Weekend of speed thrills

UP NEAR THE FRONT: In one of several highlights for Gisborne speedway from the weekend, Rob Miller (right) and swinger Raymond “Red” George finished a creditable fourth in the New Zealand sidecar championships at Meeanee in Hawke’s Bay. Picture by Kenneth Fox Digital Imagery

DOMINANCE from streetstocker Brenden Gooch, power from Mason O’Dwyer in the stockcars, top driving from Fraser Wright and Dave Moorcroft in the saloons and breathtaking thrills from Freestyle NZ were highlights of Saturday’s speedway meeting.

The weather, particularly a strong southerly, prevented the motocross team from putting on their full programme.

But what they did produce was an outstanding display of skill and guts that wowed a crowd of reasonable size.

“Our first few jumps were a bit nerve-racking till we got used to the wind and the darkness,” said Stuart Ewing, one of the two daredevils who flew to the height of a three-storey building over the Eastland Group Raceway.

“We calculated our distances in the first jumps and after that it was lot easier.”

Ewing and Andrew Jackson, both from Gore, made about 20 jumps between them, and Jackson completed two 360-degree mid-air spins during his display.

“The 360s are probably the easiest tricks to do once you get a feel for it,” Jackson said.

“The trick is to imagine you are still at home training, then just do it.”

The driving of Brenden Gooch (10G) in the streetstock class was a feature of the night.

Gooch won all three races in that class and his brother Cody, driving 6G, was never far from the action with a couple of second placings.

Former streetstocker Aaron Brown made a good fist of his outing in Hamish Moore’s saloon car (16G) with a first and a second in the saloon class.

“He was just out there having a play in Hamish’s car but, boy, he drove well,” club president Grant MacGregor said.

Mt Maunganui-contracted Gisborne driver Dave Moorcroft (6M) was the standout in that class, with two fine wins.

Young gun Bailey Curtis completed his first full meeting in his car (21G) and took out the last of the four races in that class, along with a second placing.

“I tried to keep it tight on the inside in that final race, to keep my line as tight as possible so no one could get underneath me,” the 17-year-old said.

“It feels really good to have come through my first full meeting. I am still getting used to it but I am slowly finding my feet.”

The production saloon class turned on another enthralling contest, Fraser Wright (44G) emerging with two well-deserved wins.

Dave Gooch (7G) was the other standout and his consistency was rewarded with a first, a second and a third across the night.

Seth McKay (48G) drove well in the youth ministocks and, like Gooch, had a 1-2-3 night.

It was good to see Sammy Durston (117G) get up for a second-place finish in one of the youth races. Jyneika Hollis-Peach (321G) was another to stand out.

ResultsProduction saloons — Race 1: Dave Gooch (7G) 1, Crystal Peach (10G) 2, Anton McKay (17G) 3. Race 2: Fraser Wright (44G) 1, Gooch (7G) 2, Taylor Emerson (77B) 3. Race 3: Wright (44G) 1, Chris Miller (4G) 2, Gooch (7G) 3.

Saloons — Race 1: David Moorcroft (6M) 1, Bailey Curtis (21G) 2, Ken Dibben (86G) 3. Race 2: Aaron Brown (16G) 1, Dibben (86G) 2, Moorcroft (6M) 3. Race 3: Moorcroft (6M) 1, Brown (16G) 2, Dibben (86G) 3.

Streetstocks — Race 1: Brenden Gooch (10G) 1, Dave Hampton (88G) 2, Tim Towler (95B) 3. Race 2: Brenden Gooch (10G) 1, Cody Gooch (6G) 2, Towler (95B) 3. Race 3: Brenden Gooch (10G) 1, Cody Gooch (6G) 2, Neil Gooch (7G) 3.

Stockcars — Race 1: Regan Penn (5B) 1, Mason O’Dwyer (99G) 2, James Clarke (29G) 3. Race 2: O’Dwyer (99G) 1, Justine White (94B) 2, Jonny Morley (98G) 3. Race 3: O’Dwyer (99G) 1, Dylan Pickering (56G) 2, White (94B) 3.

Ministocks — Race 1: Sam Murray (196R) 1, Sammy Durston (117G) 2, Seth McKay (48G) 3. Race 2: McKay (48G) 1, Connor Humphreys (82G) 2, Jyneika Hollis-Peach (321G) 3. Race 3: Paige Aulding (56R) 1, McKay (48G) 2, Hollis-Peach (321G) 3.

• In other results for Gisborne drivers at the weekend, Rob Miller and Raymond “Red” George finished a creditable fourth in the New Zealand sidecar championships at Meeanee in Hawke’s Bay.

Miller came out of semi-retirement to drive again and, given the pair had had only a few runs together, their result was outstanding.

“We finished only a point behind third place and we got sashes — we were absolutely rapt,” Miller said.

The pair will race in the NZ Sidecar Grand Prix in Gisborne this weekend.

Saloon racer Daniel Cook (77G) finished a meritorious fifth in the New Zealand saloon car championships at Woodford Glen, Christchurch.

“I was pretty stoked with the result,” Cook said.

“I gave it everything.”

Younger brother Ethan (76G) would have qualified top in his group but for a mechanical failure in one of his heats, and he failed to make the final.

Also over the weekend at Meeanee, Angus Briant drove his youth ministock (81G) to first place in the David Jones Cup competition held over two days.

Briant won four of his races and finished second in the other two in a dominant display.

• The Eastland Group Raceway hosts the inaugural New Zealand Production Saloon Grand Prix and the New Zealand Sidecar Grand Prix this Saturday night.