Sunday, February 26, 2012

A really bad night at Speedway

NZ Superstock Grand Prix
Waikaraka Park, Auckland


Photobucket
Photobucket
Photobucket
Photobucket


Where to start? ASSCC had already suffered the misfortune of a rainout with the original running of this meeting in December. Fifteen of the entrants listed in the programme failed to show for the rerun, but 32p Graeme Barr was a worthy addition. The parades and hot laps were completed and things were looking good, despite the low turnout of around 34 cars in the pits. The schedule of events meant we were going to have two groups running a single heat, top 12 from both qualifying and then a repercharge for the final six places for a 30 car field.

Group 1 emerged with 17 cars (grid 6 left empty) and ran a fairly decent race although 434r Richard Mahy pulled infield along with damage to the LF wheel for 62p Adam Joblin. 31p Andy McCabe and 4p Chad Ace also had problems but the win went the way of 72p Simon Joblin from 1nz Faram, 46w, 5k, 88p and 37r Ken Hunter. Group 2 emerged from the pits with a field of 16 cars with grids 1, 4 and 8 empty. Then it rained. It was a brief burst of rain but it was enough to completely derail the meeting and make it almost farcical. What followed was endless laps of wheel packing with various amounts of wheel packing participants, sometimes a few saloons, some ministocks who were pulled infield, Superstocks including the incredible sight of Malcolm Ngatai with a trailer but it seemed like a haphazard directionless effort and so it dragged on for over an hour.

Okay, you can't blame the club for the weather and we were all pissed about it, but it was the complete lack of intensity to get things running again. No feedback to the public and then the saloons were brought back out to have a race which 46a Nigel Ross won in a lap record performance, awesome effort Nigel, the track must be great, lets get this meeting rocking. More waiting, then 6 or so Superstocks came out and did some hot laps, or something, on a yellow light and then disappeared back into the pits. More waiting. At 10.10pm Group 2 came back out for their first heat of the night. By this stage most of us were wet, cold and then the awful news had filtered through from Huntly that a stockcar driver had been killed. Most people around me had resisted the urge to leave and were going to see out this meeting no matter how long it took. Group two had a little more action than the first heat and 71a Trevor Mason was the first of four rollovers for the night. 52p Scott Joblin pulled infield while 3nz Shane Penn set a lap record in taking the win from 19c Ngatai, 38r Redfern, 32p Barr, 58p Bengston and Rotorua's 87r Elsworth. There was some more Saloon racing and Streetstocks and then much muddling about whether the meeting should continue, that grids needed to be sorted and cars were being readied and finally at 10.45pm the 31 finalists emerged for heat one.

Heat 1
591p Wayne Hemi and 38r Scott Redfern were on row 1. 19c Ngatai needed the three minute bell but for 4p Chad Ace his race was over before the green flag with a DNS. This heat was probably the best of the night, with 1 lap the reds were on for 37b Gary Foley caught up in an incident with 46w Levien, 71a Mason and 88p Miers and ending up on his lid. Hemi had taken a strong lead from 38r, 87n, 23h and 32p. In the next few laps 46w, 8p, 5k would all retire and 19c Ngatai spent a few laps stuck on turn 2 before rejoining. 351a Paul Vasey was next to spectacularly roll right on the start finish line. 58p Bengston had tangled with 414h Ansty. 71a retired and 88p had punctured. Next car to roll was 5v Daryl Taylor caught between 31p McCabe and 87n Stanaway his race ended upside down in turn 4. Hemi took a convincing win. Can't tell you who else placed because we got no results.

Heat 2
Only 24 cars lined up for heat two with no one on grid 1, 115h Darren Short started on grid 2 with 31p McCabe on 3. Hemi was well down the field on about grid 16. This race had plenty of speed and less action. 1nz Faram spun McCabe on turn 1 and by lap 2 Hemi was up to 9th place already with the Red Waka really flying. Stanaway and 52p Joblin both tangled on turn 1 spinning and causing a bit of chaos for the field. Mid race 19c Ngatai retired and on lap 8 Penn set another new lap record. 414h Warwick Ansty crawled around the track with damage to collect a few points. Penn home first ahead of an impressive 115h Darren Short, 58p Peter Bengston and 591p Hemi fourth. Heat 2 finished at 11.50pm. Unofficial points after two heats were:

3nz Penn 65pts
591p Hemi 59pts
32p Barr 54pts
115h Short 51pts
38r Redfern 51pts
1nz Faram 48pts


Heat 3
12.15am. With only 22 of the original 31 fronting, there were plenty of gaps on the starting grid. 3nz Penn had the best chance though with a grid 1 start alongside 62p. Bengston would start from grid 3, Faram down around grid 17 and Hemi right near the rear of field. Of the leading six drivers, the first three would all succumb, Penn puncturing on about lap 2, Hemi retiring with 3 laps to go while in 6th place and 32p Graeme Barr spun by 46w Levien on lap one and spun again later dropping him well off the pace. The battle came down to Short, Bengston, Redfern and Faram with 38r Redfern managing to pip the others for first overall. 52p Scott Joblin took the race three win from 58p, 62p, 1nz and 38r. 115h Short coming home 7th. Final placings had Redfern first, Peter Bengsten second and a tie for third between Darren Short and Joe Faram. Surprisingly there was no run off, maybe the fact this one night event had now become a two day meeting! I got to the track at 4.30pm Saturday and left at 12.30am Sunday, an 8 hour shift. I know there are going to be the "well done WP for carrying on with the meeting" type of comment posted on various websites but the basic fact is the paying public are completely turned off by a meeting like this, and only the real diehards will sit through what was essentially a marathon of endurance with little or no entertainment other than the three championship heats. Rain is unavoidable, but the almost slow motion response to the situation was the disappointing aspect.

On the good side, Scott Redfern was a very popular winner, driving a borrowed tank with plenty of potential from the Ashby team who's season had been cut short so dramatically with injury. I hope they enjoyed the night. One good thing you can say about the Superstock season is that despite some appalling weather, the guys taking the big titles are really turning the form book on it's head, Joe Faram winning the NZ's, Andy McCabe the 240's and now Redfern taking the GP.

Finally, the loss of anyone at a speedway meeting is always tragic and when it is a driver we feel we know in a car we love, it just seems surreal. It also gives us perspective on what really is important and perhaps a moan about a meeting running late seems incredibly unimportant when speedway people are hurting right now. My sympathies and thoughts are with the family of Ray Channing and also the team at Huntly Speedway who no doubt had to deal with the worst situation imaginable. Rest in peace Ray, we loved that little yellow coupe.

Meeting rating : 5/10
Programme : $3, some in colour
Driver of the night : 591p Wayne Hemi, so close to a win, the Red Waka really showing how scary-good its going to be when the gremlins are sorted. The Waka likes Wacky park, I think 591a would look good, captain of the Allstars...
Parking : Free
Best Moment : A tank wins!


Photobucket
Photobucket
Photobucket
Photobucket
Photobucket
Photobucket
Photobucket
Photobucket
Photobucket
Photobucket
Photobucket
Photobucket
Photobucket
Photobucket
Photobucket

Saturday, February 25, 2012

Predictable

Auckland Champs for Modifieds, Saloons, Ministocks
February 19, Waikaraka Park


At the beginning of the night I said to someone the winners would probably be 11a Jamie Fox, 2nz Phil Towgood and 6a Bryce Dibley. Two out of three ain't bad as Meaty once sang. 89a Luke Brown spoiled my Ken Ring-like display of prediction by taking the Auckland Ministock title ahead of Dibley, but for the other two Auckland titles up for grabs, Foxy was simply outstanding winning the Modified title and Phil Towgood had to work a bit harder to be crowned Auckland Saloon champ from a classy field including 1nz Brent McClymont. Stockcars provided a great support act with about 22 present even with a number of drivers missing including 2nz Bernie Fox and 29a Scott Tennant. Carlos Chestnutt was a welcome addition but also took the biggest hit of the night from 59a Grant Littlewood leaving the Blatmobile steaming and requiring assistance, not often you see the 64a towed from the track. Highlight of a fairly predictable night was the pole shuffle race between Phil Towgood and 75m Michell Wymer.

Meeting rating : 5/10
Programme : $2
Driver of the night : 11a Jamie Fox
Parking : Free
Best Moment : The Saloon Pole Shuffle


Photobucket
Photobucket
Photobucket
Photobucket
Photobucket
Photobucket
Photobucket
Photobucket
Photobucket
Photobucket
Photobucket
Photobucket
Photobucket
Photobucket

Saturday, February 18, 2012

Teams Upate Vll

The Wanganui Vulcans hang on to the top spot after two consecutive losses to the next two teams on the table, Waikato Raiders and the unbeaten Palmerston North Pumas. Nelson take on Greymouth today in their return fixture at Greenstone Park. Update Greymouth win and Gisborne recorded their first win of the season over the Meeanee Maulers.

Photobucket

October 29
Rees Shield 1
At Waikaraka Park
Auckland Alleycats def Gisborne Gladiators

October 29
At Stratford Speedway
Kihikihi Crusaders def Stratford Stormers

November 5
Eastern States Speedway Blenheim
Canterbury Crushers def Eastern States Titans
Ken's Cowboys def Canterbury Crushers
Eastern States Titans def Ken's Cowboys

November 11
At Woodford Glen
Canterbury Crushers def Team Moon Goon
Ken's KB Cowboys def Eastern States Titans
Canterbury Crushers def Ken's KB Cowboys
Eastern States Titans def Team Moon Goon

November 19 & 20
TWS Huntly Teams Night 1
Manawatu Steelers def Meeanee Maulers
Auckland Alleycats def Stratford Stormers
Huntly Raiders def Wanganui Vulcans
Rotorua Rascals def Gisborne Gladiators
Wanganui Vulcans def Meeanee Maulers
Auckland Alleycats def Gisborne Gladiators
Waikato Raiders def Manawatu Steelers
Stratford Stormers def Rotorua Rascals
Night 2
Meeanee Maulers def Stratford Stormers
Manawatu Steelers def Gisborne Gladiators
Auckland Alleycats def Wanganui Vulcans
Waikato Raiders def Rotorua Rascals
Stratford Stormers def Gisborne Gladiators
Meeanee Maulers def Manawatu Steelers
Wanganui Vulcans def Rotorua Rascals
Auckland Alleycats def Waikato Raiders

November 26
Palmy Teams Invasion
Palmerston North Pumas def Wellington Young Guns
Manawatu Steelers def Stratford Stormers
Waikato Raiders def Meeanee Maulers
Wanganui Vulcans def Manawatu Minors
Palmerston North Pumas def Stratford Stormers
Manawatu Steelers def Wellington Young Guns
Wanganui Vulcans def Waikato Raiders
Manawatu Minors def Meeanee Maulers
Waikato Raiders def Wanganui Vulcans
Palmerston North Pumas def Manawatu Steelers

At Nelson
Tasman Thunder def Greymouth Grizzlies

Stockcar Teams Title Palmerston North
Night 1
Meeanee Maulers def Auckland Alleycats
Auckland Alleycats def Stratford Stormers
Meeanee Maulers def Stratford Stormers
Wanganui Vulcans def Gisborne Gladiators
Wanganui Vulcans def Waikato Raiders
Waikato Raiders def Gisborne Gladiators
Eastern States Titans def Wellington Young Guns
Eastern States Titans def Kihikihi Crusaders
Wellington Young Guns def Kihikihi Crusaders
Palmerston North Pumas def Canterbury Crushers
Canterbury Crushers def Rotorua Rascals
Palmerston North Pumas def Rotorua Rascals
Night 2
Rotorua Rascals def Auckland Alleycats
Wellington Young Guns def Waikato Raiders
Palmerston North Pumas def Meeanee Maulers
Wanganui Vulcans def Eastern States Titans
Meeanee Maulers def Rotorua Rascals
Wellington Young Guns def Eastern States Titans
Palmerston North Pumas def Wanganui Vulcans

At Huntly Speedway
Waikato Raiders def Wanganui Vulcans

At Oceanview Speedway
Palmerston North Pumas def Wanganui Vulcans

At Gisborne Speedway
Gisborne Gladiators def Meeanee Maulers

At Greenstone Park Speedway
Greymouth Grizzleys def Tasman Thunder

Wednesday, February 08, 2012

Groundhog Day

Photobucket
Photobucket
Photobucket
Photobucket
Photobucket

Another teams champs completed, another win to the Panthers. It would almost become boring if it weren't for the fact our two-day pilgrimage to Superstock Mecca, has quite simply become the best meeting of the year, bar none. Despite the Panthers continually 'annoying' everyone by winning, you can't help but admire this team, they are without doubt, the best. The good news though for non-Panthers fans, and I believe there are a few, many of the teams that have been either missing or performing well below par were back, or racing better than ever. Rotorua Rebels fans will be most heartened, after Friday nights qualifying, they easily looked the best, and with lady luck on their side perhaps would have been worthy finalists Sunday night.

I wont give a wordy review of each race but instead a few thoughts and highlights from a meeting that ranks as one of the better ones in recent years. What makes a great meeting - in this case it has to be evenly matched teams, plenty of action, a little bit of drama, controversy and dare I say it, the Panthers playing the bad guys in the finals. First impressions arriving in the pits on Saturday night and the masses of fans usually swarming about the Team GB cars were missing! Fame is fleeting, even in the speedway world. They had found a new favourite, after an absence of seven years, the Wellington Wildcats were grabbing all the pre-race attention. I loved the look of the team and the numbering based on well known former Wildcats. Everything was going to plan until they hit the dirt. They were up first against the resurgent Rotorua Rebels who took a clinical win and then went down to the Canterbury Glen Eagles, eliminated after race 7, the first team out. The lesson here might be getting a team back into the meeting is easier than actually winning a race. The long term prospects look good, this team will do the business and possibly at Auckland we will see some results to match the professional image.

Race of the night on Saturday had to be the Hawkes Bay Hawkeyes verses Great Britain Lions, one of those races that left no cars undamaged, with action everywhere and a very unlucky Hawkeyes team who joined the first night casualties despite being in two of the better races. The Stratford Scappers and Auckland Allstars were the other two not to make it through to finals night. We were pleased to see the Allstars back and despite a few dire predictions from 'concerned friends' in the pits, I have to say it was their best performance in years. Two narrow losses, one of them giving the Nelson Tigers a damn good fright. I think this could be the beginning of a new era for the Allstars. Bernie Fox and Darryl Hammond the standouts.

Well, what can you say about night two, best finals night in ages. The races for 5th and 6th between Waikato and Manawatu, and 3rd + 4th between Great Britain and Rotorua were stunners. Karl Ross v Tony Whittaker had the crowd on their feet in a race that will go down as a classic. For Nelson and Palmerston North, their semi final hopes both centered on stand out performances by Dale Ewers and Peter Rees almost single handedly getting the teams through to the final. Ewers made an important block that won their race while Rees drove like a man possessed fending off Rebels blockers like they were ministocks. Despite eager fans wanting a non-Palmy final it was highly unlikely going by performances on night 1, either the Panthers or the Manawatu Mustangs would make it, just so long as they both didn't was the general consensus! Nelson took the underdog and crowd favourite tag into the final, but I think both teams made a pre-race decision that would be the biggest factor in finding this years champion. 8p Scott Miers had received a hefty amount of damage in their semi-final and despite his incredible pedigree in this event was made the reserve and sat the final out. Nelson took the other option and although they managed to get Dale Ewers car on the track, the damaged sustained in their semi would ultimately cost them dearly when his car failed to complete a lap. Any team, no matter how passionate or talented, cannot take on a full strength Panthers team with only 3 mobile cars and expect to win. They put up a great fight but the writing was on the wall pretty early and the incredible Panthers had done it again, champions for 2011/12.

There was talk floating around the pits about a new team emerging called "the Dream Team" consisting of former NZ Superstock Champions which sounds kinda cool to me, but not wanting to point out the obvious, we have a dream team already, they are called the Palmerston North Panthers and they are worthy of the name. Well done to everyone involved in an incredible event, it was one of the best I've ever been to.

Meeting rating : 9.5/10
Programme : $5, excellent quality, collectable
Driver of the weekend : Bryce Steiner, the backbone of the Rebels
Parking : On the street, hired car so who cares!
Best Moment : Karl Ross v Tony Whittaker


Photobucket
Photobucket
Photobucket
Photobucket
Photobucket
Photobucket
Photobucket
Photobucket
Photobucket
Photobucket
Photobucket
Photobucket
Photobucket
Photobucket
Photobucket
Photobucket
Photobucket
Photobucket
Photobucket
Photobucket
Photobucket
Photobucket
Photobucket
Photobucket