Big meeting to be run at later date

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

Gisborne Speedway Club has postponed the big meeting planned for tonight because of the weather, with the track “saturated” by overnight rain.

Eastland Group Raceway was to host the New Zealand Sidecar Grand Prix, and the Professional Fleet Maintenance Production Saloons Best Pairs, with a full support programme.

The club delayed the decision until this morning.

“Our track preparations continued until well into last evening, and the track was in pristine condition,” club president Clyde McGrory said.

“Everyone is here. We've got sidecars from around the country here, along with the dirt bikes and cars.

“But unfortunately the rain overnight has saturated the track. We've got water lying on the track a couple of metres up from the pole line. It would take several days of good weather for it to dry out.

“Tomorrow was to be a standby day to run the event, but with the forecast the way it is we have been forced to postpone the meeting.”

McGrory said it was very disappointing for the competitors who had taken the time to get here for it.

“But we cannot do much about the wet weather, which is affecting pretty much the whole country.”

A date to rerun the championships would be set as soon as possible, he said.

“We will have to work in with other tracks to see where we can fit it into the racing schedule.”