Ethan Anderson (left) and father Marty prepare his stockcar for tonight's Krusty 500 meeting at Meeanee. Photo / Duncan Brown
Popular Hawke's Bay stockcar stirrer Tony Darroch had a few words of advice for me as I started to chat with Meeanee Maulers rookie Ethan Anderson this week.
"You won't get too many words out of Ethan as he's so shy. If you do I'll shout you a hot dog."
Darroch's advice was warranted. Anderson is a bloke of few words who prefers to do his talking out on the track. However, considering the progress he has made during the past three seasons in the class since graduating from the ministock ranks Anderson, 24, deserved some ink in the countdown to tonight's Krusty 500 meeting at Meeanee.
He has been a regular top-three finisher on his home track during the last two seasons and he secured the victory for the Maulers in their race for third place against the Rotorua Rascals at the national teams champs in Auckland earlier this month.
"Helping the Maulers finish third was the highlight of my speedway career to date. I had only done one teams race before that Auckland trip and it was that friendly Napier versus Hastings race earlier in the season," Anderson explained.
In his first race in Auckland, the Maulers' second outing against the Kihi Kihi Crusaders which they lost, Anderson collected a substantial amount of damage as he was dispatched the wall. Against the Rascals he produced a classy drive at the front of the field in his 236 O'Connor Engine-powered car.
"I learnt so much in Auckland. Teams racing is so different to when you are racing by yourself ... I've got to remember to watch my mirrors a bit more in teams racing," Anderson said.
"Teams racing is something I've always wanted to do and it was good to have the opportunity. You definitely need two cars because of the damage you can get."
His father Marty enjoys the quality father-son time and assists him as much as he can.
"Ethan is speedway crazy. I first took him to Meeanee when he was 5 and I remember him counting down the years and days until he was 12 and able to race in the ministocks," Anderson's father recalled.
Anderson finished second in last season's Krusty 500 to clubmate Michael Smith and will aim to go one place better tonight. When quizzed on his approach the Future Products Group sheetmetal fabrication apprentice replied: "Don't trust anyone and go hard. I paid the price for a bit of hesitation last season."
Clubmate Josh Swannell, who punished him for that hesitation, and Regan Penn are other Bay drivers he tipped to do well tonight. Once this weekend is done and dusted Anderson's attention will turn to the February 9 and 10 North Island Championship in Huntly and February 23 and 24 New Zealand Championship in Gisborne.
"At last count 103 drivers had entered for Gisborne. It would be awesome to podium there ... that's everyone's dream."
Last season Anderson, who ranked retired Hawke's Bay two-time national superstock driver Shane Penn and multiple national champion Peter Rees of Palmerston North and Gisborne as his heroes, qualified in the North Island Championship and New Zealand Grand Prix.
"I'll stay in the stockcar class but if I win Lotto I will move up to the superstock class," Anderson said.
He pointed out he is lucky to work alongside Darroch, who can keep his hot dog, and fellow speedway driver Shane Laking.
"Speedway is always the talk at smoko time. Tony always tells me he is going to roll me so I will be keeping an eye in my mirror for him this weekend."
Anderson is grateful for his team of sponsors and supporters - Revolution Retreads, Ignite Tyres, Mag & Tyre Hastings, Geoff Bicknell and Aaron Richardson.
"Without them I wouldn't get out on to the track."
Like numerous other speedway drivers, Anderson, has recently taken up online racing and he said it has definitely helped his speedway pursuits.
"It's the next best thing to being out on the track."
Anderson and 35 others will chase the first prize of $3000 tonight. The second placegetter will get $1000, the third placegetter $750 and there will also be $500 rollover money up for grabs in the MTF Vehicle Finance-sponsored event.
Aucklander Keegan Orr who won all three of his races on opening night at Meeanee at Labour Weekend has the potential to do the best of the visitors. The meeting is staged in memory of Christopher John "Krusty" Keane, the son of track commentator Mike Wilson who died in Australia in 2015.
Three 15-lap races are scheduled and points accumulated in all three determine the winner. The final race will begin in front of the commentator's box which makes it 500m instead of the normal 400m, thus the Krusty 500 tag.
In addition to stockcars superstocks, production saloons, saloons and streetstocks will also be raced tonight. The production saloon drivers will race for their Hawke's Bay championship.