Drunken sprintcar attack plot foiled

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Drunken sprintcar attack plot foiled
DARWIN, NORTHERN TERRITORY - A leading motor racing driver fled Darwin yesterday after the sprintcar championship ended in violence.Ryan Farrell, 36, was involved in a trackside punch-up and was later pursued to his caravan by a gang armed with a golf club. Other drivers turned on him after two crashes at Darwin's Northline track in front of 8000 fans on Sunday evening.

Police are investigating the trouble. Farrell crashed into 21-year-old Territorian Jason McIver and US-based Kerry Madsen during the last race of the three-day Australian Sprintcar Championship. Madsen's $120,000 sprintcar is believed to have been written off.

McIver's father Peter confronted Farrell trackside and blows were exchanged.

The argument continued in the pits and the Territorian suffered a cut to his head.

Madsen, 38, also angrily confronted Farrell trackside, but there was no violence during the meeting.

The following morning, five men went to the nearby Hidden Valley Tourist Park.

CCTV captures two of the five men descending on the Hidden Valley Tourist Park. One is armed with a golf club (circled)


Security video footage clearly shows one of them armed with a golf club.

They are believed to have been looking for Farrell, who was staying at the caravan park.

Neither of the McIvers were involved in the incident.

Tourist park managers Noel and Gina Lyell ordered the gang off the property and called police.

They said the man who had the golf club was very easily identifiable.

CCTV cameras also captured the gang's car registration number, which has been passed to police.

"I know who it was," Ms Lyell said.

"Several people have now looked at the security footage and identified him.

"I confronted the men and demanded to know what they were doing.

"One thought he was clever and said, 'We're just looking for a game of golf'.

"They all stank of alcohol.

"A little old lady standing nearby was terrified.

"The men left quickly when I told them I had called the police."

Darwin Speedway Riders and Drivers Association president Gary Pendlebury said the national body governing the sport would investigate the allegations.

Peter McIver said he did not need stitches to his wound and had sorted out his differences with Farrell.

"But we won't ever be mates - not in a pink fit."

McIver said he was furious when the West Australian crashed into his son.

Sprintcar Control Council Australia president Peter Mitchell said behaviour that brought the sport into disrepute would not be tolerated.
"Any matters involving race incidents are thoroughly and completely investigated," he said.

Source: NT News (Nigel Adlam).

sprintcardaily.com/

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Darwin Drama; "I did not flee" says Farrell










Darwin Drama; "I did not flee" says Farrell

DARWIN, NT - (June 2nd, 2010) - The driver at the centre of the violence that ended the Australian sprintcar championship said he did not mind five men armed with a golf club trying to hunt him down.

Ryan Farrell, 36, said: "It's an extreme sport - people get fired up. We'll have a beer and forget about it."

But he is outraged at the allegation he drove badly and ran a young Territorian off the track.

"I didn't touch him," he said.

Despite reports he fled town on Monday, he packed up calmly and left yesterday. "I didn't flee," he said.
TELL all: sprintcar driver ryan farrell talks about several crashes on the track - and altercations off the track. picture: nick welsh

Sprintcar driver Ryan Farrell talks about several crashes on the track - and altercations off the track. Picture: NICK WELSH

Farrell was involved in two incidents at more than 100km/h during the final race at the Northline track on Sunday night.

He was accused of crashing into two drivers - 21-year-old Top Ender Jason McIver and US-based Kerry Madsen.

McIver's father Peter and Farrell exchanged blows trackside after the race.

"Our cars never touched - Jason made a blue and crashed his car all by his little self," Farrell said.

"Then his old man - who is the biggest single tool in the sport - confronted me while I was still strapped in the car and punched me.

"I wasn't strapped in for long. I freed myself and hit him in a massive hurry.

"The last time I saw him he was lying on the ground."

Farrell said he accepted part of the blame for crashing into Madsen.

He said the two only exchanged words trackside.

"About 8000 fans saw it," Farrell said. "He swore at me.

"There was no fight, nothing physical." The next morning, five men went to the Hidden Valley Tourist Park, where Farrell was staying. Neither of the McIvers were involved in the incident.

Security footage clearly shows one of the five men carrying a golf club.

"They were looking for me," Farrell said. "You don't have to be Einstein to work that out."

But he said he wasn't concerned by the incident.

"These things happen in this sport every day."

Peter McIver said Farrell had driven badly during the last race.
"He was very unprofessional."

Source: NT News (Nigel Adlam).

sprintcardaily.com/