Zoom and boom as speedway season starts with fireworks

Here we go: The Gisborne speedway season will light up in more ways than one tomorrow night with a $10,000 fireworks display. Stockcar drivers like Jamie Harding (71G), James Clarke (29G) and Jonny Morley (98G) will pick up where they left off last season. File picture

THERE will be fireworks in the sky and on the track tomorrow night as Gisborne Speedway Club opens its season with a $10,000 fireworks display and a 21-race programme across seven classes.

The Jukes Carriers Fireworks Extravaganza meeting was brought forward a weekend this year because otherwise it would have clashed with opening meetings at other tracks.

“As a consequence we expect visiting cars and drivers to join us tomorrow night. It’s very good,” said the club’s new president Neil Gooch.

Grant MacGregor stood aside from the role of president at the annual meeting earlier this year after 10 years at the helm.

“Grant did a great job as president and for me the role feels good at this point,” Gooch said. “I know I have some big shoes to fill but we will keep on working to ensure the speedway provides what it has always provided — real entertainment for the public and pleasure for our members.”

Gooch said most of the classes at the Eastland Group Raceway this season would be well stocked.

“There will be about 15 local stockcars, 10 streetstocks, 18 production saloons, five Gisborne-registered sidecar combinations, six local TQs and eight Gizzy saloons.

“Youth ministock numbers are down a bit again this season, with only eight or nine cars, but we expect to see those numbers build with cars from other tracks during the season.

“The out-of-town youth minstockers are lining up to come here. We have 26 cars for that class tomorrow night.”

Gooch said there were several highlights on the 14-meeting calendar this season, including the New Zealand production saloon car championships, North Island sidecar champs and a round of the BK Pro Dirt saloon car series.

“This season we will have two demolition derbies, with one of them hopefully the first teams’ demo derby for a while.”

The opening meeting is extra important for all drivers.

“It’s a double-points meeting so they’ll all be out there driving hard and trying to make a strong start to the season points-wise.”

Gooch said the production saloon car class had picked up and then some from where it left off last season.

“Having the national championships here has bolstered the field and encouraged more drivers to have a crack at that class.

“I reckon it will be another season of full-on close and hard racing in that class. It’s exciting.”

The stockcar class again looked strong, he said.

“There are a few new drivers in that class and the young guys from last season are raring to go again.”

The field will include Ben Holt back from injury in a new car.

“There may be a few scores to settle in that class from last season, which adds to the entertainment,” Gooch said.

The streetstock class has received a small boost in numbers.

“I think we have five or six of the quickest cars in the country in that class. They proved that last weekend when they raced in Hawke’s Bay and Gisborne cars took the three top placings.”

Gisborne Speedway Club’s new committee comprises Neil Gooch (president), Jamie Simpson (vice-president), Kelly Simpson (secretary), Amanda Mathers (treasurer), Spud Mathers, David Bacon, Cody Gooch, Clyde McGrory and Callum Innes.

Gates open at 5pm tomorrow and racing starts at 7pm.

“The fireworks show will start at about 9.15pm and Public Dreams has promised a more explosive and louder finish to it this year.”