The Gooch family in a night to remember

WHAT A HOMECOMING: Travis Gooch hoists the winner’s flag after the mayhem of the demolition ramp race at the speedway meeting on Saturday night. He arrived home for Christmas only the night before, but a well-prepared car and some great driving secured the main prize.

SPEEDWAY by Murray Robertson

THE Gooch family had a night to remember at the Eastland Group Raceway on Saturday night.

Travis Gooch came home for Christmas to win the demolition derby and Dave Gooch won the production saloon champion of champions title.

More than 30 cars lined up on the slippery track for the Jukes Carriers Demolition Ramp Race and they wowed the big crowd as the number of dead and disabled cars grew and grew.

After 20 minutes of non-stop bone-jarring, metal-tearing action, the track looked like a battlefield.

Travis Gooch arrived home only on Friday night from his job as a graphic designer in Port Douglas in northern Queensland.

“A group of my mates prepared the Honda Orthia car for me,” he said.

“It was awesome to win. The adrenalin was pumping right to the end.”

As the last man standing, Gooch picked up a cheque for $1000.

Runner-up Josh Maats, in Car 33, pocketed $300.

Sidecar swinger Callum Innes picked up one of the stirrer prizes in Car 22, the little red cube, and Cody Gooch in Car 6 picked up the other stirrer’s award.

“We were rapt with the size of the line-up, something like 36 cars, and the derby was fantastic,” Gisborne Speedway Club president Neil Gooch said.

“Everyone entered into the spirit of it, and went out there to annihilate each other.”

The Professional Fleet Maintenance production saloon title went down to the wire.

“There were only a few points between the top drivers,” Neil Gooch said.

Dave Gooch (7G) won the title, ahead of second-placed Anton McKay (17G) and Crystal Peach (10G) in third.

“It feels awesome to win this again, especially now I’m on the Gold Card,” Dave Gooch said.

“I think that’s the third or fourth time . . . not bad for a young 65-year-old!

“It was really good racing, awesome racing, and a good build-up for the New Zealand championships here next month.”

Gooch said his car was going well.

“As long as it all holds together, I’ll be happy.”

Speaking of cars going well, the Cook brothers Daniel (77G) and Ethan (76G) put on another powerhouse performance in the saloons.

Daniel won Heat 1 and the feature, and Ethan took out the second by a coat of paint ahead of his brother.

“The Cook boys are in a class of their own at the moment,” Neil Gooch said.

“Their cars are so well set up and they are both driving exceptionally well.”

Clive Ireland and his swinger Chris Symon (56G) had a night to remember in the sidecars best pairs with a good heat victory over current New Zealand champions Russell Stuart and Andy Parker.

“That win felt good,” Ireland said.

The track was “nice and slicky” and their bike had good grip, so it suited the conditions.

“It was a real thrill to beat 1NZ. It would be good to race them all the time to get faster.”

Ireland said he had benefited from having a season and a half off.

“It’s sharpened me up and I’m keen to do it again.”

He finished with two firsts, a second and a fourth on Saturday night.

Ireland and the team he was paired with from Palmerston North finished second in the Business Applications Sidecar Best Pairs.

The winners were from Hawke’s Bay and Auckland,

The stock cars put on a monumentenal display again, with Jason Lovell (67G) one of the standouts.

James Kirk joined the stockcar field in his superstock (331G) for some driving time ahead of his competition with the Gisborne Giants, and it was a precision display of eye-catching driving.

Full results from the meeting will follow.

“Santa was a hit with the crowd when he toured the track in the Gladiators chariot,” Neil Gooch said.

“The club would like to wish everyone an enjoyable Christmas and a safe and happy New Year.”