New kids on the stockcar block

TAKING ON THE BIG BOYS: Two new stockcars will hit the Eastland Group Raceway track this season. Mason O’Dwyer (left) and Jonny Morley will be at the wheels of the 99 and 98G cars. The Gisborne Speedway Club season starts with the traditional fireworks meeting this Saturday but the highlight without doubt is the two-New Zealand stockcar championships on February 23-24, with up to 200 cars expected and a huge influx of visitors to the city. Picture supplied

?TWO young drivers, Jonny Morley and Mason O’Dwyer, will make their stockcar debuts in Gisborne Speedway Club’s first meeting of the 2017-2018 season this weekend.

The season opens with the M E Jukes and Son Fireworks Extravaganza at Eastland Group Raceway on Saturday night.

Morley (driving the 98G car) is no stranger to the banked track, having performed impressively in the youth ministocks class for the past few seasons.

It is O’Dwyer’s first season as a driver and he will be rekindling a famous name in the stockcars class in his 99G machine.

Morley, 19, has had a couple of seasons off to save for a new car.

As a ministock driver, his biggest victory was the prestigious 2014 Ministocks in Paradise crown in Rotorua. He also has two New Zealand CTR (Circle Track Racing) titles to his name.

“We blew the motor in my new car in the final practice last Sunday so we are flat out trying to get it sorted before next Saturday,” Morley said. “But we will get there and I am pretty excited about it.

“It’s going to be a whole different ball game to be in races where you can be winning and then have it taken away from you by a hit from another car.”

Morley is not thinking too far ahead.

“I will try my best to perform as well as I can and I would like to do some team racing, but it all depends on the cost of keeping the car going.”

It might look like a one-man sport out on the track but there were a team of people behind him, he said. “I would like to thank my sponsors and my parents, Brett and Shelly, for all their support.”

O’Dwyer, 21, is the son of Steve O’Dywer, a legend of speedway stockcar racing in Gisborne.

“I have previously helped Dad out and have pit-crewed for James Kirk and others. I had a turn in James’s car last year, which I really enjoyed.”

O’Dwyer aims to emulate his father.

Hard-charger Steve retired from speedway about a decade ago after a career spanning about 15 seasons.

“It feels pretty good to follow in Dad’s footsteps. I am looking forward to it, to getting some good hits in and no doubt receiving some, too.

“I plan to let the bumper do the talking.”

O’Dwyer said his car was ready to go.

“It’s going awesome. We have been getting some good numbers back from our dyno (horsepower) readings. I will see how the car goes this first season. If the selectors think I’m good enough and pick me for the Gladiators team, that would be terrific. But I really want to see how things go.”

O’Dwyer reiterated the importance of the crew around him and said he was grateful to all his sponsors.

Gisborne Speedway Club president Grant MacGregor said it was exciting to have these two young drivers stepping up to the plate.

“I think they both have the pedigree to become talented stockcar drivers.”