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Talking the Dirt with Michael Harders Q14 The summer of 1988 can be held responsible for giving the speedway world the hard charging and determined racer we know today as Michael Harders. Young at heart Michael’s desire to race became so overwhelming in the time period from 1988 to 2001 He raced Litre cars for Father Peter Harders also his Uncle John’s Litre car and did some laps in the Terry Braken car too.Within the time frame Michael also run some quick time laps in Karting for the Brisbane Speedway Karting Club in both the Open Senior and 125 cc Gearbox classes which considerable success. It wasn’t till the 1995 to 97 stint in the Toyota Celica Michael tasted some real victories and his efforts in 96 took him into 1st place overall in the 0-1600 cc division coming home in 2nd overall the next year at the Ipswich and West Morten Auto Club. In the season of 96 to 97 the Celica was run on Tarmac Events under the CAMS ruling as well as all this Michael continued to maintain a successful Karting career and in the season of 1998 and 99 Michael claimed the Divisional Driver Series Title back to back. Also in 99 Michael now well and truly in the swing of racing and winning, finished 3rd in the formula Yamaha heavy division in the club championship and 7th in the Queensland Tile for the same year. Michael also claimed 3rd overall in the Spring Carnival Series held in Warwick for his division. 2001 to 03 Michael returned to the dirt in the Karts and 2001 he picked up the win in the MaMa Creek endurance 50 lapper with a standard engine he also scored a tidy 3rd in the 40 lapper in the modified engine section but returned to the podium top step in 2002 at the Gatton Speedway Invitational modified event. In between racing the Karts on the dirt tracks Michael began running the Terry Holland Vigilante Chassis with a twin cam Volvo power plant Midget 6Q. In 2000 being voted as the QSRA’s most improved driver was a huge boost to Michaels career and confidence within the tough class. 2003 and the results began coming thick and fast 1st clubman home in the QLD title race, 1st in the clubman speedcar series,2nd in the QSRA speedcar championship also the team were voted Best presented car and crew Michael was also voted club member of the year this year too!! 2005/06 Michael did time in the hot seat at Stan Borrows Racing running the immaculate Stealth Fontana 8Q with more great runs the season came unstuck with Michael snapping a collar in 2 places requiring a steel plate to hold him back together. 2006/07 After the big return to the dirt shoulder all fixed and Michael was ready for some racing action running the ex Dave Darland car from the USA now in the hands of Terry Holland running a trial engine Rodeo v6 however the reliability side let the car down and it was parked for further developments the spare car at John Harders Racing was offered and Michaels season continued. Bagging 1st in the B Grade title for the season, 6th in the Danny Davidson Memorial race and 5th overall in the Club Championship . . . . What a year!! Things got real serious in the summer of 2007/08 when the team at Speedsport Racing purchased the ex Queensland Title winning car being a Stealth running a Shafer Fontana engine. Bigger speeds and quicker lap times came and the team were moving forward in all areas of racing. 2008/09 Speedsport Racing leased a new Hawk engine off Barry Graham and picked up a nice 3rd spot in Maryborough at the state title as well as competing as a contracted driver for the Speedcar Super Series and finishing in the top 10. 2009 to current racing the team have run very well notching up a 5th spot in the Ray Revell race in Brisbane they find themselves at the pointy end of the club points and had a great run at the national title this year too. Michael always finds himself close to the front at most shows and puts on a great display of Midget Car racing without the support of the guys and gals involved none of this would be possible so Michael said he would “like to thank his lovely wife Angiela, Crew Chief Brett Christie and the 2 car cleaners daughters Armani and Mackayla for getting in the mix of it and making it a family affair. Also the folks at Zupps Car sales, Fuchs Oils, Ferris 60 Series, Tint-a-car, IGA Super store Acacia Ridge, Performance Wholesale, Lifestyle Camper Trailers, A1 Exhaust, Lehmann Motors, QSS, Autobarn Macgregor, ppg.com.au, RPM Racegear without all your help from the biggest to the smallest input it all helps and keeps me racing”. So folks now you know the man under the helmet of the 14Q so ensure you yell and scream show him how much you like the laps the 14Q Stealth Hawk are tuning at your next Midget car event. |