What a great way to return to speedway after the ENZED Superstock Teams Champs - just when we’ve got our blood pressure under control, up pops the 248 Superstock Global Challenge with a very strong British and Dutch contingent.
First up, a pair of qualifying races for the kiwi drivers to whittle the field down to a manageable number for three final heats. 94v Matt Buckley had a very smooth race to cross the line in first, 7p Shane Mellsop was charging hard to take second and 5p Gareth Edwards took third place. The second qualifying race was a little bit more entertaining and got the keyboard warriors up in arms as 126g Asher Rees took 88p Jack Miers into the wall right in front of the grandstand. The cry was "what’s the beef between Asher and Jack?" What do you mean, what is the beef - isn’t this just stock car racing? I hope there is a beef. In fact, I hope there’s a whole herd! To see these two skilled drivers at their best - blocking, tapping, chasing each other down all night and using their bumpers in a polite fashion, it was fantastic racing. Maybe a few other drivers should look in their mirrors and put a few scratches on their bright and shining bumpers. Asher and Jack, keep up the entertainment and show us more of what you do best on the track. And back to the racing, 89w Dale Robertson was first across the line followed by 156p Trent James and 3nzp William Humphries.
The opening heat of the finals saw a couple of great battles, but it was 26v Kaelin Mooney who held off 126g Asher Rees for the win, with third place going to the very stealthy 52p Scott Joblin. Heat two saw Asher Rees take control and the flag, closely followed by 29g James Clarke and 79p Kyle Rowe. Heat three, and it was fantastic to see the boy from Wangas 38v Zane Dykstra take the win, followed by Rowe and Mooney. After a tally of points, 79p Kyle Rowe was the man on the top step of the podium, driving superbly all night to take out the PN PartsWorld 248 Superstock Global Challenge. Second place was a deserving 26V Kaelin Mooney, followed by the consistent 52p Scott Joblin.
Further excitement for the night was the New Zealand Midget Grand Prix. It was great to see these cars getting a run at the Robertson Prestige International Speedway, and I know the locals are appreciative of the drivers travelling from out of town, resulting in a good field of 15. These fast, no-nonsense drivers always put on a spectacular show, and we were also treated to a top six shootout. The first of three qualifying heats was won by 71a Alec Insley, followed closely by 95k Mitch Fabish and trackmate 22k Terrence Dornell. Fabish backed up with a convincing victory in the second heat over 6m Luke McClymont and 41p Shane Dewar. The third heat was won by McClymont, with 9a Trent Way close behind and Alec Insley in third place. After a gruelling 30 laps, the Dewtec New Zealand Midget Grand Prix is taken out by 22k Terrence Dorrell, half a second ahead of 71a Alec Insley, with 6m Luke McClymont taking the final step on the podium. What a great night of racing, I hope these guys are back soon.
The Historic Stockcar class seems to be growing and growing, much to the crowds delight last night. Elvis Rowlands in the 6p tank was obviously having a few teething problems with his new motor, which I am sure he will have sorted before the next lot of racing. We saw Dave Evans driving the 5p of Howard Lockwood car. This is a replica that Dave has built, and he drove that in the third heat in classic general style. 8p Jason Jack was absolutely flying, giving the 3nz of Brendan Locke a run for his money. 15p Malcolm Clausen thought he was at a disco, spinning out several times and enjoying the red lights. First time out driving, 9w Karl McKay took the flag in the final race - what a moment. This class is definitely non-contact, but I did happen to see 6w Craig Ellmers, better known as Elmo, giving friendly hello tap on the back of somebody else’s bumper. Gotta love it.
The Sidecars are certainly not a class where you get up and go buy a hotdog while they're racing. These guys are fast, smooth and put everything on the line. The swingers are only centimetres away from the track, with only a bit of leather and a helmet to protect them. Ella Hyslop, a beautiful intelligent young lady whose name is becoming quite familiar around the track and has come from Ministocks to now driving a Saloon, jumped on the back of her dad's 17p bike. What a gutsy, talented young lady. 8p Rob Miller & Jaxon Hannan took the flag in the first race, followed by the ever-popular 5p Kieran Payne (Wingnut) & Sam McNaught and 89p Wayne & Max Lett. Race two saw 21p Glen Murray & Josh Henderson pull ahead of 17p Tony Hislop & Aiden Foothead and 17b Nick & Caleb Holland. The Lett boys were victorious in race three ahead of Miller & Hannan. Feature B saw the crowd favourite Wingnut cross the line ahead of 73p Barry Smith & Blair Meyer and 63p Nick Davies & Te Aratia Elliot. Feature A it was 89p Wayne & Max Lett who took the flag from 33b Lance Beets & Harley Simmons, with 21p Glen Murray & Josh Henderson in third place.
A huge field of 30 Youth Ministocks - all keen as mustard, all been drinking Red Bulls and eating candyfloss in the pits - came bouncing out onto the track. In the opening race we saw a fabulous battle between two young men with strong family ties in speedway, 52p Boston Joblin and 18p Aiden Waihi, but it was Joblin who took the win. Can’t wait to watch these two mature and see which classes they go to next, I think both have a great future in racing. 21p Mason Taylor took the flag in the second race ahead of 68p Rawiri Peterson and 64p William Penn. There were a couple of stoppages in race three as the candy floss and Red Bull peaked. Mason Taylor took another win ahead of 116p Ella Vercoe and Boston Joblin. Race four saw 271p Blake Mudge have a blinder of a race, taking the win ahead of 97p Preston Potts and 48p Keaton Hercoe.
Let’s hope the weather gods play nice for our next meeting on 7th March - the New Zealand Super Saloon Grand Prix and Manawatu Youth Ministock Champs. Remember when you’re at speedway, be nice and considerate to the people sitting next to you. We’re all there for the same reason - the love of speedway.
Word on the Street
By Nicola
Full results - https://speedhive.mylaps.com/Events/3352910
