The 2018/19 season officially came to a close last night for WASDA with the annual Trophy Presentation evening, this year held at the Ambrose Estate and hosted by Brad ‘Fitzi’ Fitzgerald.

As is tradition, the night opened with all competitors being acknowledged for their participation throughout the year, while the first official award presented was the Fran Shugg Sportsmanship Award. Now in its second year, the trophy was shared by two people this time around, with Wayne Cover and Graham Jones being acknowledged for their tireless efforts behind the scenes, offering advice, encouragement, help and praise to all.

Next up were the Salon Express Heat Race Points trophies, with Dayne Kingshott winning on eighty points from Glen Mears on sixty nine points and Travis White on sixty three points. This was followed by the Coverall Sheet Metal Feature Race points trophies, taken out by Glen Mears on 131 points ahead of Alfonso Guadagnino on 124 points and Travis White on 123 points.

Gavin Migro came up to the stage next, thanking all those involved in the Pool Shop Group Track Championship and acknowledging the top three in that series of winner Rob Golding who defeated Glen Mears and Beau Doyle.

The QVEE Grand Slam Award, presented to those who won all races on any given night, was next, with Keenan Fleming achieving the feat on the 24th of November at the Perth Motorplex while Dayne Kingshott did it twice, once on opening night and then again at the Australian Title.

Beau Doyle and Gary Mann were then inducted into the upside down club, while Dayne Kingshott received the My Race Setup, John Fenton Top Dog Award for the most feature wins in a season, Kingshott and Fenton bantering about their rivalry and whether Dayne would ever reach the heights of Fenton! Kingshott then received the John Day Chequered Flag Award for receiving the most flags throughout the season.

Chief Steward Mark Franks was next to take the stage, presenting the Chief Stewards Award to Gary Mann while Mann also received the HRP Specialties Doc Parton Award, for Driver Encouragement. Courtesy of his season, Keenan Fleming was next to receive the HRP Specialties Hard Luck Award while the Laurie Matthew Memorial place getters of Dayne Kingshott, Glen Mears and and Alfie Guadagnino rounded out the first round of trophy presentations.

The second round of presentations began with thankyous to those who worked hard behind the scenes including the WASDA Executives, the officials and others who helped out at tracks across the season. Graham and Bec Jones also thanked those who helped make the John Day Speedcar Classic such a success and touched on making next year’s event even bigger and better again. This was followed by Mel Fleming win her fourth Bob Farmer Memorial Trophy for being the Most Outstanding Club Person.

Life Member Frank Figliomeni then came to the front to present the Mike Figliomeni Medal for the Drivers Driver. This year the award was tied, with Alfonso Guadagnino and Beau Doyle both thrilled to receive the award.

After the Mears Electrical WA Title top three of Dayne Kingshott, Keenan Fleming and Victorian Travis Mills were acknowledged, the next trophy presented was the Graham Jones Award for the Most Improved Driver, supported by Jones Contracting. This was received by Rob Golding courtesy of his big improvements from last season.

The ASteel Powder Coaters Ron Chell Award for Best Presented Car went to Keenan Fleming while the HRP Specialties Best Dressed Pit Crew Award was a tie between the crews of car 51, Beau Doyle and car 26, Keenan Fleming.

The Keith Mann 5 Star Award went to Dayne Kingshott who won four out of the five eligible races for the award, while the much sought after Bennett Motorsports Rookie of the Year Award was taken out by sixteen year old sensation, Beau Doyle.

The Stan Kinloch Medal for Fairest and Best went to Glen Mears while the final awards of the night was the Pool Shop Group Presidents Cup, based on points from every race over the entire year. Dayne Kingshott was third with 183 points with Alfonso Guadagnino second on 192 points while Glen Mears took out the trophy for the second year in a row, this time with 209 points.

This would round out a huge season of racing. We would like to thank everyone who contributed towards making this season such a huge success and we look forward to seeing you all again when we do it in season 2019/20!

Release by DTN Media. Pictures Courtesy Peter Roebuck.