Four teams assembled to do battle in the Superstock Teams Extravaganza on Saturday night, the seventh meeting of the 2025/26 season at the Robertson Prestige International Speedway. "Just as gladiators once marched into the Colosseum clad in armor, our speedway drivers roll into the oval encased in machines built for battle, each entrance a declaration of courage before an expectant crowd."
First race of the night was a hometown clash between the Palmerston North Panthers and the Manawatu Mustangs. Both teams looked very good and even on paper, with both lineups containing a lot of new names. It does take time to build a good team that can instinctively drive as one, I was told by an old teams racer Grant Mytton 28k, but all-in-all they put everything on the line and did a fabulous job. 34p Rebecca Barr and 79p Kyle Rowe certainly were the stars in the first race under the guidance of the cool, calm captain 52p Scott Joblin, whose dance lessons are certainly paying off with a beautiful pirouette twist just before the finish line, and it was the Panthers over the Mustangs to take the win. The second teams race saw the Gisborne Giants line up against the Wanganui. Warriors. With names in the Giants including Prentice, Rees and Penn you would have to be a little intimidated, but 38v Zane Dykstra's Warriors weren’t there to muck around. Although they were beaten, the Warriors should hold their heads very high, well done to 81v Max Holloway for blocking like a champion and the whole team putting everything on the line it was a very close race. First up in the next round of teams races saw the Giants versus the Mustangs, and 5g Josh Prentice seemed to be a man on a mission - blocking, stopping and hitting anything that moved including 97p Byron Rowlands who ended up on his roof, and it was the Giants who took the chequered flag. Next up it was the Warriors versus the Panthers, with the Panthers taking the win but not before 15v Ryan Marshall was rolled just before the flag. So it was now a final between the Giants and the Panthers, but at the end of the night the Giants were just way too good. 34p Rebecca Barr had a few mechanical issues within the first laps which made it a very hard task for her teammates - so well done to the Giants.
It was great to see the Midgets back out on the track, even though one member of team Huijs was missing due to driving the Santa Claus float in the Levin Christmas parade - 9v Scotty McJingle. Race one saw the always immaculately presented 41p machine of Shane Dewar cross the line first followed by 95k Mitch Fabish and 74v Ben Huijs. Race two saw Fabish clip the rear of spinning 9k Kale Robins and go up and over. The feature saw Fabish returned to four wheels and take the win followed by Dewar and 68p Nick Davey to take third.
Youth Ministocks saw 30 cars lining up in the first race, 77p Will Carroll-Holland was just too good followed by 52p Boston Joblin and 66p Blake Preston. 294p Charlie Newman took the chequered flag in the second race ahead of 53v Paige Smith and 21p Mason Taylor. Race three, 21p Mason Taylor took the win followed by 48p Keaton Hercoe and third went to 47p Olly Hopkirk. The feature saw 18p 'Mr Smooth' Aidan Waihi cross the line ahead of Newman and Joblin - it was fabulous to see Aidan take the victory lap with his little sister 181p Brooklyn Waihi.
The Sidecars had eight bikes so ran two groups with four bikes in each. Race winners in both rounds were 57p James Gerrard & Kieran Pitcher and 89p Wayne Lett & Max Lett. The consolation feature went to 53p Dylan O’Connell & Kane Hitchman, and the main event was won by 8p Rob Miller & Jaxon Hannan who were just too good.
Stockcars saw some fast pace. 174p Brendon Learmonth had left his cowboy boots on instead of his race boots and was singing in his head with Kenny Rogers, "you picked a fine time to leave me loose wheel", oops I mean Lucille (steering wheel that is). Not to worry Brendan, you’re not the first and you won’t be the last for that to happen to. 86p Beau McLeod crossed the line first, followed by the pink lightning streak of 89w Ella Robertson and in third 48p Josh Mulcahy. 76p Cameron Renwick took the win in race two, followed by 31v Toby Matthews and 668p Paul Gaskin. In the feature, there was no doubt the beautifully presented 89w of Ella Robertson took the win, second was 37s Shane Denham and only the bridesmaid this time not the bride, 172p Daniel Burmeister third.
Superstocks race one taken out by the meticulous, exacting 94p William Humphries in his new car which is certainly a hot rod. 10g Peter Rees was having a great battle with 24p Stu Sowry during the race, but it was Rees who took second and 14r AJ Axtens third. Race two, Rees took the flag ahead of 38v Zane Dykstra who must be extremely proud of his team and his racing during the night. Third was 7p Shane Mellsop. The last race for the Superstocks was a dash for cash, and it was a Rees 1-2 with son 126g Asher taking it out ahead of his father 10g Peter - you have to wonder what some of the dinner table conversations must be? And in third place again Mellsop - you’ve gotta love the colour scheme on his 7p car.
To round off the night, we have the old boys, the Historic Stockcars. And when I say historic, I have to mention Elvis Rowlands who was unable to drive his new car due to sneezing and putting his back out, so Craig Ellmers (Elmo) stepped in to drive the 6w Eddie Hawkins car and looked like he was having a ball. Elvis’ other car 6p was driven by Robbie James who took the chequered flag in race three. 1p Chris Gommans took out race one and 3nz Brendan Locke crossed the line first in race two, but I must say race three got a little bit interesting at the end. Locke came in very hot and heavy behind 6p 'The General' himself, Dave Evans - a man you should never mess with. I cannot confirm or deny any contact because it is a non-contact class. Locke slowed after the checked flag and 6p seemed to accelerate slightly in front of the grandstand. Once again, we cannot confirm or deny what we saw, but I think Evans pulled alongside Locke and was trying to order some McDonald’s through the window with a couple of hand gestures. Can’t wait for the next episode - the general was never one to forget.
Thank you to all the people around the arena who provide hot food and drinks, and to all those on the infield who don’t get to sample, we thank you. Have a great week and don’t forget to be kind.
Word on the Street
By Nicola
Full results - https://speedhive.mylaps.com/Events/3312563
