The intensity of the demolition derby was well captured in this image as the 24 drivers involved went about bringing each other to a standstill with heavy hits. Photo / Angus Bodle
The intensity of the demolition derby was well captured in this image as the 24 drivers involved went about bringing each other to a standstill with heavy hits. Photo / Angus Bodle
The demolition derby at Awapuni Speedway on Saturday night lived up to all expectations as two dozen drivers did their best to tear each other’s cars to pieces.
The Gisborne Speedway Club spectacle lasted more than 20 minutes and the intensity of heavy metal battle was evidenced by the wreckagespread all over the track afterwards.
Zair Kerekere and Sean Gooch were the last men standing and shared the $1000 prize.
The club put a stockcar out on the track in the final stages to try to “bump” the pair of them together to settle it, but neither could be halted.
Kerekere was in what was left of a Toyota Corona while Gooch drove what ended up a badly damaged Subaru.
Demo derby joint winner Zair Kerekere inspects what remains of his battered Toyota Corona. He collected half of the $1000 first prize for his troubles. Photo / Angus Bodle
“It was a really good derby,” club president Sam Hughes said. “Full-on in the first few laps with that many cars crunching round the track, and there were some big hits happening everywhere.
“They all loved it as they told us in the clubrooms afterwards. It’s been a while since we had such a big one and hopefully we can do that again next year.
Two streetcar races held in the lead-up were entertaining and provided a good chance for a several of the derby drivers to test their cars out and give them a final run before getting their destruction game on.
Saloon car driver Ethan Cook (2NZ) ran several hot laps in the Gisborne Speedway Club meeting support programme on Saturday night in preparation for the New Zealand champs in Stratford on February 20-21. Photo / Angus Bodle
The support programme included some hot laps by saloon racer Ethan Cook (2NZ) in brother Daniel’s Vulcan car ahead of the New Zealand championships in three weeks.
“I was out there getting used to it for the nationals and it felt great to be behind the wheel,” he said.
“Daniel and I have been sharing the car and I’ll be driving it in Stratford, trying to do better than 2NZ.”
Cook looked slick as he tore into the corners and rocketed down the straights.
“There was some really good racing in the youth ministocks,” Hughes said. “The driver of the night in that class was William Johnston-Priest, who picked up his first-ever race win.”
The club was rapt with the size of the crowd.
“It was really impressive, certainly exceeded our expectations,” Hughes said. “Thanks to our fans for supporting us.”
Rodney McIndoe and his team remain No 1 in the Mainland after the Gisborne driver powered his way to back-to-back South Island saloon car speedway titles in Invercargill on Saturday night.
South Island champs repeat for McIndoe
Gisborne driver Rodney McIndoe piloted his car to a successful defence of the South Island Saloon Championships at Riverside Speedway, Invercargill, on Saturday night.
