Gooch to swap 10G for 1NZ in streetstock racing

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

GISBORNE streetstock racer Brenden Gooch, who normally has the number 10G on his car, will proudly display 1NZ when he next drives his vehicle out on to the Eastland Group Raceway.

Gooch won the Cleanways Ltd New Zealand Streetstock Championship with a brilliant win in the final race of the three-heat final series at the Riverside Speedway, Invercargill, on Saturday night.

It was the best result of his speedway career.

A field of 73 cars entered, and Gooch finished fourth in his group in qualifying on Friday night.

“Brenden drove well . . . it was tough in qualifying,” said his father Neil, who was there.

“He finished seventh in the first finals heat after starting at 19 on the grid, then seventh again in Heat 2, after going from No.5 position at the start.

“He needed a good result in the third heat, as he was fourth and eight points behind the leader, Wayne Melling from Hawke’s Bay.

“Brenden lapped Melling in that final race and won it well. He went from 15 on the grid to do it (in a 26-car race).”

At the prize-giving, Brenden Gooch thanked his father: “A special thanks to my dad for all his help throughout my speedway career.”

Hawke’s Bay’s Melling (27B) finished in second place.

Gooch has stayed on in the South Island and will race in the New Zealand Streetstock Grand Prix in Christchurch on Friday and Saturday nights, with 1NZ on his car.

More on this story in tomorrow’s Gisborne Herald