Crashes and near misses as 51 drivers enter sprint

While the Vinz International Rally of Whangarei is the focus for many motoring fans this weekend, the Northland Car Club got in early with its Stage 3 Ltd Z Service Stations Northland Ruakaka Street Sprint.

Local drivers were put to the test by the 2.3km tarmac course - which was run on Sime Rd, Kepa Rd and some private Mighty River Power roads - with many minor crashes and near misses taking place.

With 51 entrants in last Sunday's event, a decent crowd of spectators were witness to Nathan Walker in his Mitzi Evo mowing the grass verge and giving the roadside shrubs a scare wide coming out of Kepa Rd to head up Sime Rd.

Also having near misses were Alan Strong, Geoff Penn, David Morrissey, Matt Smith, Alan Gordon, and Barry Armiger.

Of those who did crash, few had any serious damage with most being fender benders although some had to retire due to their damage.

However, Armiger's scare wasn't enough to put the handbrake on him claiming top honours for the day.

Armiger's win means he halts Jason Gill's dominance of the street sprint after Gill had won the previous four events.

Finishing behind Armiger in his RX7 on the winner's podium was Neville Messenger, who was second in another RX7, and David Roger, who was third in a Mitzi Evo X RS.

The Ruakaka Street Sprint was earlier postponed due to cyclone Lusi, but last weekend there was no such weather conditions to worry about.

The next Northland Car Club event is on Hartnell R d on April 27.