North Island saloon cars title among Gisborne club’s weekend success

Gisborne saloon racer Daniel Cook won the North Island championship at the Stratford Raceway on Saturday night. Will Kaa and Ethan Bruce.Cook picture by Liam Clayton, Giants pic supplied

A North Island saloon car title, an overall team victory in superstocks and a fighting third in stockcar teams competition made the weekend memorable for Gisborne Speedway Club.

In Stratford, saloon racer Daniel Cook (77G) racked up his fourth North Island title.

He finished first and seventh in two heats to qualify for the final.

“I went from grid position 2 in the final but dropped back to sixth at one stage in the 20-lap race,” Cook said. “But I managed to drive my way back through most of the field to finish second by a car-length to Jared Fletcher from Hamilton.

“Unfortunately for Jared, he was disqualified for an illegal car and I was awarded the title.”

Cook was driving a new car — with a Vulcan chassis — built over winter by his brother Ethan.

“I was really happy, stoked to get second . . . and then to be awarded first place was the icing on the cake.”

He and his team raced well in the South Island Saloon Car Series in late November and early December.

“We travelled something like 5000 kilometres in the three weekends the series was on, doing meetings around the South Island.”

In those meets, Cook scored a first placing, two thirds and three fifths to finish third overall in the series, a position that pleased him a lot.

In Huntly on Saturday night, the Gisborne Giants superstock development team won their teams event.

Their team comprised Sam Hughes (77G), Te Puke pair Brodie James (87G) and Tyler James (89G), and Jason Jones (81G).

“We lost our first race against the BayPark Busters after being two laps in front with two laps to go,” Hughes said.

“A bit of bad luck cost us first place there but we still managed a second and a third to Brodie and Tyler (James).

“Then we raced the Waikato Wanderers and beat them comfortably.

“After six laps they didn’t have a car left on the track.”

Huntly beat the Mount in their heat,

“That meant we won overall by 46 points,” Hughes said. “It was awesome to take it out with what’s basically a brand new team.”

They race again at the Mount in February.

In the big stockcar teams event on Saturday, Gisborne Gladiators won all three of their races at Palmerston North Speedway.

“They beat Palmerston North, defending champions Auckland and a second Palmerston North team,” Hughes said.

“But the overall title was decided on points, and the Gladiators finished third.

“Either way, that’s a great result for what is a new-look team,” he said.

“And we hope there will be plenty more to come from them.”

The Gladiators also won the award for being the “Best Presented Team”.

Hughes said it was a great weekend all round for the Gisborne Speedway Club.

Dylan MacGregor finished seventh in the New Zealand TQ championships in Nelson.

Gisborne Speedway Club is holding the Youth Ministock 100 event this Saturday night, with more than 70 entries. A demolition derby — wih about two dozen cars — will also be held and Santa will be there.