It’s such a busy time of year with Christmas parties and celebrations of the silly season, so it was fantastic to see a great crowd turn out for the eighth meeting of the 2025/26 season at the Robertson Prestige International Speedway - the Machinery Specialists Stockcar Teams Invasion. With two local teams the Palmerston North Colts managed by Jamie Tinetti and the Palmerston North Pumas managed by yes, he is allowed out of the commentary box sometimes but only because he was the birthday boy, Stu Russell. What a huge effort the other teams put in by travelling here from Gisborne, Waikato, Wellington, Whanganui.
First teams race of the night saw the Wellington Young Guns vs Wanganui Vulcans. Both teams looked very even and raced extremely well, but it was a well raced team tactical win for 54w Daniel Pye for the Wellington Young Guns. Next out the Gisborne Gladiators vs Palmerton North Pumas - with armour on, the Gladiators were here to battle with carnage left right and centre. Sadly it was 223p Raetea Robinson that ended up and over, with 98g Bryce Simpson taking the win for the Gladiators. Out next the local boys Palmerston North Colts vs Waikato Raiders, and what a great battle this ended up being with 19h Ashlee Morton taking the win for the Raiders.
The second round started with the Palmerston North Pumas vs Wanganui Vulcans, which saw 133p Tyler Walker take the win for the Pumas. Next up Wellington Young Guns vs Palmerton North Colts, and 39p Graeme Munn was up and over in front of the Grandstand with a little help from 237w Thomas Davis. If I had to pick a warrior for the evening it would be 39p Graeme Munn, he constantly put his car on the line and was bashed and rolled and left the Arena sitting on top of his car with the biggest smile ever. 16p Wayne Vercoe took the win for the Colts. Up next Waikato Raiders vs Gisborne Gladiators, and 127g Ethan Rees took the win for the Gladiators.
With points added and the referees happy, next up was a race for third and fourth featuring the Wellington Young Guns vs Palmerton North Pumas. 7w Harrison Hocking was up and over, the teams were getting a little bit more desperate now and the racing a little bit harder. It was 133p Tyler Walker who took the win for the Pumas, putting them on the podium in third place. Now to the main event for first and second; two teams that worked extremely hard, putting their cars on the line to get to this point - Gisborne Gladiators vs Palmerton North Colts. There was no denying the carnage tactics of two teams desperate to win and to take the title, but at the end of the night it was 96g Brad McGee who took the win for the Gladiators and put them at the top of the podium, well done Gisborne.
The Sidecars weren’t having the best night, with the track being very challenging and not spectator friendly, with a couple of the more experienced riders pulling the pin. Sadly, this is a part of the racing - the track doesn’t always play the game. A few of the bikes did get a couple of races in, and once again 8p Rob Miller & Jaxon Hannan were the ones to watch. Race two went to 57p James Gerard & Kieran Pitcher, and it was fabulous to see in the last race, one of the crowd favourites 17p Horse having absolute fun trying to leave a few black marks of his own behind.
Another huge field of over 30 Youth Ministocks rolled out for the first race, but it was 23p Kobe Dorn out in front yet again followed closely by 21p Mason Taylor and in third with his Tino Rangatiratanga flags flipping furiously 18p Aidan Waihi. Race two for a non-contact class, boy these guys have fun with a huge pile up in turn one, which I’m sure gives Marty Jones a huge headache as you see him trying to untangle and sort them all out. But out of the pile up once again it was 52p Boston Joblin, 66p Blake Preston in second and third place was 98p Corban Jack. The second last race of the evening saw a huge pileup with two cars rolled, 68p Rawiri Peterson and Dorn right in front of the grandstand, with the infield crew having to work very hard as Kobe‘s car was quite entangled in the fence. But once again to sneak through the carnage, it was Joblin who took the win. The fourth race for the class saw Joblin take his third win for the night, followed closely by Preston and Taylor.
Stockcars had two races and a feature, all three were taken out by 172p Daniel Burmester, second place in the feature going to 212v Blair Reeves-Smith, and rounding out the trio in third 99v Cody Lockett.
Last on the program, the Saloons also had two races and a feature. 24p Danielle Halcrow was very smooth and took the opening race win followed by 57p Calvin Honore and third went to 242p Ashleigh King. Race two, the superfast red machine of 23p Shane Laking took the win followed by King who was having a fabulous night, and in third place was 81p Jonathan Mason. The feature was fast and slick, so was the driving of King taking the win followed closely by Mason and to round out the night Honore.
At this point I would like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas - be safe do not drink and drive. Remember, it’s all about the families not the dollars. Surround yourself with loved ones, and we will see you all back on the 27th of December, ho ho ho everyone.
Word on the Street
By Nicola
Full results - https://speedhive.mylaps.com/Events/3317984
