"The Iceman"
Drivers Name: Darren Flatman
Age: 41
Born: Seymour Victoria  Lives: South Australia
Nicknames: Flatty
First Job: Milk delivery run
First Road Car: Escort
First Race: VJ Valiant
Career Highlights: Highest state points winner 5 times
Four people you would invite to dinner: Any one as long there up for a drink
Favourite Circuit and Why: Mildura great track to run on and always made welcome there
Favourite Motorsport Identity: Max Dumsney
Biggest Career Influence: My Dad
Career Ambitions: To start racing Super Sedans
Something you would never do: Turn gay
Favourite things:
Movie:Top Gun
TVShow:The Footy Show
Music Artist: AC/DC
Drink:Beer
Food:Steak,Chips
Sponsors: Signcraft, Hoolagators All American Diecast, City Discount Tyres, Waterloo wreckers, Black Diamond Wreckers, Gawler Wreckers, Oil field Loading, Flatman Mechanical Services, Protec Paint, JD Couriers, Blair Athol Auto Parts , C & S Ware Parts
 
2013 Darren Flatman "ICE MAN" Poster
 
 
23/03/13 Another Good Night's Racing at Speedway City
The challenge was put out by my crew chief Friday night that if I started ROF all night on Saturday night he would help me do the BBQ for my local soccer club. So that is why I did start off the rear all night. In the 1st heat I passed the whole field by turn one and drove away with the win. In the 2nd heat I put my self on the inside and tried to use the bottom of the track to go thru the pack. But most guys seem to run the bottom so had to move my self out to the out side and got my self into 3rd chasing down Weston and Hayes till yellow came on. With young Weston having some front end issues to bring yellow on. Hayes lead us in on the cone start and drove a great line to hold me out for the remainder of the race and well done Paul.
The last race was going on points received thru the night with highest to rear so we started last again it took me a couple laps to get to the front of the field again and drive away with another win. Very pleased with the car and was able to drive it straight on the trailer with no damage.
Next Saturday night see us racing up at Murray Bridge Speedway for the final round of MJS Series were there should be at least 30 cars nominated. And on Sunday night at Speedway City and Car 12 will be piloted by Super Sedan driver Graham Stewart. Hopefully he can get some good racing in and learn a bit about the car as we both will venture down to Borderline Speedway at Mount Gambier in a few weeks time to compete down there in a 20/20 race. This is a race that requires two drivers and one of them can't be a regular street stock driver.
So good luck Graham, bring it home straight lol.
 
 Action Shots by Linda Savage
 
17/03/13 Victorian Street Stock Title Horsham
The week end just gone we headed off to Horsham for the Victorian Title. It was going to be another tough weekend racing with 72 cars nominated for the event. In my first heat I took the lead and had a drive away win. The seconded heat I started out of 7th and had to get the car straight to the bottom and give it a crack down low as track was a one laner. Unfortunately I broke formation and was blacked flag after a cracker of a start and I was up to 2nd position, so no points for this race.  In my third heat seen I was out of 6th and had to drive me but off now because of the black flag issue.  So at the start I thought stuff this I'm going to give the out side of this place a crack drove my but off around the outside 3 wide through the corners for 2 laps finally getting the lead. I pulled down to the bottom and drove away with another heat win. On the second night I found my self with a pole and a rear starting position so had to I had to win my pole heat which I did. The last heat didn't really matter because being a five heat round we have to drop our worst heat and that can't be for a black flag penalty. I just drove around the back making sure didn't receive another black flag. So when the draws came out for the final we were out starting position 15 in the A Main which was a great effort considering every other car were going off 4 heats for there points. I got up to 11th only to have the diff mount fail on the car causing a drive shaft problem and no drive so I pull infield. I would like to thank my family, crew and all my sponsors that make this happen for us. You'll find us next week racing at Speedway City
Thanks Darren "Flatty" Flatman
 
09/03/13 Australian Street Stock Title Mount Gambier
The race car went thru scrutineering well with no faults found. At practice I went out twice and first one out on track with a very wet track and I was very happy with run after all repairs we did from the damage that we had from out last race meeting at Speedway City. I went out in 3rd run and the track still very wet but we wanted to make sure car turned both ways. Very happy with car we loaded up.
My heat draws were very tough, as I had some of the best cars going around in my heats. I managed to finish 6th in the first heat, and got 4th in the next heat  and got to the lead in the last heat for the night and got tapped buy another car causing a fair bit of damage to the car and ended up DNF. 
We repaired the car that night and in the first heat Saturday night finished 4th. This qualified me for a  4th starting spot in the C Main.  The track was once again very wet as it had been raining for a good hour and they managed to salvage the track to make it some what racey.
My first lap of the C main I got to the lead and drove the rest of the race at the front of the pack to win the C Main. This put me off starting position 19 in the B Main. The race started off at a very fast pace and had great car speed and was moving forward thru the pack. On lap 16 there was a coming together with 4 cars involved unfortunately I was tagged in it and sustained a bit of front end damage.  Restarted in 7th spot in the Indian file restart and I was finding car very difficult to drive so had to settle where I was and just get the car home to finish 7th in the B Main. On a better note we were presented with best presented Car for the weekend not a bad effort considering there were 86 cars there for the title.
 

 Action Shots by Steve Rice Photography & Framing
 
09/02/13 A Night of Concrete & Clay Takes a Heavy Toll On The SA12
 Hello All,
Not to much to report this week my good run turned to nothing but major damage & repair work from last Saturday night's meeting at Speedway City. We drew rear in my first heat and drove the car which was performing great from rear to the front only to be tagged in the last lap while leading sending my car straight for the fence. This managed to put rear end in first to the fence which ended up breaking left drive shaft and tore the diff hat off the diff housing bent rear K frame and rear arm I finished across the line 2nd but was awarded the win as the other car involved in the incident was put back a few spots. My crew and I worked flat out in the pits to get my car back out there and thanks to a few other competitors out in the pits for helping get the car finished to run the next heat. We weren't too confident with the repair as the rear suspension was under a fair strain being bent. Lining up the centre mount we were out by about a inch but with a bit of force we got the bolts in. Starting off pole we drove away car was going well till we came out of turn 4 and the rear mount snapped off the car causing it to rear steer it self straight to the fence causing a fair bit of front end damage to it as well now. So sorry race fans the race car will be parked now until the Australian Street Sock Title which is to be held at Mount Gambier's Borderline Speedway. We are going to repair the car and get itback into A1 condition for the running of our Australian Title. Once again I would like to thank all my sponsors, crew for all there help to make this happen for us.
Darren "Flatty" Flatman
 
02/02/13 Strong Result Ready for Australian Title
For the 4th round MJS series at Mount Gambier was going to be a tough meeting with the fastest cars we have in the state at there home track our 1st heat seen a line up you would have expected to see at an Australian Title A main with the likes of duel. Gartner, Beare, McLure, Bully & Clark
We were starting out of 8 with Mclure & Beare on the next row in front. We started strong got past a few had a good battle with Beare as I passed him and then he passed me back I managed to get passed him again to try and chase down young Steven Gartner.  We finished our first heat in 3rd with Duel winning then Gartner. Our 2nd heat was pretty much the same with some tough competition in it I started out of 4 with Faux along side of me. Just hoping we weren't going to have a repeat of the state title with him we started off cleanly and I managed to get the lead hold that till about 4 laps to go when sheepdog made a move on the inside of us forcing me up track luckily I was able to hold 2nd for this heat. Having a 3rd & 2nd for my heats seen me on equal points with Mark Jennings. His father tossed the coin for us and we won the toss giving me position 2 for the feature race. The feature we started in a light drizzle we had great car speed in the feature trying for several times to go up the inside of Mark Gartner for the lead only to be left on the glass like track down the bottom. With no grip going into turn 3 pushing into corner and going back into 2nd after attempting this a few times we had to settle running in 2nd waiting for Mark to make a mistake. Unfortunately he didn't as the rain started to come down heavier and there was a crash taking 2 cars out. The steward called the race with 6 laps to go and declared the race so we were happy with the result for night finishing 2nd in feature.
It was an excellent result for us here as next month we will be taking on Australia's best drivers for the national title. So if you would like to jump on board and helpsupport our team at this meeting be sure we will represent your company with pride and give it our best contact Darren Flatman via email Darrenflatman@bigpond.com  to see what arrangements can be made as far as signage ect available on the car. You will see Flatman Racing running Speedway City this Saturday night and the following week at Murray Bridge then we will be heading to Broken Hill and then back to Speedway City before we head to the Australian Title to be held at Borderline Speedway.
 

Action Shots by Steve Rice Photography & Framing
19/01/13 Twin Feature Night
Started first heat out position 4 got to the lead and was driving away from the rest of the pack in the floating SA12 since we put std suspension in the car for this meeting just to see how car would handle on a rutty track was all good up till a stoppage. On the cone restart I got past by young Rhys Hendrich managed to maintain 2nd for the remainder of the race. Next feature we started out position 7 I knew that I had to be on it early to try and get in front of young Rhys. But managed to get in to position 2 just out on the back straight but to have the yellow light come on making me move back to 5th for the restart for a few laps I had to pass Mark Jansson who was driving a good line passed him then the old boy Carey Weston was driving a great line and was going at a good pace and finally we got passed Carey and had to start running down young Rhys. We managed to close the gap on Rhys to finish about 4 car lengths off him for 2nd so we were 2nd overall for the night and the best part was minimal damage received for the night.
We are now currently working on the car to get it ready for the State Title this weekend at Murray Bridge Speedway which should be a cracker of a night. There is 50 cars nominated with the top 16 car making the feature and 4 will come from the B Main to make it 20 starters for the final. Knowing how hard these nights are we are going out with the attitude we need to move forward in our 2 heats and try and finish in the top3 in both our heats to try and have a chance of starting in the first couple front rows for the final.With 22 interstate cars nominated this isn't going to be an easy task this meeting will see at least 30 of the best cars going around the country. We will be out there giving it our best shot so fans be sure to come and support us this meeting come and see us after the meeting we will have the new posters for you so hope to see you there thanks Flatman Racing ........FLATTY
 

 
12/01/13 Speedway City For Feature Win No.4
Started off the rear in the first heat was going to be a challenge. But unfortunately there was some hard racing and someone made contact in the front of the pack. With the SA 12 motoring down the inside to have a car appear in front of him and we T boned him causing a far bit of front end damage. I was able to restart at the rear of field and with limited steering managed to bring the car home in 3rd spot. 
The hard working crew in the pits worked flat out down there to get the car back into some sort of condition to race properly again starting out of 2 in the next heat. I managed to get a jump on Hayes to drive away with a heat win.
In the final we qualified out of position 2 for final. And it was great to have Hayes put the challenged out as both of us raced side by side for at least 4 laps.  Until I finally got some good drive out the turns to take the lead drove away with another win at the city to crack our 4th feature win for the season at Speedway City thanks to all involved in Flatman Racing.
During the week the SA12 car has had a makeover with a new front being fitted we will hit the track this Saturday night being our last hit out before we go to Murray Bridge to contest in the state title. Then we are off to Mount Gambier to contest in Round 4 MJS Series.
Just remember if you are down in the pits call down say Hello and receive a signed poster for Flatman racing proudly sponsored by David Grose & the team.
 
 
5/01/13  Consistent Night Again For The SA12
Flatman racing ventured up to Renmark Speedway to race Round 3 MJS Series
The SA 12 starting off 11 we managed to find away through the field to finish 2nd in this heat.
Then started on pole next heat we were going quite well until half way through the race. The car developed a push in the front and I managed to hold on to come 3rd spot.
I qualified out of 3 for feature was good for us because you need to be on the pole line. If you were to have any sort of luck. A very hard fought race and to finish 2nd to Mick Clarke and came away happy with the results for the night's racing.
 
26/12/12  Slippery Early Exit For Darren
Not much to report for this meeting but the fact of it I had a great Xmas with family and friends and go to Speedway City on Boxing Night to race in front of a 10,000 plus crowd.
Started our night's racing on a very wet track that no drive and had me slipping & sliding down low. I found the top of the track to still have some drive left in it so decided to run on the fence. 
Then I got hit by about five cars down mid track trying to drive on the wet slippery surface only to them consistently hit me in the front wheels breaking my steering rack and sending me into pit gate at Mack One speed and tearing the K frame out of the front end. A very short & disappointing early exit from the night's racing.
After a few days of hard work on the car it looks like we are a goer again.
I hope one day tracks will realize water on a black track doesn't work.
On the up side we will be racing Renmark on the 5th January for the 3rd round MJS series.

08/12/12  Good Nights Racing Result Blown Away
Daren & the team ventured up to Mildura to compete in Round 2 of the MJS Series at Timmis Speedway.
In the first heat Daren started last on the grid got up to 5th car was going well.
Then started off pole in next heat and won that heat easy and qualified out of position 5 for night's feature race The car was very strong in feature moved up to position 3 then fortunately we blew the out side rear trying to make a pass on the car that won the feature so things are looking up for us in the lead up to the state title.
Our next meeting will be Speedway City Boxing Night where Round One of the WSS will be run and hope to be able to show the large crowd that should be there the SA12 is a car to be reckoned with as we try to maintain our perfect record so far this season.
And we are still trying to get a gig at Murray Bridge Speedway the next night.
So all our fans out there have a Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year
Daren & The Flatman Race Team

 
01/12/12  Perfect Three from Three for Flatman Racing
I started the first heat well getting used to the new red clay track surface at Speedway City and drove away from the field getting the first heat win for the night.
The 2nd heat I started mid pack was going not to bad in running in second position, till I had a steering issue which seen us turn the car around with a couple laps to go. I manage to turn back round and join the field to finish near the rear.
On inspecting the car in the pits after the race we found that the steering rack had broken away from the cross member. We manage to find a welder and my uncle Blackie took to it and welded the steering rack mounts back the cross member and we refitted rack to vehicle ready to go for the final.
Starting the final out of two, I missed the start and hooked in behind SA71 Geoff Cook for the first lap. Then managed an inside move on him then just drove the rest of the race being cautious, as we were running fairly low tyre pressures in the rear didn't want to get it to side ways and blow a tyre. We won the final to win our 3rd feature in a row for streeties at Speedway City and keeping our unbeaten run in features out there.
The car will require a bit of maintenance this week and we head to Mildura for the 2nd round of the MJS Series where they have 36 cars nominated and should be a cracker of a meeting.
 
 
24/11/12  MJS Street Stock Series - A Hot Night's Racing
In the 1st round MJS Series we drew a 2nd and a 10th as starting position in the draws.
I line up in first heat against current Australia 3 Steve Gartner and knew it would be a hard race and with one of Australia�s best sedan drivers starting at the rear in Anthony Beare.
Managed to hold on to 2nd for a while but got passed by Bearey and finished in 3rd spot.
The following heat I had one of the hardest draws for the night with the six top running cars all in it and I managed to finish 6th in that heat. But I was really struggling with the car speed.
Starting the feature out of 13th I knew that I had my work cut out for me trying to make it into the top ten. But as the laps went through I managed to get up to 7th finishing the last lap with the outside blown rear tyre.
The car is now at the work shop and we are trying to find some more car speed out of the s12.
Well done to all the drivers that raced at Murray Bridge Speedway on Saturday night as we started the night with the temperature in the high 30's.
 Well done to Murray Bridge Speedway crew for the track preparations was great.
And thank you to all the MJS sponsors for making this series happen and also on a better note we did win the best presented car on the night.
 

17/11/12 Perfect Two from Two
I Starting out of 4 in 1st heat coming round for the first start the cars in front slowed the pace coming out of turn 4 so we stepped out and went receiving the caution flag.  I finished 2nd and received a 2 spot penalty so finished 4th for the first heat
Starting out of 6th in second heat we finished 1st with another call over the head set to go and see the stewards. After visiting the stewards they warned me of my starts of jumping the gun. I explained to them once I see the starter dropping the flag I�m on the gas, they accepted my excuse and was awarded the win.
Just for something different in the feature it was a reverse grid which put me off the rear on the field. Starting the race I was going to go straight to the outside put the car on the fence and go. But everyone in front had the same idea closed the door on me. With that I moved down the track and started to make passes on the rest of the field eventually passing the field and pulling off our 2nd feature win for the season making that 2 from 2 at Speedway City features.
This week the s12 will receive a makeover getting some new panels and a going over for the weeks 1st round of the MJS series at Murray Bridge with a total of 34 cars nominated in the field of nominated drivers there are about 15 top running cars nominated so the racing this week should be a cracker.
We plan on putting in some good heat racing hoping to qualify up near the front for the feature to have some chance off finishing on the podium this week.




10/11/12 New Power Plant Shows Great Potential for MJS Series
The nights racing got off to a good start in our first heat we quickly moved up to second right  position behind the leader only to have a wire break off the crank sensor causing the car to stop before we had even got half way thorough the journey in the first heat.
We repaired plug in time for our 2nd heat starting from Position 5 to finish second in this heat.
Due to not finishing the first heat we qualified to start from position 9 for the 20 lap feature.
The car was moving through the field nice and clean passing cars to finish 2nd in feature race which included a strong move on the last lap to take the second position.
This is the third test engine that has been in the s12 this season and showed the potential to be a good strong v6 Holden power plant.
A pleasing result as the car was showing good speed with the changes that we made as our main aim for the night was to try and get the most out of the car for the following fortnight race meeting at Murray Bridge Speedway being the MJS series with $1000 in prize money up for grabs.
Once again would like to thank all my sponsors and crew for their efforts and to David Grose from Hoolagators for all is hard work he puts in to Flatman Racing to promote us.
Darren "Flatty" Flatman
 
 
03/11/12 Another Night of Good Results for Flatman Racing at Speedway City
The second night of the season for Flatman Racing was at the Speedway City street stock invitation with a total of 9 cars nominated draws done we had a pole and a 5th starting grid draws with 4 of the 9 cars with ROF. The first heat went out not seeing our pace car (the water truck) track was just going black with a few ruts top conditions for us.
Lining up started along side SA 6 Nigel Reichstein he gave me a run for the first lap of the race but once we got our self into a rhythm we managed to drive away with a win for the first heat and I was pretty happy with the result considering we are running my spare standard engine.
I lined up out of posistion 4 in the next heat as SA 6  was out for the night with a steering rack problem so we moved up a spot lining up off pole was SA 8 who has been going fairly well this season and along side him James Rainsford in the SA 55 another usual hard charger.
As the race started we were able to tag onto these two cars made it past SA 55 to put ourselves into 2nd and was making an inside move on SA 8 just about got it done and the yellow light came on. Indian file restart I started out of 2 to follow SA 8 for the remainder of the race on his back bumper two finish 2nd position. Just didn't have enough car speed to make the pass on him. A pleasing night's racing with a win and a 2nd place finish and no damage to the Commodore.
Next weekend we are making the trip up to Murray Bridge speedway for our first hit out up there for the season so that we can dial in the car for the 24th of November which is the first round of MJS Street Stock Series also our state title is at Murray Bridge Speedway.
 
 
27/10/12 Speedway City Win for the s12 will be the Team to watch in 2012
In the first heat for the season we had pretty good heat draws starting from position 3 but we missed the set up to obtain some drive out of the car and finished 5th
We made some slight changes in the 2nd heat started out of position 11 and finished 8th still struggling to obtain some drive out of the car with the 3rd heat starting out of 3 we decided to change toa different  tread pattern of the tyres  and a slight modification to the ECU (ecu with less output on dyno)
Same pressures and from the start of the race we had great car speed and was moving away from the rest of the field winning the 3rd heat we decided not to change a thing on the car qualifying out of 2 when we lined up out on the track.
 Top qualifying car decided to start the Feature from the outside putting us off the front row. The green flag dropped and we drove away with the first feature win of the season in street stocks at speedway city.
Would like to thank all the sponsors, family and Geoff Fell (crew) for there dedication towards  Flatman Racing for this coming season.
 
 
Darren Flatman 2012 Street Stock Poster
Created by Stephen at SP Visual
 
Hoolagators to Support Darren in the 2011-12 Speedway Season
This is the new look for Darren "The Iceman" Flatman as he campaigns his new NASCAR paint scheme for the 2011 -2012 season.
The trusty VT Commodore has already shown good speed early in the season so far and we expect Darren to be rewarded with some good results this Summer in the Street Stocks.
Once again I am very pleased to announce that Hoolagators will be a sponsor & supporter of Darrens this Summer.
There will be a new fan card designed soon and I am sure that if you catch up with Darren in the pits after a meeting he would like nothing more to sign one for you and even have a chat with this veteran speedway driver.
 
Pictures provided by Linda Savage
 
2010-2011 Darren Flatman Poster
Created by Stephen at SP Visual.
 
 
 

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