Three from three for cup: Cook wins saloon trophy, McArthur the stockcar classic

Trevor McArthur (128G) drove to clear victory with two firsts and a third in the Roseland Tavern Stockcar Classic at the speedway on Saturday night. The stockies put on a good show ahead of the teams event that involves the Gladiators this coming weekend in Napier. File picture by Liam Clayton

A powerhouse display of driving from Daniel Cook on board his Vulcan and an equally strong performance from veteran stockcar driver Trevor McArthur wrapped up two of three major trophies decided at Saturday night’s speedway meet.

The coolish night was turned red hot by the quality of the racing across all classes.

Cook (77G) took out the coveted Phil Walsh Memorial Championship with a faultless three wins from three starts.

The saloon class produced the goods right from the start of the night. Cook’s driving was special, epitomised by his win in race one.

He and Rodney MacIndoe (7G) took it to each other in that race, with MacIndoe in front by the barest of margins until the start of the final lap, when Cook hunted him on the outside going into the pit corner.

Cook got his nose in front and finished the race in front by two car lengths.

“It meant a lot to me personally to win the trophy, because of the Walsh family’s connections to the club,” Cook said.

“There were only six of us out there, but it was a good, fun night’s racing.”

Sean Robertson (16G) won the run-off to decide second place.

“Sean’s win over Rodney in that run-off was a well-driven race,” Cook said.

The other saloon trophy on the line on Saturday night, the Bruce Ellmers Memorial, was a one-race final. MacIndoe took it, ahead of Robertson with 42G Evan Mooney third.

Cook was well placed early on in that race but spun out.

“I thought I had four wins from four on the cards there for the first couple of laps, but Rodney got the better of me,” Cook said.

“It was good to see the trophies shared around, and good to see other drivers doing well.”

Trevor McArthur showed all his experience in the Roseland Tavern Stockcar Classic.

He steered 128G to a solid win in race one and that set the

tone for his challenge for the trophy.

McArthur scored two firsts and a third to take the title.

The first stockcar race featured a spectacular rollover when Ethan Bruce (71G) put Shane Bunning in 7G into the wall and over, coming out of the pit corner.

Bunning was OK.

Bryce Simpson (98G) was the strongest other challenger for the title and Josh Mulcahy was never far from the front-running action either.

The support programme was highlighted by the spectacular speeds produced by the visiting F2 midgets.

They showed they meant business right from the moment they launched themselves round the track in their warm-up ‘hot laps’ at the beginning of the meeting.

The nine cars produced enthralling, fast racing right through the night, with the Mount’s James Earl (22M) the best of them.

Earl produced the fastest F2 midget lap of the night at 14.694 seconds.

Results

Roseland Tavern Stockcar Classic: Trevor MacArthur (128G) 1, Bryce Simpson (98G) 2, Josh Mulcahy (48G) 3. Stirrers Prize: 71G Ethan Bruce.

Bruce Ellmers Memorial one-race final: 7G Rodney McIndoe 1,  16G Sean Robertson 2, 42G Evan Mooney 3.

Phil Walsh Memorial Championship: 77G Daniel Cook (3 from 3) 1, 16G Sean Robertson 2, 7G Rodney McIndoe 3.

Mountshop F2 Midget Champs - 22M James Earl 1, 81K Leyton Kendall 2, 99m Tylar Browne 3.