Motor Racing
20 March, 2026
Thorne goes three in a row
If it wasn't already, three might just be Nathan Thorne's lucky number after the street stock steerer claimed the latest in back to back to back Victorian street stock titles at Blue Ribbon Raceway on Saturday.
The current and three-time Australian champion for the class was the man of the moment again on the first night of racing, finishing ahead of Morris Ahearn, who had a gallant performance in the feature.
Ahearn was undefeated in all of his heats earlier in the night, was the pole-sitter for the big dance, had the fastest lap time in the final (19.04 seconds, ahead of Thorne's 19.20 seconds) and led the feature race for nearly half of it before Thorn made his move.
Thorne's twin, Heath, finished the title in third, Brad Warren finished fourth and Matt Nelson was fifth.
There were 11 different individual heat winners on the night, with Nathan Fawns, Nathan Thorne and Morris Ahearn the only drivers to claim more than one heat race.
Ricky Ahearn, Shaun Henry and Mark Merrett, along with Nick Chrystie, Ben Warren and Chris Hay, made up the back of the A main after claiming the first three positions in both of the B main races, respectively.
But Ricky Ahearn's plight was short-term, the driver exiting the feature just a lap in, while Dale Morrison, Warren, Drew Flatman, Merrett, Hay, Thomas Garner and Steven Harvey were other early retirees from the main race.
After his win Nathan Thorne told Wimmera Mallee News that three state titles in a row was not something he thought he would achieve.
Thorne credited his unusual choice of car, a Madna, as a large reason for his dominance in the sport and said depsite racing it for the last six years, he'sd been successful only in the last three.
But from success to downright bad luck, Hayden Glare had a challenging time at the state title.
Glare's car caught fire after his first heat, burning the wiring in the back of the vehicle, but miraculously he was back out on track for his second race after some fast repairs in the pits between rounds.
But he encountered bad luck again in heat three when, caught up in an incident, his car was damaged substantially, ending his night and his bid to become this season's state champion for street stocks.
In the 1200cc Victorian junior sedan title, also held on Saturday, Jaylen Knight set the standard all day and night, claiming all of her heats ahead of a display of dominance in the feature race.
The AX22 of Dayne Murdoch, the DDA43 of Ryder Taylor and the N20 of Kobi Knight were other heat winners.
Knight claimed the chequered flag in the final ahead of Murdoch, Zeke Warren, Bryden Bishop and Holly Hutchinson.
Wingless sprints were also in action on Saturday for their 'super series'.
Demonstrating just how competitive and even the class is, different drivers claimed each heat race, with Blake Walsh, Cameron O'Brien, Jake Warren, Luke Johnson, Michael Conlan and Ryder Blight all having success.
But it was Walsh who eventually prevailed in the 30-lap final, crossing the line ahead of Jake Warren and Leigh Van Ginneken.
The celebrations for Blue Ribbon Raceway continued on Sunday as it celebrated the 30-year anniversary, with 1200 juniors, A modifieds, production sedans, street stocks and wingless sprints all out on track.
Knight, as the newly crowned Victoria One, continued her form with a clean sweep of heat races and the final in 1200 juniors.
Kev Gene claimed the chequered flag in A mModifieds, while the production sedan final was won by Horsham's Peter Dowling.
Morris Ahearn kept his car dialled in from the day and night before, winning the street stocks on Sunday, while Cameron O'Brien was the best of the wingless sprint drivers in the final.