast Traffic Control

Cooloola Foods and Packaging

Afco Shock Doctor

Troy Ware Constructions