Rain dashes opening weekend plans for Gisborne Speedway Club

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

SPEEDWAY by Murray Robertson

Gisborne Speedway Club has had to rearrange its opening weekend plans again, this time because of the weather.

It had been planned to run a race meeting tomorrow night featuring good-sized fields of superstocks and stockcars, with a full programme in other classes as well.

The club had already decided against putting on its Jukes Carriers-sponsored fireworks show this weekend due to Covid-19 Alert Level 2 restrictions. The club was yesterday forced to postpone the meeting altogether until next weekend because of the impact of the heavy rain and the strong likelihood of more over the weekend.

“We will be running the same programme next weekend, with the addition of modifieds,” club secretary Kelly Simpson said.

“It’s been a long wait for the modifieds to race here. Apparently they have only been here once before and they are an absolute ‘must’ to watch.

“Modifieds are like open-wheelers, with a big wing on them. They are among the fastest dirt-track racing machines in the country.”

Simpson said the decision to postpone was a disappointment, especially for the fans.

“But given the weather, we’ve got no choice. It’s like a lake out at the track.”

The club had received 30 entries for the Stockcar Classic, now on next weekend, she said.

“We did have a dozen superstocks coming on Saturday night but now we’ve had to postpone for a week, we might in fact end up with a few more next weekend.”

Club president Clyde McGrory echoed Simpson’s comments.

“It is really disappointing to have to call off the meeting this weekend, after all the organisation and work that’s gone into it,” McGrory said.

“But what can we do about the weather — absolutely nothing.

“The fans will certainly have a lot to look forward to when we finally get going next weekend.”