Ministock action thrills crowd

GREAT FIELD: Gisborne driver Bailey Curtis (21G) is seen here overtaking a driver from Stratford, one of a number of locals to feature last night with consistent performances. The officials said it was some of the best youth ministock racing they have seen. The finals are tonight. Pictures by Murray Robertson

THE heats of the Eastland Ministock 100 at the Eastland Group Raceway last night produced some of the best youth ministock racing visiting speedway officials had seen, and tonight’s finals are expected to be even better.

A field of 64 cars started in the junior (12 to 14) and senior (15-17) divisions and they produced fast and clean racing in the Heavy Equipment Services-sponsored event.

“The skill of some of those young drivers was absolutely amazing,” Gisborne Speedway Club vice-president Dean Quinn said.

“The juniors raced particularly well. Some of them were so talented you would not have known they were juniors.”

The standout in that division was Rotorua’s Dion Henderson (45R) with three wins across the four heats, closely followed by Gisborne’s Angus Briant (81G), who recorded his first win and had two second placings.

Briant turned on a great drive in the heat he won and showed the rest of the field a clean pair of heels once he got clear.

“He’s a very, very clever driver,” Quinn said.

In the two senior fields, Regan Penn from Hawke’s Bay (5B) with three wins and Aaron Humble from Huntly (46H), also with three firsts, were outstanding.

Gisborne’s Hamish Moore (16G) racked up a first, a second and two thirds and was right on the pace, along with Mt Maunganui’s Todd Hemingway (88M), who had the same results as Moore.

Bailey Curtis (21G) was another Gisborne driver who featured well up the field, as did Rotorua’s James Wong (22R).

Moore and Curtis are in the top 26 to decide the senior championship tonight with three heats and a feature race.

The junior points from last night roll over to their further heats tonight to decide that title and Angus Briant must be in with a great chance of a podium finish.

A major pile-upA major pile-up occurred in one of the ministock races, and two drivers were taken to hospital in an ambulance for treatment.

Their injuries were not thought to be serious.

A St John Ambulance spokesman said the pair, a boy and a girl, suffered minor lower-leg injuries.

“The pile-up was ugly — a lot of cars were involved,” Quinn said.

Another feature last night was the RJ and RA Dear Building Ltd Production Saloons Best Pairs.

“That was some of the best production saloon car racing we have seen,” Quinn said.

The overall points at the end said it all.

Fraser Wright (44G) top-scored on 40, then came Dave Gooch (10G) 38, Dylan Quinn (7G) 37, Lloyd Stuart (34G), Dana Kingsbeer (83G) and Anton McKay (17G) all on 35, Nikki Ellmers (18G) 30, Chris Miller (4G) 25, and Tim Scott (97G) 20.

The event was won by Quinn and Kingsbeer, with Wright and Ellmers second, and Scott and McKay third.

The sidecars turned on some extremely quick racing. Rob Miller and Hamish White (8G) performed best with two wins and a second against the top-ranked combinations from Palmerston North (1NZ and 2NZ).

Clive Ireland and his swinger Kerwin Arnaboldi also raced consistently.

The results set the Gisborne team up well for tonight’s New Zealand sidecar teams championship against teams from Palmerston North, Hawke’s Bay and Auckland.

“We look like a strong team but I’m sure the Palmy boys will fight hard,” Rob Miller said.

“Napier have a good team and will put up a challenge as well.

“We’re definitely in there with a good chance of winning the title, especially if Clive and I keep starting like we did tonight.”

The Gisborne team members are Miller/White, Ireland/Arnaboldi and Deane Miller/Pete Steigenberger (9G).

Dean Quinn said that overall it was a great night’s racing.

“The track’s got a lot of drive in it — everyone has said it — so it’s very fast. We’re looking forward to tonight.”

The gates open at 6pm tonight and the racing starts at 7pm.