AUSTRALIAN SPRINTCAR TITLE
The 43rd Australian Sprintcar Title was held at Murray Bridge
Speedway on 11 and 12 February 2005.
The Australian Sprintcar Title was the only event in Australia that
had eluded Brooke Tatnell, and the one he longed to win for 17
years. On being asked by "Chequered Flag" what it would mean
to him to win an Australian Title, he replied, "It's the sanctity of
my life I think. I think it's more important to me than marriage. I
mean, it's everything, it's been my whole life, it's been something
I've dreamed about since I was a four-year-old kid. You know,
I've been fortunate enough to sit here and see my dad win
Australia #1 four times. I mean, this is everything to me, it's
basically the one thing that we've lacked in our career. So, I
mean, it's everything to me. I mean, a lot of people say it's
just another race, but the guys that say it's just another race
are the guys who've won it before."
Brooke's father, George Tatnell, summed it up well saying,
"This is the only race that he's never won in Australia and
it's something he holds very dear to his heart, and I just
hope it works out for him".
The 2005 Australian Sprintcar Title was an event that Brooke
was meant to miss, but after a tumultuous week, where he flew
over to the United States to race in the World of Outlaws, and
for no apparent reason, was refused entry by Customs in Los
Angeles and forced to leave immediately, he returned home to
Sydney, where his team were bolting the car back together, and
headed over to Murray Bridge with only one team member and
his family to try to win that elusive Australia #1.
It must have been destiny that he would become Australia
#1 that weekend...
" Sprintcar World © 2005
Brooke Tatnell, Australian Sprintcar Title "Congratulations"
Night One
Interview
When asked by "Chequered Flag" about his preparation for
the Title, Brooke said, "Preparation? I don't think we've got
any". He continued, "It's definitely not the best preparation
coming to a place that, you know, I believe it's my place to
win", and that, "It's heart and sole, if we win this one, I
mean, there's nothing that will stop us anywhere I think".
Heat 1
Brooke started from position 4 and finished 1st.
Heat 2
Brooke started from position 8 and finished 4th.
Preliminary A-Main
Robbie Farr and Max Dumesny shared the front row for the
25-lap Preliminary A-Main, ahead of Phil March, Garry Brazier
and Ian Lewis, with Brooke Tatnell from starting position 6.
Robbie Farr got the jump at the start, with Max Dumesny
behind. Further back in the field, Brooke rode the high line
to try to make up some ground on the front-runners. Kerry
Madsen, who started from position 14, was rapidly making
his way to the front of the field. Phil March also passed Max
Dumesny for second, while Robbie Farr opened up a healthy
lead, before Adrian Maher brought on the yellow lights due
to mechanical failure. Garry Brazier's tyre went flat during
the yellow light period, but he was able to continue.
On the restart, Brooke got to 3rd, with Robbie Farr still in the
lead and Max Dumesny 2nd. Garry Brazier and Kerry Madsen
were fighting for 4th, until Phil Johnson flipped and brought
on the yellow lights again.
On the restart, Brooke again rode the high line, while Max
Dumesny stayed on the inside, but Max was able to pull out
a gap. Kerry Madsen had made his way up to 4th behind
Brooke, with Robbie Farr still out in the lead.
Max Dumesny caught Robbie Farr and passed him to take
the lead, and pulled out a gap over the field, but once they
hit lapped traffic, Robbie Farr was able to challenge him for
the lead, with Max on the low line and Robbie up on the
high line of the slick and black racetrack. Meanwhile, Kerry
Madsen passed Brooke for 3rd, and the positions stayed
the same to the end, with Max Dumesny taking the race
win, from Robbie Farr, Kerry Madsen and Brooke Tatnell.
Post-Race Interview
After the Preliminary A-Main, Brooke was absolutely drained
and exhausted. He told "Chequered Flag" that, "I think after
the 15th lap, you know, my head lost, it wasn't race fitness,
it wasn't any getting tired or the car was that bad, I just
think my... mental side of it, I just think my head was lost".
" Geoff Davis © 2005
Brooke Tatnell, Australian Sprintcar Title Trophies, February 2005
Night Two
Heat 1
Brooke started from pole and finished 1st.
Heat 2
Brooke started from position 11 and finished 4th.
Interview
"Chequered Flag's" Rod Colquhoun asked Brooke if things were
going to plan so far. He replied, "Yeah, not too bad. The last heat
race, we were fast enough, just didn't get the job done. I mean,
we never really got an open track to give it a run. We kept on
getting put back behind cars on restarts, but you know, I think
the only car that was good enough... As I say, you know, it's
dropped us from 3rd to 4th, but as I said, 2nd row, it's not too
much of a disadvantage. It's going to be a tight battle, I know
that lapped traffic is going to be a key issue.
The car's fast, we're good, as I say, a lot more relaxed tonight
and just focused and just being calm with everything. So, as I
say, 40 laps, it's going to be a long way. You know, I think
we've got the best record around this place, so I'm relying on
that to keep us motivated and to keep it going the right way,
but no I'm looking forward to it. I don't believe right now I'm
so confident in myself. I believe we can get the job done".
A-Main
The front row for the 40-lap A-Main was the reverse of the
previous night, with Max Dumesny on pole alongside Robbie
Farr. Row 2 was shared by Garry Brazier and Brooke Tatnell.
Max Dumesny got the jump at the start, with Robbie Farr in
2nd, Garry Brazier 3rd and Brooke Tatnell running around the
outside in 4th. Kerry Madsen, who started 7th, was racing up
on the high line of the already slick track, making his way to
the front. Kerry Madsen caught up to Brooke Tatnell, and a
fierce battle for 4th lasted many laps, with Kerry running on
the low line and Brooke running up high.
Max Dumesny opened up a healthy gap, until he got slowed
by lapped traffic and 2nd-placed Robbie Farr caught up. Kerry
Madsen passed Brooke Tatnell on the inside, but Brooke wasn't
giving up, and fought back but was unable to regain 4th place.
Kerry Madsen continued his barnstorming drive and passed 3rd-
placed Garry Brazier on the outside, then took Robbie Farr on
the inside for 2nd and headed after race leader Max Dumesny.
They fought hard for 1st, with both of their tyres smoking.
Robbie Farr's right rear tyre blew out, bringing on the yellow
lights. On the restart, it was Max Dumesny in the lead, from
Kerry Madsen, Garry Brazier and Brooke Tatnell. Max pulled
out a lead, before Andrew Scheuerle's right rear tyre blew,
again bringing on the yellow lights.
On the next restart, Brooke Tatnell remained in 4th position.
Kerry Madsen soon passed Max Dumesny for the lead, but it
was short-lived, as Stephen Bell brought on the yellow lights.
Both Kerry Madsen's and Max Dumesny's tyres blew during
the yellow light stoppage, and Garry Brazier spun, leaving
Brooke in the lead, with only two laps to go.
On the restart, Brooke lead Ryan Farrell and Trevor Green,
and drove the final two laps cautiously, to preserve his tyre
and finally, after 17 years, make his life-long dream come
true and become the Australian Sprintcar Champion!!
" Paris Charles © 2005
L-R: Trevor Green, Brooke Tatnell & Ryan Farrell, Murray Bridge Speedway, February 2005
Post-Race Interview
Rod Colquhoun: "Brooke Tatnell, how does it feel, you've finally
done it?"
Brooke Tatnell: "I don't think there's words that explain it. You
know, Max can tell me it's just another race as much as he wants,
but it ain't the same. You know, we just looked after our tyre when
I laid rubber, I was just hoping we had enough tyre to get through
and I backed off, but I mean, you've got to be lucky in this sport,
and I mean, we were probably one of the smartest ones out there,
but we were definitely one of the lucky ones. I don't care how we
got it, but I finally got one".
Rod Colquhoun: "It's been a long time coming buddy..."
Brooke Tatnell: "Yeah, South Australia and the Australian Title's
been good to... you know, dad won his first one at Speedway
City and we get our first one here. I couldn't have thought of
a more fitting place to win an Australian Title than here".
Rod Colquhoun: "And the circumstances you did it under, like
talk about emotion, it's just got to be the most unbelievable
story in the history of motorsport almost..."
Brooke Tatnell: "I don't know, reality hasn't set in yet. So, I
mean, hopefully we'll get this Visa sorted out and you know,
I hope maybe the car owner will let me stay one more week,
just to run Australia #1 just one time..."
" Tony Hodskiss © 2005
Brooke Tatnell with Australia #1, Parramatta City Raceway, February 2005
"This logo comes from the Official Brooke Tatnell site