Young guns locked and loaded

YOUTH ACTION: The young up-and-comers of the speedway scene will test themselves in ‘traffic’ tomorrow night as the annual Youth Ministock 100 draws a big field for a night of close-driving action. There will be sizeable fields in the 12-14 and 15-16 age divisions. Picture by Liam Clayton

The Youth Ministock 100, Saloon Best Pairs and a visit from the man in red highlight Gisborne Speedway Club's Christmas meeting tomorrow night.

The Tool Shed Youth Ministock event has attracted more than 50 cars from across the North Island — 21 in the 12 to 14 years age group and 34 in the 15-16yrs, which will be run separately.

“That's a good line-up and it will be great to see what the youngsters are able to produce,” club secretary Aaron Lum said.

Koby Gooch (59G) and Corbyn Wilson (44G) will be among ones to watch in the younger age group. Both have been racing extremely well.

Keep an eye out as well for Ari Robertson (9G) in the older age group.

The JAG Painters Saloon Best Pairs has drawn a field of 10, including Auckland father and son Ted and Dave Ingram (16A and 116A) and the equally well-performed Trent Amrein (42M) of Mount Maunganui.

They face a powerful local contingent who have been racing out of their skins so far this season.

Sean Robertson (16G), Hamish Moore (85G) and Bailey Curtis (271G) have been swapping the front-running.

Throw in Ethan Cook in 76G and the class heats up even more.

“They won't know who they have been paired with until tomorrow night,” Lum said. “It will be exciting to see how the combinations work together and given the exceptional driving we've seen in that class already this season, it should be a fantastic spectacle.

“We can expect to see another consistent and skilled display of driving from Ethan Cook, for example, and with the North Island championships here in the new year, this will be a good chance for them all to prepare for it.”

The 13 cars entered so far in the stockcars include Trevor McArthur (128G) and Shaun Kingi (707G), who have been on the pace lately.

Local superstocks will also be racing tomorrow night, including Regan Penn (235G), Sam Hughes (77G), and Ben McArthur (328G).

“Jason Lovell will be racing in Jason Jones's car (81G) for the first time in that class.”

Cousins Ryan and Dylan MacGregor (74B and 7G) will go wheel-to-wheel in the field of eight TQ midgets.

The nine streetstocks are sure to deliver entertaining racing once again. Brent Durston (77G) is fresh from champion of champions glory and will battle it out again with Cody Gooch (6G) and Bob Fraider (31G).

Other support classes include production saloons in which Seth McKay (48G), Anton McKay (17G) and Blake Dear (37G) are probable front-runners.

Clive Ireland (56G) and Callum Innes (22G) will slide into the corners in style in their sidechairs.

“We will finish the night with a small demolition derby — not the big field we've seen in the past but it will still come down to the last car running,” Lum said.

During the meeting, Santa will drop by to say Merry Christmas to everyone, especially the children.

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