Brenden Gooch (left) is pictured here earlier in 2018 with son Brodie and cousin Shanan Gooch (right). File picture
GISBORNE driver Brenden Gooch reached the summit of streetstock racing at the bottom of the country on Saturday night.
Gooch stormed from 15th on the grid to win the third and final heat and, with it, the New Zealand title at Riverside Speedway in Invercargill.
It was a first New Zealand championship win for the 36-year-old who made the podium in Blenheim (third) in the 2008-2009 season and in Gisborne (third) in 2011-2012.
His Gisborne number has been 10G over the 18 years he has raced speedway here. That will, however, be replaced by 1NZ.
“This has definitely been the highlight of my career to date,” said Gooch, who was the only Gisborne driver in the field.
A field of 73 cars, most from the South Island, lined up in four groups for qualifying on Friday night.
Gooch finished fourth-equal in his group to make the 26-car, three-heat final.
The title was decided on points across the three heats.
“I started the first heat from grid position 19 and managed to work my through the field over the 15 laps to finish seventh.
In the second heat, I started from grid 5 but got spun round, and had to fight my way back. I got back up to seventh again.”
Gooch headed into the third and final heat in fourth position on points.
“I was eight points behind the leader at that stage] — Wayne Melling (27B) from Hawke’s Bay.”
Gooch started the final race from grid position 15.
“When I lapped Wayne about three-quarters of the way through I knew I was in with a chance at winning the title.”
He won the heat and the title by just two points over Melling.
“I used my head more than my right foot in that final race and it paid off.
“I kept out of trouble and a few of the guys down there helped me out.”
The commentator said before the final series started that based on what he had seen in qualifying, Gooch was the one to beat.
That turned out to be the case despite Gooch being the only Gisborne competitor at the championships.
“Winning it hasn’t really sunk in yet. But it sure feels special.”
At the prizegiving afterwards Gooch paid special tribute to his father Neil.
“Dad’s always been there for me right the way through my speedway career.”
He was trackside again on Saturday, along with Brenden’s cousin Shanan Gooch.
“It was actually quite emotional,” said Gooch senior. “I was quite speechless to be honest when I heard the track announcer tell the crowd who had won soon after the last race.
“It means so much for a member of our family to have won this.
“As a family we put a lot into the Gisborne Speedway Club, and Brenden’s win is the best result anyone in our family has achieved.”
Which is saying something as Brenden’s brother Sean was second in the 2011-2012 national streetstock champs in Gisborne and another brother, Travis, was third at the 2009-2010 champs in Wellington.
The family have also won the North Island title six times — three apiece to Brenden and Travis.
“Brenden’s a quiet achiever,” his father said. “He is not one to go out and say what he’s going to do. He just goes out on to the track and does it. We are all very proud of him.”
Brenden thanked the many sponsors who had supported him over the years.
“Particularly Mangapapa Garage and Wicked Tints, who have been with me since day one, and Fastway Couriers and B and T.
He is looking forward to racing in the New Zealand Streetstock Grand Prix in Christchurch on Friday and Saturday.
Gooch was third at the 2011-2012 Grand Prix at Meeanee and is keen to add to Gisborne’s history of success in the GP — Aaron Brown winning it in Gisborne in 2015-2016 and Nigel Patterson winning it also on his home track in 2000-2001, with another Gisborne driver, Brent Durston, second.
“Having that 1NZ number on the car will feel pretty special.”