NOTHING BUT WALL: Gisborne’s Gary Davis puts Christchurch Superstock driver Kairyn O’Brien into the wall during Saturday night’s speedway meet. Pictures by Liam Clayton
THE Gisborne Giants superstock team swept to a comprehensive victory when they overpowered the Glen Eagles team from Christchurch in clincal style at the Eastland Group Raceway on Saturday night.
Giants flier Ethan Rees (127G) jumped out from the inside pole position and led his team across the finish line in the McCafferty Metal Cartage event.
Rees was ably backed up by his teammates, his father Peter in 10G, Gary Davies in 31G and Nick Vallance in 45G.
Giants cars finished first, second and third, and all four finished, unlike the Eagles who only had two still running at the end of the thrilling 12 laps.
It was a display of team work by the Giants that was all class.
“We got off to a good start and it certainly felt great to get across the line first,” Ethan Rees said.
“I could not be prouder of our effort in front of the Giants home fans.”
His father said they went out there determined not to take the Glen Eagles lightly.
“They gave us a go and a couple of them are only young guys keen to learn, and they told me they learned a lot. Our speed did it for us. They were not afraid to block, and good on them for that, but they just did not have the speed.”
Club president Grant MacGregor said the teams race lived up to all expectations.
“It was spectacular and well done. The Giants looked just so in control of the whole race.”
The Rees dominated the three individual races for the superstocks, with three wins to Peter with his son runnerup three times.
Support programme
In the support programme the first stockcar race had ‘Gladiators trial’ written all over it. It had the ‘wow’ factor as a contest with more hits than the class had produced so far this season.
Willy McClune’s night got off to a flier with a win in that intense race in just his second meeting in the class.
“My new car’s going awesome," he said.
“It’s perfect and a dream to drive.
“This class really appeals to me because there’s so much contact. To win you have to earn it because everyone else is out to get you.”
McClune said he hoped to be part of the Gladiators team that goes to Waikaraka Park in Auckland later this month to try to win back the New Zealand teams title.
Mason O’Dwyer (99G) was never far from the front and always in the action on Saturday night. He earned his win and two third placings.
The Gisborne Gladiators team for the New Zealand stockcar teams championships at Waikaraka Park in Auckland at the end of the month has been named.
“The team will be Peter and Ethan Rees, James Clarke (29G), O’Dwyer, and Jason Lovell (67G), with Mike Herbert (52G) the standby driver,” MacGregor said.
“That is a very strong team. We have a good blend of experience and youth as we look to grow the team for the future.”
Ben “Hit Man” Holt (4G) missed out on being picked for the Gisborne Gladatiors team after a spectacular hit during the final stockcar race on Saturday.
“His car was picked up and put into the wall on turn three and he suffered a broken leg,” Grant MacGregor said.
“It’s a real shame for Ben because he was a shoe-in for the team. He’s been driving really well.”
Holt expects to be out for three months.
“That’s stockcar racing unfortunately,” MacGregor said.
Outstanding competition
The rest of the support programme also produced some outstanding competition.
Saloon car drivers Ethan and Daniel Cook 76G and 77G had a great battle all night with the new boy on the saloon car circuit Hamish Moore(16G).
Moore won the first race in a top drive. He led all the way and drove excellent lines.
The Cook brothers were right on his tail and the brothers shared the chequered flag honours one each in the other races.
Daniel Cook had issues with his car in a previous meeting but not on Saturday night.
“The new Vulcan chassis that Ethan built for me is going really well. The car’s awesome now. I love it,” he said.
“The time and effort we have all put into the car is paying off now.
“Ethan is rapt when I do well and I am rapt when he does. We work on each other’s cars and we enjoy racing together.”
Daniel set the fastest lap time in the saloon class on Saturday of just over 15 seconds.
The production saloon battle intensified again with Fraser Wright(44G), Dave Gooch(7G) and Crystal Peach(10G) always on each other’s bumpers.
Wright scored best on the night with two firsts and Gooch won the feature race.
The small field of streetstocks put on another good show and Brenden Gooch(10G) drove the chequered flag round twice in their three races. Dave “Duck” Hampton had a win too.
The pair of them were right on each other all night.
Full race resultsProduction Saloons: Race 1, Fraser Wright (44G) 1, Dave Gooch (7G) 2, Crystal Peach (10G) 3. Race 2, Wright (44G) 1, Peach (10G) 2, Anton McKay (17G) 3. Race 3, Gooch (7G) 1, Wright (44G) 2, McKay (17G) 3.
Saloons: Race 1, Hamish Moore (16G) 1, Daniel Cook (77G) 2, Ethan Cook (76G) 3. Race 2, Daniel Cook (77G) 1, Ethan Cook (76G) 2, Moore (16G) 3. Race 3, Ethan Cook (76G) 1, Daniel Cook (77G) 2, Stefan Roigard (86H) 3.
Streetstocks:- Race 1, Brenden Gooch (10G) 1, Dave Hampton (88G) 2, Cody Gooch (6G) 3. Race 2, Hampton (88G) 1, Brenden Gooch (10G) 2, Jared Ingoe (18G) 3. Race 3, Brenden Gooch (10G) 1, Dave Hampton (88G) 2, Neil Gooch (7G) 3.
Stock Cars - Race 1: William McClune (61G) 1, Mike Herbert (52G) 2, Mason O’Dwyer (99G) 3. Race 2: David Glassford (22G) 1, Jason Lovell (67G) 2, O’Dywer (99G) 3. Race 3: O’Dywer (99G) 1, Lovell (67G) 2, Jamie Harding (71G) 3.
Superstocks Invitation: Peter Rees (10G) 1, Ethan Rees (127G) 2, Gary Davis (31G) 3.