A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.
THE “demolition derby” field stole the show at Eastland Group Raceway on Saturday when their closely contested warm-up races turned it into the derby that went all night.
A field of 25 cars were entered for the Gisborne Auto Spares-sponsored main event but such was the ferocity of the warm-ups (two streetcar races), the field was down to 18 by derby time.
One car was lost in a spectacular rollover; others suffered mechanical issues.
“This was one of the most entertaining demolition derby nights we have had because of the way those drivers entered into the spirit of it right through,” said Gisborne Speedway Club president Grant MacGregor.
“There was some great driving in those warm-up races, absolutely fantastic. They should all be congratulated for the show they put on.”
The derby itself was fought out at a faster rate than normal and some of the drivers who exited early only had themselves to blame for their helter-skelter approach.
“Some of them basically took themselves out because they went too quick,” one long-time derby watcher observed.
NZME Gisborne radio station manager Treva Rice kept his little Ford Laser going better than anyone else, and took the title.
Mind you, there was not much left of the back end of it when he carried the chequered flag round.
“I tried to keep out of trouble but it kept finding me,” a delighted Rice said afterwards. “I got smashed.
“There were some mean hits and I am probably going to be a bit sore tomorrow.”
Rice got some expert coaching from derby master Neil Gooch, who has racked up 24 wins over the years.
Mangapapa Garage prepared Rice’s car.
“I gave Trev a few tips but he went out and did it, and I thought he did really well,” said Gooch.
MacGregor said the production saloons and stockcar best pairs were every bit as entertaining as he had hoped.
“Again there was fantastic racing from all drivers in both classes. Knowing who they were paired with certainly paid off in terms of excitement,” he said.
“They drove for each other and it showed in the level of intensity.”
The drive by veteran Bruce Harding (8G) in the final stockcar race was a highlight of the meeting. He led all the way.
Ethan Rees (127G) was also in outstanding form as he and James Clark (29G) won the best pairs title.
The production saloon best pairs was won by Dave Gooch (95G) and Fraser Wright (44G), both of who produced outstanding drives through the night.
Anton McKay’s three wins said a lot about how well he performed in his 17G car.
“Gisborne Motorcycle Sports Club put on another good show for us, too,” MacGregor said. “We will have them back again.”
The next meeting is the one everyone has been waiting for — the New Zealand stockcar teams championships on February 24-25. Gisborne Gladiators are the defending champions.
Gisborne speedway resultsTHE 18-race programme at the Eastland Group Raceway on Saturday night culminated in the demolition derby after the best pairs had been decided for the stockcars and production saloons.
ResultsProduction saloons — Race 1: Crystal Peach (10G) 1; Dave Gooch (95G) 2; Fraser Wright (44G) 3. Race 2: Gooch 1; Wright 2; Anton McKay (17G) 3. Race 3: Dylan Quinn (7G) 1; Rex Briant (6G) 2; Peach 3. Race 4: Anton McKay (17G) 1; Wright 2; Matt Schultz (18G) 3. Race 5: McKay 1; Gooch 2; Wright 3. Race 6: Gooch 1; Peach 2; Wright 3. Race 7: Quinn 1; Lloyd Stuart (34G) 2; Gooch 3. Race 8: McKay 1; Peach 2; Gooch 3.
Stockcars — Race 1: Dylan Pickering (56G) 1; James Kirk (31G) 2; William McClune (61G) 3. Race 2: Ethan Rees (127G) 1; Mike Herbert (52G) 2; Kirk 3. Race 3: Rees 1; Anthony Brown (9G) 2; Bruce Harding (8G) 3. Race 4: Harding 1; Brown 2; David Glassford (22G) 3.
Production saloons best pairs: Dave Gooch and Fraser Wright 1; Dylan Quinn and Bryce Simpson 2; Chris Miller and Anton McKay 3.
Stockcars best pairs: James Clarke and Ethan Rees 1; Ben Holt and Mike Herbert 2; Dylan Pickering and Bruce Harding 3.