Feature race win to Eastland Kart Club’s ‘quiet assassin’ Vita on new Gisborne track

Ashley McMillan chases Daniel Taylor through the hairpin on Eastland Kart Club's new track in its first points meeting of the season. Photo / Barry Irvine

Some call Mike Vita “the quiet assassin”, in the nicest possible way.

He started Eastland Kart Club’s feature race on Sunday at the back of the field and 12 laps later ended it at the front.

It was the first points meeting of the club’s 12th season and the new track at the Aerodrome Rd venue had a tight hairpin bend that called for more skill from drivers.

Twelve karts contested the feature race held at the end of the day’s racing. Drivers had to do 11 laps on the new course and one – a joker lap – on the old part of the track. They could do the joker lap at any stage, and much depended on when they chose to do it.

Vita chose the last lap as his joker and crossed the finish line first after his best drive yet ... one that earned him the name “the quiet assassin”.

Shaun Barwick was second, Harley Davis third, Logan Irvine fourth, Seth Hall fifth and Ashley McMillan sixth.

At the start of the day’s racing, drivers did timed laps to determine their racing group. Depending on results, they could go up or down the groups as the day’s racing progressed. A Group was the fastest, then B and then C.

The two Seths – Hall and McKay – shared first and second placings in the A Group. Seth Hall had two wins and Seth McKay one while McKay had two second placings and Hall one.

Vita had two third placings while rising star Barwick had one.

Dion Lund, showing his best form yet, had two B Group wins. Davis took the other win.

Daniel Taylor, Irvine and McMillan each had one second placing while Lyn Lyle had three third placings.

In the C Group, Hamish Worsnop, Tyler Barwick and Roger Moss each had a win.

Caleb Stichbury, McMillan and Ethan Bruce each had a second placing. Indigo McGuinness (two) and Ethan Bruce had third placings.

The rookies and juniors had front, middle and back starts.

Kolten Irvine took all three wins in the rookies.

In the junior class, Pyper Irvine won three races and Jose Govender had three second placings.

The rookies and juniors joined together for their own feature race at the end of the meeting. Kolten Irvine took first place and sister Pyper was second.

People can check out some karts and learn more about the club at the A&P Show this week.