Mates key to Brown victory at NZ champs

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

STREETSTOCK racer Aaron Brown is a New Zealand champion, thanks to help from fellow Gisborne drivers.

Brown won the right to display 1NZ on the side of his car after a helter-skelter championship series at Kihikihi Speedway on Friday and Saturday nights.

“Aaron was lying in second place going into the final race and he had a few drivers from other tracks trying to get him,” said Gisborne speedway stalwart Neil Gooch, who was trackside.

“But the other Gizzy drivers protected him pretty well in that last race and he won it to take the title. With a lap to go we knew he had it and everyone was cheering.”

Brown was second at the 2013 nationals

“It feels pretty awesome . . . it has not really sunk in yet,” he told The Herald this morning.

“If it wasn’t for the help I got from the other Gizzy drivers in the finals I would not have got it.”

“The Kihikihi track was pretty rough and the speed that I have been getting out of the car was reduced by the poor track conditions. I would like to give special thanks to my mum and dad, Karen and Graham, for all their support; also to my partner Emma and my crew.”

Five Gisborne drivers made it out of qualifying to contest the title in a 26-car field.

Brown was joined by father and son Trevor and Ben McArthur and brothers Brenden and Cody Gooch.

Brenden Gooch was fifth in the final.

Trevor De Malmanche, from Rotorua, was second and Hawke’s Bay’s Darren Melling third.

“Everyone in the club is thrilled for Aaron,” said Gisborne club president Grant MacGregor. “He thoroughly deserves it.”

Brown will wear the 1NZ at the New Zealand streetstocks grand prix this Saturday night.

n The New Zealand saloon car grand prix title was won by former-Gisborne racer Daniel Corrin on Saturday night at the Meeanee track in Hawke’s Bay.

Corrin, now at Mount Maunganui, won the New Zealand title at Gisborne’s Eastland Group Raceway the previous weekend.

Ethan Cook was the best of the Gisborne contingent, with a hard-fought fifth place. Older brother Daniel Cook retired from the finals with mechanical issues. Dave Moorcroft was seventh.