The Jukes Carriers fireworks show at the end of the 26-race programme was stunning.
The four-meeting MTF Superstock Points Dash series got off to a thunderous start with 18 cars on the track and no prisoners taken in a dramatic, action-packed and ultra-fast four-race series.
“The track was beautiful, unbelievable,” said Peter Rees (2NZ), who won one of the races. His son Asher (126K) took out two of the others.
The fourth race was stopped with three laps to go after Peter Rees put a big hit on his son Ethan (127G), who was running first at the time.
James Mallia (99G) got caught up in the contact, was shunted in the air and on to the track safety fence, where his car came to rest, wheels up, nose down.
“If you’re going to tip your car over, you may as well do it properly,” said the 22-year-old Mallia, from the Kapiti Coast.
“All I remember was looking down at the ground from up against the fence and wondering when the car was going to come down.”
He got out safely, and one of the track tractors was used to push the car off the fence.
Peter Rees said it was a great night for the superstocks.
“Look at all the smiley faces. The fans got to see a real show.”
Dylan MacGregor (5G) took out the first round of four in the Eastland TQ Masters series, with two wins.
“It’s real cool to get the TQs back here and hopefully revitalise the class for Gisborne,” he said.
“The track was awesome tonight, with heaps of grip, which means you can keep the gas on and get the best speed out of the car.”
His cousin Ryan MacGregor (74G) was never far from the lead either, and lies third in the series.
Race 4 in the TQs had a spectacular crash, when Hawke’s Bay driver Michael Garnett (7B) got tangled up with another car in pit corner.
Garnett’s vehicle completed two 360-degree rolls before coming back down on to the track. He was unhurt.
Clive Ireland and his swinger Chris Symon (56G) won the Law-Cartmell Memorial Trophy for sidecars, with two wins and a second.
“It was awesome to win; Chris and I are happy as,” Ireland said.
“It’s so good to start the season so well after a quiet season last year, and we are definitely targeting a podium at the national championships here in January.”
Clutch issues cost Rob Miller and Red George a shot at the title.
In the support programme, Crystal Peach (3NZ) picked up where she left off last season with a stylish display, winning three races from three starts.
David “Duck” Hampton was supreme in the streetstocks, with three from three, and the Cook brothers dominated the saloons, with two wins to Ethan (1NZ) and the other to his brother Daniel (77G).
“Both cars are going well and we’re hoping we can carry on with our speed from last season,” Daniel said.
As for winning the team-of-the-year category in the sports awards, he said: “It was amazing to be recognised as a whole group amongst all that Gisborne sporting talent.”
The dozen stockcars turned it on, too, with two wins to Mason O’Dwyer (99G), and one to James Clarke (29G).
Newbie Cheryl Johnson (52G) held her own in her debut stockcar outing.
Club president McGrory said it was pleasing that many of the drivers spoke highly of the track.
“Some of the TQ guys even said it was the best track they had ever raced on,” he said.
“Now we’re working flat out on the superstock and stockcar teams events and the streetstock championships on November 23.”
