THAT’S A WRAP

THANKS FANS: Gisborne Speedway Club had a tough season due to Covid restrictions and club president Clyde McGrory thanks fans like these, who supported them regardless.

Gisborne Speedway Club has finished one of its most challenging seasons and the club president has thanked fans for the support they gave despite the challenges presented by Covid.

The Eastland Group Raceway hosted the final local meeting of the season last Saturday afternoon and evening.

It was not the finale the club had hoped for because many out-of-town drivers chose to support their own local clubs rather than come to Gisborne as they had intended.

Covid also affected the number of drivers and vehicles on the track.

“We ended up with a good crowd anyway, and it was awesome to see the support from our fans,” club president Clyde McGrory said.

“We really appreciated their presence. Across the whole season, the crowd support has been so good, despite the difficulties we faced.

“The summer-season months were hard for everybody and to have our fans back us like they did was fantastic.”

The season was cut short dramatically due to Covid restrictions.

“We had 13 meetings scheduled and in the end we got three proper meetings and two club days going,” McGrory said.

“It was difficult to get through the days we did race because of the crowd-size restrictions and the impact on staff who came down with the virus.

“But I reckon the best part of the whole season was that we did manage to get five meetings away, which a lot of other speedway clubs across the country could not achieve.”

McGrory said the saloons produced probably the highlight of the racing last Saturday.

“They put on a really good show.

“Evan Mooney (42G) went really well, along with Ethan Cook in 76G and Daniel Cook in 77G.

“It was great to see both Cook cars racing again, after the damage sustained by 77G at our last meeting.”

It took a couple of dozen hours to get the badly damaged 77G back out on to the track — a fine achievement after such a serious rollover.

Both Cook cars will race in Palmerston North and Napier this weekend. Another Gisborne driver, Sean Robertson (16G), will race in Napier and Rotorua.

McGrory said the stockcars, although short on numbers, produced plenty of action last Saturday.

“Tara Whiteman (17G) was a real stirrer. She gave the guys a run for their money, and Trevor McArthur (128G) was right amongst it, too.”

McGrory said the club committee had already started planning for next season.

“We intend to open as early as we can, maybe late September or early October, with the first of five planned superstock meetings next season.

“Superstock rep Trevor Mullooly has met with Peter Rees and they’ve organised a really impressive series of meetings, including one where the Rees superstock chassis will be the top prize.”

Gisborne Speedway Club will host the North Island saloon car championship next season, along with the New Zealand sidechair Grand Prix, and the North Island TQ championship.

“It’s all go for 2022-23 and I think the fans who have supported us so well this season will be well entertained,” McGrory said.

“I would like to thank our drivers and their supporters, and all our club volunteers for the way they have stuck it out this season to deliver the best programme we could as a club under the circumstances.

“Roll on 2022-23.”