O’Dwyer led for two-thirds of the race on debut in the class.
“I had a ball tonight and leading the third race felt beautiful,” he said.
Morley was also pleased with his first-up effort as he comes to terms with the step up from youth ministocks.
“It’s certainly a bit different but I think I went pretty good. It’s a time thing . . . getting in time with the car.”
Pleased to be back in GisbornePeter Rees said he and son Ethan were pleased to be back in Gisborne.
“This is our fifth meeting already this season and we’ve gone well elsewhere we’ve raced.
“I was stoked to see the size of that stockcar field tonight and at how flashed-up the cars were. Great stuff.”
Jason Lovell (67G) was the best of the other Gisborne drivers.
The saloons drew six starters including Hamish Moore (16G) and Bailey Curtis (21G) in their debut performances in that class.
A combination of skill and the attrition rate led to two second placings for Moore.
“Saloon car racing is a whole different game to youth ministocks, with a much bigger car and plenty more grunt, but I finished in one piece tonight and that feels good,” he said.“There’s some work to do on setting up the car but I’m rapt with how I went.”
Curtis also raced well in Kenny Dibben’s 21G car to place third in the feature race.
“I’ve still got a few things to learn. It’s a completely different driving style to ministocks and I’ve got a long way to go,” Curtis said. “But it sure feels good to have a lot more power to play with.”
Saloon brothers Ethan (76G) and Daniel Cook (77G) came out charging, with Ethan picking up a couple of good wins, particularly his all-the-way drive in race 1.
Older brother Daniel hit the wall in that race but his pit crew remarkably got him out for the second race before he had to pull out.
The production saloons picked up where they left off last season with close and exciting competition.
Wins were shared by Dave Gooch (7G), Fraser Wright (44G) and Bryce Simpson (98G) while Crystal Peach (10G) had two second places.
Streetstock racers put on a good show despite a smallish field dominated by the Gooch family. They had five cars racing and four of them picked up top-three finishes.
Sammy Durston (117G) got to experience the thrill of leading for a good chunk of race 2 and thoroughly deserved her third place.
“Overall it was an excellent start to the season,” MacGregor said.
“The Public Dreams Trust fireworks show was fanastic and we certainly got the crowd we hoped for.”
The club’s next meeting is this Saturday — the sidecar champion of champions and the best pairs in all classes.
Results from the opening night of the Gisborne Speedway Club season Production Saloons — Race 1: Dave Gooch (7G) 1, Crystal Peach (10G) 2, Anton McKay (17G) 3. Race 2: Fraser Wright (44G) 1, Peach 2, Matt le Compte (61G) 3. Race 3: Bryce Simpson (98G) 1, Cole le Compte (13G) 2, Gooch 3.
Saloon cars — Race 1: Ethan Cook (76G) 1, Daniel Wallace (15G) 2, Ken Dibben (21G) 3. Race 2: Dibben 1, Hamish Moore (16G) 2. Race 3: Cook 1, Moore 2, Bailey Curtis (21G) 3.
Streetstocks — Race 1: Brenden Gooch (10G) 1, Dave Hampton (88G) 2, Shanan Gooch (11G) 3. Race 2: Hampton 1, B Gooch 2, Sean Gooch (28G) 3. Race 3: Cody Gooch (6G) 1, Sean Gooch 2, Shanan Gooch 3.
Stockcars — Race 1: Ethan Rees (127G) 1, Peter Rees (11G) 2, Jason Lovell (67G). 3. Race 2: P Rees 1, Kacey Cheetham (97K) 2, Mike Herbert (52G) 3. Race 3: E Rees 1, P Rees 2, Lovell 3.
Ministocks — Race 1: Dylan Jensen (63R) 1, Alyssa Carnell (39R) 2, Connor Humphreys (82G) 3. Race 2: Carnell 1, Jensen 2, Sam Durston (177G) 3. Race 3: Jensen 1, Sam Murray (196G) 2, Seth McKay (48G) 3.
