Braved the rain and it paid off

CHAMP OF CHAMPS: Daniel Cook (77G) won the saloon car champion of champions component of Gisborne Speedway Club’s meeting on Saturday night. Evan Mooney (42G) also had some success on the night, with a third placing in Race 2 of the saloons event. File picture by Liam Clayton

SPEEDWAY

Cook brothers Daniel and Ethan finished first and third in the saloon car champion of champions component of Gisborne Speedway Club’s meeting on Saturday night.

The programme was completed just before the first shower of rain.

Meeting organisers pressed ahead despite the threat of rain and were rewarded with an excellent night’s racing.

“We got no rain until we were in the clubhouse for the prizegiving after racing finished,” club president Clyde McGrory said.

“Thanks to all our fans who came out rugged up to support us.

“It was a really good night and while we took a punt on the weather it paid off, thank goodness.”

Daniel Cook (77G) won the saloon champion of champions title with two seconds across the three-race series to decide the Business Applications-sponsored event.

“I was rapt to get the win in a night of really close racing,” Cook said.

“It was not the easiest track to pass on, so you had to make every passing opportunity count.”

His brother Ethan (76G) won the first race and picked up a couple of fifths. That was enough to secure third spot on the podium in the 11-car field.

James Clarke (29G) and Trevor McArthur were teamed up to win the Autozone Stockcar Best Pairs.

Clarke had a first and a third across the heats, and McArthur two firsts and a third.

In the RJ and RA Buildings Production Saloon Best Pairs, the title went to Seth McKay (48G) and his partner Daryn Smith from Whanganui (21V).

McKay had two firsts and a second, and Smith picked up a second placing.

Hayley Durston (277G) and Jeremy Browne (18B) won the ministock best pairs.

Brenden Gooch (10G) had a good night in the streetstocks with two firsts and a second.

The finale of the night, the Metalco Demolition Derby, lived up to expectations. The 30 cars and drivers put on a really good show.

Joshua Maats (33) and Sonny Tai Rakena (187) were the only drivers still running at the end of the hectic action, and the outcome was declared a draw.

Ethan Cook (76G) 1, Ted Ingram (16A) 2, Josh Smith (27P) 3. David Ingram (116A) 1, Daniel Cook (77G) 2, Evan Mooney (42G) 3. Josh Smith (27P) 1, Daniel Cook (77G) 2, Sean Robertson (16G) 3. : Daniel Cook (77G) 1, Josh Smith (27P) 2, Ethan Cook (76G) 3.

James Clarke (29G) 1, Dylan Pickering (56G) 2, Trevor McArthur(128G) 3. Trevor McArthur (128G) 1, James Marshall (16H) 2, James Clarke (29G) 3. Trevor McArthur (128G) 1, Dylan Pickering (56G) 2, Jason Lovell (67G) 3. James Clarke (29G) and Trevor McArthur (128G) 1, Dylan Pickering (56G) and James Marshall (16H) 2, Dana Kingsbeer (38G) and Milla Theobald (189R) 3.

Seth McKay (48G) 1, Daryn Smith (21V) 2, Matt Shultz (46G) 3. Wayne Warrender (14H) 1, Seth McKay (48G) 2, Annemaree Warrender (11H) 3. Seth McKay (48G) 1, Dylan Shearman (17H) 2, Wayne Warrender (14H) 3

Seth McKay (48G) and Daryn Smith (21V) 1, Matt Shultz (46G) and Wayne Warrender (14H) 2, Annemaree Warrender (11H) and Dylan Shearman (17H) 3.

Liam Danielson (11B) 1, Jeremy Browne (18B) 2, Bailey Smith (72B) 3. Bailey Smith (72B) 1, Liam Danielson (11B) 2, Tom Steel (21B) 3. Bailey Smith (72B) 1, Jeremy Browne (18B) 2, Liam Danielson (11B) 3.

Hayley Durston (277G) and Jeremy Browne (18B) 1, Corey Kibble (24G) and Liam Danielson (11B) 2, Ari Robertson (9G) and Keegan Bunce (81B) 3.

​ Brenden Gooch (10G) 1, Sean Gooch (9G) 2, Matthew Ireland (96G) 3. Brenden Gooch (10G) 1, Cody Gooch (6G) 2, Sean Gooch (9G) 3. Cody Gooch (6G) 1, Brenden Gooch (10G) 2, Sean Gooch (9G) 3.

Joshua Maats (33) and Sonny Tai Rakena (187) equal 1.