“It was an up-and-down night for me but I went alright apart from the damage,” said Brown, who failed to finish his second race after his car sustained suspension damage.
“My car went well, the result of some serious hours in the shed, thanks to Dad (Trevor),” McArthur said.
Visiting saloon car drivers Steve and Chris Cowling, from Mount Maunganui’s BayPark, put on a great show — 1NZ Steve had two wins and his 3NZ brother won the feature race.
“It felt like home with all the bumps in the track, which we think probably upset some of the other drivers,” Chris said.
Practice before the New Year champsSteve said they came over to get some practice ahead of the New Zealand championships here the New Year.
“The new clay on the track made it really ‘drivey’, which we liked. We’re going away happy.”
Gisborne brothers Daniel and Ethan Cook raced well in that class too. Daniel (77G) did the better of the two with a second and a third.
“That’s the roughest track I’ve raced on here but it had heaps of drive, which is good for the national titles. My car was fast all night. Unfortunately I got caught up in a few things that happened.”
Watch the video by Jordan Perry:
Younger brother Ethan (76G) is into his first full season in saloons.“I’m getting the hang of it but I’ve still got a lot to learn.”
The Gisborne-contracted Rees family came over from Palmerston North and dominated the superstocks and stockcar classes.
1NZ Peter Rees had to bow to son Asher in the superstocks feature race but won the stockcar feature in the final race of the night after 1NZ Asher produced the first rollover of the season.
“I did it to myself really because I went in for a big bomb on Brett Lloyd (92G) but forgot the car coming up behind me and I hit the wall,” Asher said.
An excellent nightHis father said it was an “expensive night for them’ but an “excellent one”.
“We love it here. We’re so welcomed and everyone wants to help us,” Asher said. “You can have a bit of biff out on the track and then have a beer together afterwards. It’s great.”
Rob Miller and swinger Hamish White (8G) had two wins and a third in what was a very competitive sidecars class. Clive Ireland and Kerwin Arnaboldi (56G) won the feature race.
“The track was not the best for us but once everyone dialled into it we had some good, hard racing,” Miller said.
Fraser Wright (44G) and Lloyd Stuart (34G) were the pick of the production saloon racers.
Hamish Moore (16G) and Thomas Rumble (4G) raced well in the youth ministocks against some strong visiting drivers.
Wins in the six-shooter class were shared around. Reece Lister (8G) won the first race and Mount drivers took the honours in the other two.
Gisborne hosts an open wheel meeting this weekend, along with the ministock best pairs.
Results from Saturday’s meeting will follow.
