There is glory in winning but recovering from disaster enormous!

Gunnedah Speedway October 25, 2014

The opening round of the 2014  POWRi Super Series at Gunnedah Speedway was hot in more ways than one. Nathan Smee was hot is winning the opening round of the series from Troy Jenkins and Bob Jackson.

Troy Jenkins Nathan Smee Bob Jackson at Gunnedah

Nathan Smee set the pace but it was Speed sport’s Michael Harders who was physically on fire after his #14 race car had a fuel spill forcing the Queenslander to evacuate from his racecar in a most spectacular way.

A racecar fire can be deadly thing; methanol fire is invisible and smokeless and if the safety crews and drivers are not alert serious and fatal results can follow. Strangely the methanol fuel is much safer that gasoline. The speed that Herders showed getting from his car and his actions and those of the track safety crew while just in days racing prevented serious injury and burns to Harders.

Queenslander Michael Harders
Credit Colin Stratford

Harders troubles started early in the first heat when the #14 had it spark plug damaged by a flying rock and he failed to finish. Heat 2 well that was the fiery heat forcing the team into a second DNF.
To make the feature the team had to replace his race suit , helmet, balaclava, gloves, arm restraints, Seat Belts, Fuel line, Seat cover, ear plugs, Rear brake line, Rear shock Adjuster cable Just to get the racecar back on track for the feature was some sort of effort .After starting from 21st position Harders drove the #14 Auto UP GRADE Spike /KRE/Eagle into 8th position .

Michael Harders dismounting from the #14 car

The next round of the POWRi Speedcar Super Series will be at Brisbane’s Archerfield Speedway on November 8th
Photos by Tony Hodskiss