Nothing Goes Right In Mvb’s Classic Campaign
MVB Racing posted Tuesday January 29, 2008.

Lilydale’s Mike Van Bremen headed to Warrnambool’s Sungold Stadium on the Australia Day long weekend to contest one of the world’s toughest and most recognised events - the Grand Annual Sprintcar Classic.

Last Wednesday night (January 23) Van Bremen also raced in the President’s Cup at Geelong’s Avalon Raceway, but unfortunately missed an A-Main start by one position.

“We set a bad time trial and from that point we were playing catch up. In the end, we couldn’t quite get into the last transfer position to the main show in the B-main,” Van Bremen said about his mid-week race.

The Classic dawned and the MVB Racing campaign started in solid fashion, setting the 24th quickest time in time trials out of 52 cars.

“I wasn’t displeased with my time trial effort, we did better then a few other drivers that race on the national scene. It was important for us to move forward in our heats and gather some points,” Van Bremen said.

The two qualifying heat races proved frustrating for Van Bremen, as he explains: “I got off to a good start on both occasions and passed a couple of cars in the first turn, but unfortunately both times the race got called back because a car on the front row jumped the start,” he said.

“It was quite frustrating, because on the legal starts we didn’t make up any positions and finished fifth and eighth. Had the first starts been allowed, I may of finished a couple of positions different towards the front and that would have made a huge difference, particularly when the track didn’t allow for much passing,” Van Bremen added.

The V#6 Action Blast Cleaning Maxim started on the front row of the C-Main on night one and Van Bremen got off to a blistering lead. All looked good for ‘The Flying Dutchman’ to transfer to the B-Main, until he ran over a torsion bar on the front straight which ended his night.

“We were comfortable out in front until we ran over a torsion bar with an arm, which pierced through the tyre and hit the middle of the rim, which is also damaged. It’s fair to say we were pretty unlucky,” said Van Bremen.

The team lifted their spirits for the second night of action, but in the final heat of the weekend Van Bremen rolled over in turn four after a car in front of him lost control on the slicker surface.

“It was a typical racing incident and typically the guy that caused the carnage drove off without a dint. It was the final heat of the weekend and it was a harsh blow to our morale,” said Mike.

In a never say die attitude that must be commended, the MVB Racing team repaired the car and contested the C-Main but were unable to make up the transfer position.

It was a tough weekend, but Van Bremen was able to drag some positives away, which included the help of Victorian Sprintcar Champion Matthew Reed.

“We had Matty Reed helping us on the Saturday night and we tried some set-ups that I would never attempt. We certainly learnt some things. It probably wasn’t the event to be trying new things, but we took some stuff away from it that we will use later on,” said Van Bremen.

The next meeting for Van Bremen will be at Adelaide’s Speedway City for the Sprintcar Nationals on February 15 and 16.

Supporting the MVB Racing team for 2007-2008 are Action Blast Cleaning, CSR Methanol, Speedway Motors and National Rod Ends.

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