Midcoast Mower Racing Club farewell member after Australian Mower Racing Championships

The Fraser Coast Mower Racing Club are said to have hosted one of the best ever Mower Racing events in the country which saw 72 racers from all over the eastern states of Australia compete for a number of Titles.

Damien Brown of Stuarts Point drove consistently all weekend and finished first place in the Modified Class which is the second highest class in the country.

After qualifying with a lap time which found him amongst the top racers in Australia, race organisers initially put Brown into the Outlaw Class (the highest category) as it was their intention to grade all mowers on lap times rather than build rules.

However, this meant that some competitors who were “compulsory outlaws” due to their larger engine size would have missed out on competing in that class.

After a short discussion it was decided that Brown along with three other entrants, who also qualified with outlaw times, would make up the Modified Class.

“I was so happy with how I qualified and couldn’t believe I was going to be racing against some of the most powerful race mowers and experienced drivers in the country. Even though the four of us were later moved into Modified Class I was still extremely happy as this was a full grade higher than I raced in at last year’s Championships (A Grade),” Brown said.

The racing was extremely close but Brown managed to chalk up a number of wins during his eight race starts.

“They were the closest races I’ve ever been involved in and the pressure those guys put on me to perform was enormous. I knew that if I stuffed up they would capitalise on my mistake and each of them did at some point. When I was able to get things right and maintain my lead the roar of their engines sent shivers up my spine as they sat just inches from my rear bumper,” Brown said.

Brown’s consistency saw him start the final feature race in pole position which meant he was in front on points.

“I knew that if I finished that last race I would make it onto the podium and if I won I would be the 2018 Aussie Champion,” he said.

With just two laps to go, disaster struck as Brown spun out at the end of the main straight but managed to regather and finish the race in third position.

“My chances of winning had taken a big hit but I knew that I had finished well enough to secure at least second place on the podium which was still awesome. It wasn’t until they called the name of the runner up and my old man said ‘You’ve done it, you won’ that I realised I was far enough on points to get the win,” Brown said.

While there were no other podium finishers from the club, the other seven drivers put in a really solid effort.

73-year-old Gary Ferris of Nambucca Heads qualified in B-Grade and while he didn’t have any race wins he finished all nine of his races over the weekend which was a huge accomplishment.

Macksville’s Peter Power and Darren Edgar of the Central Coast also qualified in B-Grade and while they both had battery problems throughout the weekend, they both drove well and Peter managed to secure an impressive race win.

Kempsey’s Jim Hardie qualified in C Grade and drove extremely well all weekend.

Even though his mower had less than half the horsepower of others in his class he still managed to make a number of them look as though they were standing still as he drove his lightweight machine around them on the outside.

Graham Payne of Muswellbrook overcame some early belt issues to also qualify in C-Grade. He put in a great effort all weekend and looked right at home on the tight Queensland track.

Kevin O’Shea and Wayne Cooper of Stuarts Point qualified in D-Grade and E-Grade respectively. While they may not have been at the pointy end of the competition, they both drove very well and had an amazing time while doing so.

Sadly, just a week after the Championships were over, members of the close knit club were devastated by news of the sudden passing of fellow member and close friend, Gary Ferris.

“Gary will be dearly missed by everyone here at Midcoast Mower Racing Club as well as all the friends he made while being a part of our mower racing family,” Brown said.

It was a dream of Gary’s to race in the 2018 Championships and club members are so very happy that he managed to do so.

“He had an absolute ball and we’re so lucky to have been able to share the experience with him,” Brown said.

Gary made up one of the three generations of Ferris family members to be a part of the Midcoast Mower Racing Club.

Friends and family farewelled Gary on Wednesday July 25 in Macksville where over 20 club members formed a Guard of Honour out of respect for their dearly departed friend.

Also making news: