YOUNGSTER WINS FEATURE AT SECOND EVER LATE MODEL EVENT

YOUNGSTER WINS FEATURE AT SECOND EVER LATE MODEL EVENT

Late Model Racing Victoria headed out to Ballarat's Redline Raceway on December the 12th for their 

second show of the season & from start to finish showed the fans why everybody is talking about 

this division being the best bang for buck V8 category in town.

16yo Cameron Pearson won the feature in his second ever Late Model event after chasing down & 

hounding Canberra's Scott McPherson whilst birthday boy & 19yo Chevy Edwards followed him 

through for second with local racer Mick Hetherington making a late race come back into third place.

Six heat races spilt the thirteen car field as the Association looked to ensure the maximum amount 

of cars could make it through to the final.

Canberra driver Scott McPherson would prove to be outstanding in the heats winning all three in 

which he competed in, whilst the other three were won by Graham Forte & two by Ross Creek local 

Mick Hetherington. New Zealand visitor Kristin Vermeulen crashed out in the first round of heats 

when the J bar mount broke.

McPherson from pole position proved too strong for Justin Pearson ( # 25 Healesville Directional 

Drilling - 454 Chev) in heat one whilst rookie Brendan Hucker moved from fifth to third as the race 

progressed. Fiona Verhoeven finished fourth ahead of Bathurst NSW visitor Wade Carter & Zak 

Calderwood (# 14 Calderwood Welding Fabrications - 358 Ford). 

Vermeulen, who came to grief in her first heat would see no further race action for the night in the # 

9 'McGrath Foundation' Mopar powered machine. Wayne Belk driving the sister car went a little 

sideways ahead of turn one soon after & Gary Bryan's crashed the # 26 'Bryan's Bones' supported 

race car into the wall breaking a spindle & missing the rest of heat two. Graham Forte won from 

Belk, Edwards, Hetherington & Cameron Pearson.

Making it two from two McPherson (#7 Better Trailers Canberra - 410 Mopar) again defeated Justin 

Pearson & son Cameron with Carter & Calderwood the other finishers. Hucker in the Dandy Engines 

434 Chev powered 23 car was unable to finish.

All starters in the fourth heat finished when Hetherington (#40 Wayne Horne Earthmoving - 410 

Chev) was to strong for Forte, Edwards, Verhoeven & Belk.

McPhersons clean sweep was complete when he motored on to finish first in his final heat with Cam 

Pearson, Carter & Verhoeven(# 8 Lucas Oils - 434 Chev) completing the order in heat five. Both Justin 

Pearson & Zak Calderwood were unable to finish due to both having battery problems, Pearson’s 

failed, Calderwood’s came loose and shorted out engine.

Completing the qualifying racing Hetherington picked up his second win as he defeated his friend 

Hucker, Edwards, Belk, Forte (# 7F Echuca Metaland - 413 Chev) & Bryans.

Hetherington then won a pole shuffle to claim choice of front row starting position in the final whilst 

Cameron Pearson (# 10 Progressive Traffic Solutions - 430 Chev) moved forward two spots in the 

shuffle putting him right on the tail of the front row for the green flag start.

McPherson made the best start in the final with Hetherington the leader of the chase. Melton's Belk 

made a good start and was in amongst the chasing pack before Hetherington started to shuffle back 

& Pearson along with Edwards (# 21 Provender Country Bakehouse - 430 Chev) started to go 

forward.

McPherson’s car started to go off & Pearson along with Edwards were ready to pounce & that they 

did with Pearson storming to the front in a turn three pass & Edwards following soon after. Once in 

front Pearson stretched his advantage quickly. Hetherington moved forward again & in front of 

McPherson as did Belk & when the finish came, it was Pearson winning from Edwards, Hetherington, 

Belk ( # 32 Belkblast - 420 Mopar), McPherson, Carter (# 24 Carter General Engineering - 440 

Donavan)  Calderwood & Justin Pearson.

An emotional father & son stopped for a chat with the announcer with Pearson Snr (Justin) telling his 

son he will remember this moment for the rest of his life whilst Jnr (Cameron) was in absolute 

disbelief at what he achieved thanking all those that support him. 

Cameron went on to say. "This is for Dad, Mum & everybody who has supported me with such a 

fantastic opportunity & lifestyle. I couldn't think of a better way to enjoy life. I can't believe what just 

happened, it will take a couple days to sink in. Thank you to everybody from Pa & Nan, to our crew 

guys & to our valuable sponsors. This is dedicated to you all."

LMRV is proudly supported by

Belkblast

Healesville Directional Drilling

Lake Eildon Houseboat Sales

Australian Racing Products

Huckers Car & Truck Hire

Horne Enterprises Pty Ltd 

Written by

Dean Thompson

DMT Sports Media

For Late Model Racing Victoria

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