Stockcars provide the highlight

ALL ACTION: The stockcars produced tonnes of action in the opening meeting of the speedway season on Sunday afternoon. Nick Hutton (56G) and Ben McArthur (228G) were among the front-runners, with McArthur the runner-up in the “champion of champions” event.Picture by Eddie Brain Photography

SPEEDWAY by Murray Robertson

SUPERstock driver Peter Rees took the early lead in the superstock Points Dash series at the Gisborne Speedway on Sunday afternoon and a Rotorua driver was the stockcar “champion of champions”.

Rain forced the postponement of the planned speedway season opening from Saturday night to Sunday afternoon at Eastland Group Raceway.

“The weather cleared on Saturday afternoon but the track was just drenched and no way could we have got on there,” Gisborne Speedway Club president Clyde McGrory said.

“Racing on Sunday afternoon worked out really well, even though we lost a few vehicles. At the end of the day the racing was good, and the competitors and fans had a great afternoon.”

The rearranged meeting drew a sizeable crowd.

“It was a good crowd for a Sunday afternoon and we really appreciated the effort people made to come out and support us,” McGrory said.

The stockcar racing was the highlight of the afternoon, with around 24 cars going hard.

“They were really spectacular, with lots of good racing, and it was close on points at the end.”

Consistency paid off for Rotorua’s Sean Wepa (45R) with two third placings and a second, and he took out the Sam’s Upholstery Services and Gisborne Fluid & Machinery “stockcar champion of champions” title.

Gisborne’s Ben McArthur (228G) was the runner-up in his first full season in the class.

“I was stoked about it, over the moon, considering both my car and Dad’s (Trevor, 128G) have both had severe off-season rebuilds,” he said.

“I’m still getting used to it and hopefully it was a sign of good things to come this season.

“Dad’s been monumental in terms of the effort he’s put in to get the cars to where they are.”

Peter Rees (10G) won two of the three superstock races in the MTF Finance Points Dash Series to grab the early lead.

“The track was mint after the rain, and it was so good to be out there,” Rees said.

“We got plenty of drive off a fast surface.

“It was a shame about the weather on Saturday, but most of us hung in there for Sunday and it worked out really well.

“Every lap we do this season is going to be a bonus for us because of the Covid-19 situation.”

His son Ethan (127G) won the third race to be second overall on points in the series, with James Clarke (29G) in third place on points.

McGrory said the sidechair pairing of Dylan and Toby Lardelli (99G) were also exceptional.

“It was an outstanding performance by them, winning all three races ahead of Stu Priest and Kerwin Arnaboldi (52G), who were close behind.”

Shaun Kingi (75G) picked up the chequered flag twice in the streetstocks and Brenden Gooch (10G) took out the feature race.

Anton McKay (17G) won two of the production saloon races, with son Seth (48G) taking out the other. Blake Dear (37G) made them work for their wins with three second placings.

“It was a fantastic start to the season,” McGrory said. “Now we look forward to putting on the Jukes Carriers Fireworks Meeting on November 27, where we will be running all classes, depending on what happens with Covid between now and then.”

Stockcars — Race 1: Dylan Pickering (56G) 1, Mike Herbert (52R) 2, Sean Wepa (45R) 3. Race 2: Ben McArthur (228G) 1, Bryce Simpson (98G) 2, Sean Wepa (45R) 3. Race 3: Brittany Carpenter (85G) 1, Sean Wepa (45R) 2, Mike Herbert (52R) 3. Stockcar Classic title (sponsored by Sam’s Upholstery and Gisborne Fluid & Machinery Ltd): Sean Wepa (45R) 1, Ben McArthur (228G) 2, Mike Herbert (52R) 3.

Superstocks — Race 1: Peter Rees (10G) 1, Scott Penn (7G) 2, James Kirk (31G) 3. Race 2: Peter Rees (10G) 1, Scott Penn (7G) 2, Ethan Rees (127G) 3. Race 3: Ethan Rees (127G) 1, Peter Rees (10G) 2, Tyler James (89R) 3. Round 1, MTF Finance Points Dash: Peter Rees (10G) 1, Ethan Rees (127G) 2, James Clarke (29G) 3.

Production saloons — Race 1: Anton McKay (17G) 1, Blake Dear (37G) 2, Lewi Claypole (716B) 3. Race 2: Seth McKay (48G) 1, Blake Dear (37G) 2, Anton McKay (17G) 3. Race 3: Anton McKay (17G) 1, Blake Dear (37G) 2, Seth McKay (48G) 3. Winner of the Dion’s Dogz Feature Race: Anton McKay (17G).

Ministocks — Race 1: Campbell Hayes (51M) 1, Julian Munroe (43R) 2, George Crawford (971R) 3. Race 2: George Crawford (971R) 1, Campbell Hayes (51M) 2, Kate Murray (196R) 3. Race 3: George Campbell (971R) 1, Julian Munroe (43R) 2, Campbell Hayes (51M) 3. Winner of the Tool Shed Feature Race: George Campbell (971R).

Streetstocks — Race 1: Shaun Kingi (75G) 1, Cody Gooch (6G) 2, Jared Ingoe (18G) 3. Race 2: Shaun Kingi (75G) 1, Cody Gooch (6G) 2, Brenden Gooch (10G) 3. Race 3: Brenden Gooch (10G) 1, Cody Gooch (6G) 2, Jared Ingoe (18G) 3. Winner of the Rangatira Motors Feature Race: Brenden Gooch (10G).

Sidecars — Race 1: Toby and Dylan Lardelli (99G) 1, Callum Innes and Russell Stuart (22G) 2, Stu Priest and Kerwin Arnaboldi (52G) 3. Race 2: Stu Priest and Kerwin Arnaboldi (52G) 1, Toby and Dylan Lardelli (99G) 2, Callum Innes and Russell Stuart (22G) 3. Race 3: Toby and Dylan Lardelli (99G) 1, Callum Innes and Russell Stuart (22G) 2, Stu Priest and Kerwin Arnaboldi (52G) 3. Winners of the Trade Zone Feature Race: Toby and Dylan Lardelli (99G).