Speedway: Veteran brothers keen to nail that elusive title

Steve Flynn, his nephew Jakob and Jakob's father, Grant Flynn, give Steve's super saloon engine a final check in the buildup to Saturday night's North Island Super Saloon Championship at Meeanee. Photo/Glenn Taylor.

Here's a bit of Hawke's Bay speedway trivia fans will struggle to believe.

Hawke's Bay super saloon driver Steve Flynn, 40, has been racing for 20 seasons but has yet to win the North Island Championship. The 2012 national champion has had three seconds and a third in the event and has been on the podium for the past three seasons.

"If I can win it on Saturday night I might be able to retire," Flynn remarked as he pondered the 18-car Thirsty Whale-sponsored North Island Championship to be raced at Hauraki Speedway.

His father and Hawke's Bay Speedway Club life member Mike Flynn, who raced saloons from 1972-'92, agreed a win in this championship is long overdue for the older of his two sons in the event but pointed out he would be happy with a "Flynn quinella" either way. Flynn's younger brother, Grant, 37, who also races a V8 Chev and is in his 17th season of racing, has also yet to win this title.

"I've come third in the past but in saying that I haven't raced in it for three years. I'm reasonably confident about Steve and I both going well but at the same time we know at least 12 of the starters are all capable of taking out the title."

Grant listed defending champion Don Gregory of Wellington, Auckland's Ben Harding and Mount Maunganui's Dean Waddell as the hot favourites. Steve and Grant have an extra incentive to perform well ... they won't want to be overshadowed by Grant's son Jakob, who has been a regular placegetter in the ministock class, one of Saturday night's support classes, this summer.

Jakob, 14, who like his father and uncle also benefits from Mike's input as the "main man" in his crew, pointed out the experience of his "family crew" has been a big plus for him this summer. Several of the visiting super saloon drivers also have family members racing in the ministock class so Jakob and his fellow Bay drivers will have plenty of hot competition.

"I have the same goal at each meeting. I want to do well and bring the car home in one piece."

He ticked that goal off with a win and two second placings at his last meeting. While this has been the norm this season it wasn't always the case during his first two seasons in the class.

The former cadet class 3NZ on the karting scene had a spectacular roll back in January and this mishap prevented him from attending the prestigious Rotorua-hosted Ministocks in Paradise meeting, an event he is targeting in February. Grant said he had had more time this season than in the past to work on Jakob's car and this work, along with his son's improved track sense, had paid off.

The older Flynns, who have been busy this week repairing damage to their cars collected at Bay Park last weekend, will be two of four Hawke's Bay drivers chasing the North Island Super Saloon title. Former 3NZ Grahame Strong and Strong's brother-in-law Johnny Browne are the others.

Saturday night's title winner will pocket $1500. The championship will be decided over three 20-lap heats.

Other support classes racing are superstocks, stockcars and streetstocks. Santa Claus will also make his annual visit to the track with plenty of giveaways.