Rees said it was one of their big superstock meetings in Gisborne this season. “We hope to have more cars next time for the champion of champions in late March.”
The line-up will also feature the Gisborne Giants superstock team, including Kirk.
“I am excited about it but at the same time I’m a bit thoughtful, too, about how I will go,” rookie Kirk said.
“I’ve got to respect the car because it’s such a step up from my stockcar, and I thank Peter (Rees) for giving me this opportunity to race at the pinnacle of speedway motorsport.”
Ethan Rees will also be bringing his stockcar so that should add even more spice to an already drama and action-charged class.
“We expect about 18 stockcars tomorrow night and look forward to seeing how racing goes,” said Gisborne Speedway Club president Neil Gooch.
“The young ones have taken it up another notch from last season. At our first meeting the stockcar racing was outstanding.
“After his three wins that night James Kirk (31G) may be a targeted man tomorrow night. We shall see.”
Gooch said the Rod Dear production saloons best pairs had drawn a field of about a dozen cars.
“Our numbers in that class are not going to be as large as we first thought, with a few new cars not ready for the season at this stage,
“But given the racing we saw two weeks ago, it will still be exciting.”
The TQs are out for the first time this season and the field will contain cars from Hawke’s Bay and a couple from Gisborne.
The saloons class has drawn eight starters and Ethan Cook (76G) could lift that to nine.
“We are hoping to get my new car ready in time,” Cook said. “We’ve been going until midnight every night this week to try to get it finished for tomorrow night, and we’ll be up late again tonight to hopefully finish the job.”
The body of the car has been built from scratch.
Cook built the chassis and his team took the motor from last season’s car.
“That’s had a fair bit of work, too,” he said. “I will breathe a sigh of relief to drive out pit gate tomorrow night and put my foot down. It’s been hard work.”
The youth ministock class has attracted 18 to 20 cars this weekend.
“The streetstock numbers may be boosted by Mahana Stone (24G), who hopes to be back out after a couple of seasons off,” Gooch said.
“Cody Gooch’s car (6G) has been repaired and he’s good to go after that rollover last meeting.”
President Gooch said the club was looking to build on the excellent start to the season two weeks ago.
The gates open from 6pm and the first race starts at 7pm.
