It’s Demolition Derby time at Gisborne speedway

The 2026 edition of Gisborne Speedway Club's ever-entertaining Demolition Derby is set to feature a field of around two dozen cars on Saturday night. Travis Gooch (pictured) is a previous winner. Photo / Murray Robertson

A line-up of nearly two dozen drivers will do their best to tear their already beat-up cars to pieces on Saturday night in the ever-popular Demolition Derby.

MTF Finance Awapuni Speedway hosts the derby and streetcar races as the feature events of the club meeting.

A thousand dollars is on the line for the last driver standing in the derby and there is also a $300 stirrer’s prize.

The entry list as of Thursday was 0G Simeon Whitley, 1NZG Jordy Smith, 5G Vinnie Hall, 007 Chris Niven, 13 Dorian Reidi, 14G Daniel O’Neill, 15G Gaynor Richardson, 16G Paul Galloway, 22 Steve Lamb, 35G Josh Maats, 42 Jess Hughes, 51G Keelyn Smith, 57 Casey Moore, 69 Kaz Unuwai, 87G Dale Bellingham, 132 Zair Kerekere and 164G Will Kaa.

The club expects a final field of close to two dozen cars.

President Sam Hughes said it would likely be the biggest Demolition Derby field the club had for some years.

“That’s a fair statement,” he said. “We will run it at the end of the programme and it should be action-packed with that many cars involved.”

The derby drivers get to test their cars out in two streetcar races leading up to the main event.

Support classes races will involve youth ministocks, a small field of stockcars and streetstocks.

Gates open at 5pm and racing starts at 6pm.

The World 240 Invitational Superstock Championship in Rotorua last weekend ended up a washout.

Four Gisborne drivers made it through qualifying – Peter Rees, sons Ethan and Asher Rees, and Josh Prentice.

Unfortunately, the weather got the better of the final and it was called off.

Before that, Gisborne’s Brittany Carpenter (85G) made the podium in the Rees Race Cars Aotearoa Ladies Stockcar Championship. She finished a creditable runner-up.

“Well done Brittany, the club’s proud of you,” Hughes said. “She has been racing stockcars on our track for four to five years now.”

The Gisborne Giants team finished fifth a year ago in the Enzed Superstock Teams Champs. This year they are aiming for the podium.

Meanwhile the Gisborne Giants are marking their 10-year anniversary with a powerful team taking on the 2026 Enzed Superstock Teams Champs on February 7-8.

“Your team! Our team! The Team!” Gisborne Speedway Club said on its Awapuni Speedway Facebook page.

Going to battle for the ‘G’ team are 2NZ Ethan Rees, 5G Josh Prentice, 96G Brad McGee, 126G Asher Rees, 144G Tim Ross and 235G Regan Penn.

Robertson Prestige International Speedway will run qualifying on the Saturday, then semi-finals and finals on the Sunday.

The Giants’ 10th anniversary merchandise has gone on sale. It features a range of hoodies, T-shirts, singlets, beanies and wing panels.