By Lance Jenkinson
While relishing dual sporting passions, Charles Hunter could not fully commit to his two loves, football or sprintcar racing.
The 37-year-old had the best of both worlds for 19 years, enjoying the team aspect of football as a player with Westbourne Grammarians in the Victorian Amateur Football Association and feeling the energy of being behind the wheel of his sprintcar.
The Werribee resident drew the curtain on his football career at the end of last season, bowing out with a best-on-ground performance for the Warriors against Hawthorn Amateurs.
From that moment, Hunter put all his chips into a sprintcar career.
It’s no surprise he enjoyed his best season yet in 2018-19.
With all the skills to succeed in sprintcars and a singular focus, Hunter instantly became a better and more tactical driver.
In the opening nine rounds, Hunter had two podium finishes, something he had previously achieved only once in his 19-year career.
In the 10th round, on his home track at Geelong Avalon Raceway, Hunter earned pole position in the feature race after a win and a fourth place in the heats.
Hunter completed a dream night in the Maxim car he built for the Grand Annual Classic, avoiding a late-race caution to lead the 25-lap race from start to finish and claim his maiden feature-race victory.
“The fact that I won my first feature race is still so surreal,” Hunter said.
“I can’t describe the emotion of being able to do my first wing dance at my home track in front of my family and friends.”
Hunter placed a career-best fourth in the Eureka Garages & Sheds Series points standings for the season.
