Weather forecast presses pause on Gisborne Speedway Club Friday-Saturday meeting

Speedway fans will have to wait a bit longer to see who takes out the prestigious Bruce Ellmers and Phil Walsh memorial trophies for the season. Rodney McIndoe would have been a contender, but the double-header meeting has been postponed. Photo / Angus Bodle

The approach of Cyclone Vaianu this weekend has got the better of the Gisborne Speedway Club.

The club has reluctantly postponed its final meeting of the season.

It was to have been a double-header meeting with races on Friday and Saturday nights.

Up to midday Thursday, club officials had planned to take their chances with the weather and press ahead.

“However, the committee decided the weather impact was likely to be too serious to run the meeting,” club president Sam Hughes said.

“We were told to expect rain from 8pm Friday, drizzle on Saturday, then rain on Sunday.

“With the potential for road closures and so many drivers set to come from out of town, it was decided to call it off.

“We hope at this stage to run it on May 8 and 9,” Hughes said.

Highlight events of the postponed meeting included the Phil Walsh and Bruce Ellmers Memorial races for saloon cars, the Superstocks Points Dash decider and Superstock Champion of Champions, the Advanced Automotive Ministock 1200cc championships, Roseland Stockcar Classic and the traditional fireworks display.