Gisborne racers in South Island foray

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

SPEEDWAY

THE Gisborne Giants superstock team lost to the Christchurch team at that track last weekend and at the same meeting 1NZ streetstocker Brenden Gooch from Gisborne scored a win, a fourth placing and a fifth in a 20-car field.

The Giants raced the Christchurch Glen Eagles team and, despite finishing with three cars still running, they were unable to catch the sole opposition car left in the lead.

“Peter Rees said they had their chance to win it but didn’t read the race correctly near the end,” said Neil Gooch, who accompanied his son Brenden to the meeting.

James Kirk from Gisborne got to race with the team, and in the three individual races afterwards.

“I think James went pretty well,” Gooch said.

“He was certainly on the pace, and acquitted himself well in the teams race.

“As he said to me afterwards, it’s a total learning curve for him at this stage.

“Brenden raced well in that big field of good cars, where he was on his own, and a marked man with 1NZ on the car.”

In the race Gooch won, he took it out by half a lap.

“He went from two on the starting grid and just raced away,” his father said.

Ethan Cook raced well in the saloons class at the Meeanee Track in Hawke’s Bay on Saturday night.

Cook (76G) had a first placing and two seconds in his second meeting in his new car.

“It was a great meeting,” he said.

“We had the car set up really well, but we are still learning.

“I’m really looking forward to becoming more confident with it, and seeing what results I can achieve.”

The Eastland Group Raceway will be the scene of action again this weekend, with the Sutherland Automotive Ministock 100, and the Gisborne Hydraulic Services Stockcar Classic.