It’s big, red and fast

THE CAR TO WATCH: Mick Quin’s new US-built super saloon was a standout performer in competition at Baypark Speedway, Mount Maunganui, three weeks ago. Bay of Plenty Times picture by Stuart Whitaker

Super saloons take the limelight at Gisborne Speedway Club's meeting tomorrow night, but one car stands out.

The new drive of Palmerston North-contracted Mick Quin has been turning heads.

Built in the United States to a Late Model design with standard American four-bar suspension, the car has been modified to suit New Zealand rules.

“Mick's car has been setting all sorts of speed records around the country,” speedway club president Clyde McGrory said.

“But this will be the first time the car has ever run on a banked track, so it will be interesting to see how it goes.”

Quin is one of 25 entrants in the Heavy Equipment Services-sponsored third round of the Burger King Pro Dirt Series at the Eastland Group Raceway tomorrow night. It is the feature event of one of the club's biggest nights of the season.

Former Gisborne driver Dan Corrin will also compete in the super saloon event. He came through the Gisborne club's youth driver programme and established himself first in saloons and then in super saloons as one of the top young drivers in the country.

Corrin is now based in Mount Maunganui, where he works with his father Roger in their engineering business.

“It's going to be great to race in Gisborne again,” he said.

“It'll be good to catch up with family and put on a show for the fans.”

Corrin lies seventh on the series points table after a round at Baypark and a rained-off round in Wellington.

He finished third in the North Island super saloon event held as part of the Wellington meeting.

“I'm driving a new car, a Pro X X1 model, so we're still finding the balance of it, but it's getting better each time I race,” Corrin said.

Quin leads the series on 358 points. He is followed by 2NZ Chris Cowling on 348, Scott Hayward in 92M on 338, Joe Ingram (27S) on 300, Bodie Abrahamson (49M) on 296, Sam Waddell (18M) on 290 and Corrin (124M) on 254.

The meeting will also host the second round of the Eastland TQ Masters. The expected field of 18 cars will include cousins Dylan (5G) and Ryan MacGregor (74G), of Gisborne

Dylan MacGregor leads the series, and Ryan lies third.

“The new TQ series is a real crowd-pleaser and it's fantastic to see the two Gizzy guys doing so well,” McGrory said.

He also expects a big, top-class line-up for the sidecar component of the programme.

“Some of the best in the country are coming here to test themselves on the banked track ahead of the New Zealand championships here in January,” McGrory said.

The Youth Ministock 100 has drawn a big field, and three heats will be run.

“We're rapt with that response; we've got cars coming from all over the North Island,” McGrory said.

“The other support class will be the stockcars, and competition in that class has been red-hot so far this season.

“We've had to drop the streetstocks and the production saloons this weekend because of the size of the programme.

“We will have a 26-race programme plus a pole shuffle for the super saloons for grid positions in the final. And we'll have hot laps for the super saloons to dial into the track.

“Santa will be there, too, with a lolly scramble. It's going to be another huge night, and we'd like to thank the fans for supporting us so well already this season.”