NatMeet - Symmons Plains track day
13 March 2016 / Words by Peter Barnwell, Photos by Grant Webber & Josh Fitzgerald
While many of the Victorian and Taswegian members would have intimate knowledge of Symmons Plains Raceway, it was all new for most of the mainland MX-5ers at the first of two, back-to-back motorsport prologues to last month's NatMeet in Tasmania. They were held on the Saturday and Sunday before NatMeet 2016 started.
Symmons Plains has an undeserved reputation as the ''worst’’ track in Australia but those at the Saturday track day would beg to differ. It was an absolute hoot and completely different fare to the usual diet of tracks we frequent on the mainland. The 'locals’ obviously enjoy it too given their enthusiasm and lap times.
The day shaped up well weather wise with 36 drivers in MX-5s of all denominations turned out for a good flogging on the long straights and three tight turns of Symmons. One NA had 440,000km on the original engine and ran hard all day. Most were NatMeet entrants, but there was also a strong contingent of Victorians who came down just for the two track events. Luke and Joe Kovacic from our Club also made the long trip to Tassie for the track events, and as usual, Joe couldn't resist lending a hand to organise things on the marshalling grid.
Symmons is a difficult track - high speed with some tricky turns, some closing radius and a hump on the start finish straight to throw you off line coming into a tight left hander. You need good brakes.
After a 20 minute practice run, the day was arranged into five lap sprints with a standing start, and a five lap regularity thrown into the equation after lunch, just to keep everyone on their toes.
Plenty of 'runs’ were to be had as the day progressed through wind, dust and sun. Mates lined up with mates to fine tune lines and see who could clock the best times. Organisers said any time under 1:15 was 'good’ and two thirds of the field were under that mark. A few even dropped under 1:10 with one driver in particular, Luke Kovacic, dipping down to 1:09.53 in a borrowed 2.0-litre ND stocker, after a best of 1:10.49 in Joe's stock NC which was his regular drive for the day. Kim Cole in his supercharged NB (1:08.06) and Colin Denman-Jones in his ultra tidy and fast NC (1:08.76) set the fastest times of the day.
Fastest woman from a field of four was Hunter member Kim Jacobs who clocked a 1:12.87 lap in the only 2.0-litre ND entered. Plenty of interest surrounded the ND 2.0-litre as well as the two 1.5s. All three were road spec’ and all showed plenty of promise with 'competitive’ lap times.
The day went off without incident apart from the usual brake pad and tyre issues. As usual, camaraderie came to the fore if anyone needed assistance and the whole event was enjoyed by all who attended. Great garages.
Special thanks to the MG Car Club of Tasmania officials for running the event and especially cooking the barbie.
More photos by Grant Webber, Josh Fitzgerald and Simon Corston (WA).
Watch a lap with Bryan Shedden.
Fastest Lap Times
| Driver | Club | Class | Best Lap |
| Kim Cole | VIC/TAS | 8 | 1:08.06 |
| Colin Denman-Jones | VIC/TAS | non-NatMeet | 1:08.76 |
| Luke Kovacic (2L ND) | NSW | non-NatMeet | 1:09.53 |
| Russell Garner | VIC/TAS | non-NatMeet | 1:09.54 |
| Luke Kovacic (NC) | NSW | non-NatMeet | 1:10.49 |
| Josh Fitzgerald | NSW | 8 | 1:11.01 |
| Peter Barnwell | NSW | 3 | 1:11.11 |
| Alan Conrad | VIC/TAS | 7 | 1:11.96 |
| Bryan Shedden | NSW | 2 | 1:12.22 |
| Stuart Lutz | QLD | 8 | 1:12.22 |
| Peter Battisson | NSW | 7 | 1:12.41 |
| Kim Jacobs | NSW | 3 | 1:12.87 |
| Randy Stagno Navarro | VIC/TAS | non-NatMeet | 1:13.61 |
| Andrew Tate | VIC/TAS | 7 | 1:13.65 |
| Craig Healy | VIC/TAS | non-NatMeet | 1:13.71 |
| Matt Brogan | VIC/TAS | non-NatMeet | 1:13.75 |
| Joe Kovacic | NSW | non-NatMeet | 1:13.91 |
| Sam Gumina | VIC/TAS | non-NatMeet | 1:14.00 |
| Phil Mayo | NSW | 5 | 1:14.14 |
| Peter Dannock | VIC/TAS | 1 | 1:14.22 |
| Warren Hotz | NSW | 6 | 1:14.32 |
| Phillip Donnelley | NSW | 2 | 1:14.50 |
| Don Battisson | NSW | 6 | 1:14.78 |
| Simeon Ouzas | VIC/TAS | non-NatMeet | 1:14.88 |
| Kerry Reynolds | VIC/TAS | 2 | 1:15.38 |
| Noel Heritage | VIC/TAS | non-NatMeet | 1:15.44 |
| Lindsay Green | NSW | 8 | 1:15.96 |
| Helen Green | NSW | 8 | 1:15.98 |
| David Rigby | NSW | 1 | 1:16.44 |
| Tammie Hotz | NSW | 6 | 1:16.98 |
| Ross Cali | QLD | 4 | 1:17.13 |
| Mark Seville | QLD | 4 | 1:17.32 |
| Robert Pimm | NSW | 2 | 1:17.48 |
| Allen Weber | SA | 8 | 1:17.74 |
| Roger Trethewey | SA | 2 | 1:17.79 |
| Lyall Tilson | WA | 1 | 1:19.10 |
| Michael Watt | VIC/TAS | non-NatMeet | 1:19.64 |
Regularity
| Driver | Club | Place | Points |
| Bryan Shedden | NSW | 1 | 49 |
| Andrew Tate | VIC/TAS | 2 | 48 |
| Robert Pimm | NSW | =3 | 46 |
| Ross Cali | QLD | =3 | 46 |
| Peter Battisson | NSW | =3 | 46 |
