The weather gods certainly played nice for the second meeting at Robertson Prestige International Speedway Palmerston North. There was sunshine all day with a light breeze, making a great setting for the Stockcar Dash for Cash. The anticipation and excitement around the Central Energy Trust Arena was obvious, even Stu Russell wanted to start the first race with a chequered flag. The meeting started bang on 6:30pm, with a promising 22 races to get through.
An impressive lineup of Stockcars were broken into two groups to determine the final cars for the feature Dash for Cash. In group one all eyes were on 126g Asher Rees in his new Stockcar, and he didn’t disappoint taking the chequered flag followed by 86p Beau McLeod and 23p Riki-Lee Kauri. The second group 44p Josh Mulcahy battled to take the win from 16p Wayne Vercoe and 66p Shelby Whitaker. Race two, group one started to see a few battles emerging, but 135p Jaden Hall crossed the line in front of everyone followed by 91p Wade McNabb and Rees. Group two saw a great drive by the smooth and level-headed 134p Rebecca Barr followed by her teammate 172p Daniel Burmester who I think was embracing the Halloween theme as he had an eerie pink glow emerging from under his car, in third place was 133p Tyler Walker.
19 cars lined up for the feature Dash for Cash. How this was to work was they would all race four laps, the last four cars would go to the infield and so on. As you can imagine there was chaos and battles every four laps. The final four laps saw a huge battle between McNabb and Rees, both determined to cross the line first, but both determined to put the other into some time out in the wall. While this great battle was taking place, somehow Burmeister managed to sneak through to take the chequered flag and the $750 Dash for Cash. What a race and what a night of great entertainment.
The spectacular Saloons are always a great watch, smooth and fast. The first race was dominated by 81p Jonathan Mason to cross the line in first, 7p Clayton More and 6p Ben Jones closely followed for second and third. Race two, 23s Mike Adamson had a great win followed by 242p Ashleigh King and 57p Calvin Honore. The feature of 15 laps saw 7g Rodney McIndoe not only have the fastest lap of 17.176 seconds, but take the chequered flag in front of More and Honore. What a great night racing for the Saloons. I would be remiss if I didn’t mention 17p Ella Hislop; this 18-year-old young lady has come from Youth Ministocks to Saloons. It was her first night out at Palmy racing and boy did she hold her own. Ella is going to be one to keep an eye on in the future.
The Midgets are a great class to watch. First race saw some great little battles going on and was taken out by 6m Luke McClymont, second 74v Ben Huijis and third place to 68p Nic Davey. The second race of the night saw 9k Michael Kendall take the flag closely followed by 95k Mitch Fabish, and the birthday boy 41p Shane Dewar in third - what a way to spend your 40th birthday. The feature race of 15 laps sadly saw a few cars pulling to the infield after just a lap due to mechanical problems and flat tyres. But like all good things the race continued, and the race was won in style by at least quarter of a lap Fabish also taking out the fastest lap time of 15.433 seconds. Dewar had to be happy with second and McClymont in third.
The daredevil Sidecars are always fabulous to watch, and put on a great show. Sadly the track wasn’t really on their side, Puk and his team of workers did their best by bringing out graders to try and help but I can tell you it was a tough night out there for the for the bikes. First heat 32p Sam Carter & Martijn Domper took the win followed closely by 13p William Jensen & Kieran Pitcher and 73p Barry Smith & Blair Meyer. Heat two, 89p Wayne Lett & Max Lett crossed the line first, second was 17p Horse & Aidan Foothead, and one of the crowd favourites 5p Wingnut & Sam McNaught in third.
Round two, heat one a crowd-pleasing win to Horse & Foothead followed closely by 21p Glen Murray & Josh Henderson and to round off the top three Smith & Meyer. Heat two Wayne & Max Lett got away from 13p William Jensen and Wingnut & McNaught to take the win. The feature for the night saw five bikes line up at the tapes, this was going to be a good race. And it was the Lett duo that took the feature followed by Horse & Foothead, and in third was Smith & Meyer. Sadly halfway through the race we saw Wingnut & McNaught pull to the infield with mechanical fault.
The Adult Ministocks' first race chequered flag went to 33p Jono Mouldey with a very smooth drive, followed by 35p Luke Harris and 94p Jack Beyon. Second race was dominated by cars from out of town, 81s Kurt Gardner took the chequered flag followed by 69p Stephen Mann and 7v Devon Wilson - great to see so many cars coming from out of town to take placings. The feature race was 12 laps and once again Mouldey showed them he was just too good on the night and took the win. Second in the feature was Gardner and Wilson third. The fastest lap time of the race went to Mann.
Let’s hope the weather gods play nice for next week as it’s one of the favourite nights of the season; the Manawatu Standard Fireworks Spectacular, D.M.R Metal Recyclers Ramp Race and the AFC Motorcycles Ray Tarrant Sidecar Memorial with Superstocks, Stockcars and Super Saloons, till next week be kind and be safe.
By Nicola Street
Full results - https://speedhive.mylaps.com/Events/3282398
