"It was awesome I had never driven a V8 until last weekend," Boswell-Wakefield said as he reflected on his rehearsal.
"I've done a bit of homework but if you can give me some more tips I'll appreciate them," Boswell-Wakefield said when he caught up with Hawke's Bay Speedway Club stalwart Tony Melling yesterday.
Melling stressed the importance of tapping the cars in front of his in the right place if he wanted to turn them around. He also told Boswell-Wakefield how to deal with a wet track.
"I hear the Magpies have been told there isn't to be any intentional contact but when you've got nine drivers out there who haven't raced before you're going to get contact," Melling added.
"I've done my homework. But I can't discount the chances of Kelly [Petrowski] ... I've heard he's had a bit of experience with fast cars. I'm also worried about Lamborn ... not so much about him winning but about him disrupting," Boswell-Wakefield explained.
One bloke who Boswell-Wakefield didn't mention was his Tech clubmate and 2013 New Zealand under-20 winger Penikolo Latu. He relishes confrontation on the field and if he can transfer this to the speedway track spectators will be entertained.
"Pene loved it last weekend but I think he spent more time spinning himself around," Boswell-Wakefield recalled.
Other Magpies training squad members who will race in three heats tonight are All Black Sevens World Series winner Trinity Spooner-Neera, former Hurricanes halfback Chris Eaton, Ted Walters and Billy Ropiha.
Boswell-Wakefield agreed their appearance tonight will prove an ideal marketing opportunity for the Magpies community jersey campaign. Hawke's Bay Rugby Union commercial manager Jay Campbell said the union was hoping the community would buy into becoming part of the team and having their name on the 2014 playing jersey.
"It's about our community taking ownership of the Magpies ... this will make an ideal gift for fans," Campbell said. "We have already sold more than 250 spots, but we need another 200 or so to full it."
Boswell-Wakefield has a busy month. After tonight's speedway meeting his attention will turn to his commitments with the International Rugby Academy of New Zealand Tens team.
They will attempt to retain their title at the Manila Tens in the Philippines on the weekend of March 22 and 23. The following week they will play at the Hong Kong Tens which is staged before the annual Hong Kong Sevens.
"We've got a pretty good team again this year with the likes of Mitchell Scott from Tasman and Willie Paia'aua from Manawatu," Boswell-Wakefield said.
Last year, he played for the England-based Samarai team which reached the semifinals in Hong Kong. Because of these commitments he may miss the first round of Hawke's Bay's Nash Cup premier club competition on March 29. "Hopefully playing in these tournaments will enhance my chances of more game time with the Magpies. While there was a bit of talk suggesting I might get a Super Rugby wider training group berth last year I didn't expect one because of my lack of game time in the ITM Cup ... fingers crossed I'll come into Super Rugby contention this year," Boswell-Wakefield said.
"With my new job I'll have more petrol in the tank for trainings and games this season," Boswell-Wakefield said referring to his customer services role with NOW.
"In the past it's been a bit tough with my physical labour type jobs. Now I'm not on my feet all day I'm ready for trainings ... although the mental side of my job can be tough," he added. But nowhere near as tough as the challenge Boswell-Wakefield and his teammates will face tonight.
Tonight's other feature events at Meeanee will be the Hawke's Bay stockcar championships, Hawke's Bay kiwilite championships and a demolition derby. Support classes will be TQs and ministocks.
