Treble in streetstock boys’ sights

JOINING FORCES: Brenden Gooch (10G) and Ben McArthur (8G) are part of the hometown gang ready to rumble in the New Zealand streetstock teams’ championship tomorrow night. Pictures by Liam Clayton

THE treble is the “target for tonight” for Gisborne streetstock racers as they prepare for the New Zealand grand prix at Eastland Group Raceway tomorrow. The World War 2 bomber command parlance is the perfect description for what is set to be an explosive contest.

Gisborne drivers have taken two of the four national streetstock titles up for grabs this season and they hunting for a third. Travis Gooch (7G) won the North Island title in December and Aaron Brown(1NZ) snared the New Zealand crown in Kihikihi last weekend.

“We are expecting 24 cars for the Robert Harris Cafe-sponsored event,” said Gisborne Speedway Club president Grant MacGregor. “They are coming from all over the North Island and we’ve got cars from Christchurch and Dunedin entered as well.”

The three cars from Dunedin include defending grand prix champion James Robinson(9D). A strong contingent from Hawke’s Bay will compete including new 3NZ Darren Melling.

The GP is raced over three 15-lap heats and acccumulated points decide placings. Brown said the Gisborne drivers would be very determined to add this title to the list of achievements for the Gisborne club in streetstocks so far this season.

“I’m sure the boys will all want to work together to ensure someone from our club gets across the line first. I will certainly be going out there to win it but at the same time I will help out the other Gizzy guys.

Gooch the stalwartSpeedway stalwart Neil Gooch said the Gisborne drivers had worked together well over the season.

“That was shown last weekend in the help Aaron got to go 1NZ,” he said. “We’ve got the machinery and the ability to do it, as the boys have proven in recent times.

MacGregor said the Gisborne streetstock drivers had put it all on the line throughout the season and he expected more of the same tomorrow night.

The meeting’s support programme includes six shooters, production saloons, youth ministocks and sidecars.

Reece Lister (8G) has been the standout in the six shooters and will be the one to beat.

Dave Gooch (10G), Fraser Wright (44G), Dylan Quinn (7G), Nikki Ellmers (18G) and Lloyd Stuart (34G) will resume their rivalry in the production saloons.

Hamish Moore (16G), Angus Briant (81G), Bailey Curtis (21G) and Thomas Rumble-Faram (4G) have been the leading lights in the ministocks.

There will be a head-to-head father-and-son battle between Deane and Rob Miller in the sidecars.

Miller junior will have Bradley Solomon as his swinger while Miller senior is paired with Pete Steigenberger.