Speedway driver in court over friend's death

A champion speedway driver has appeared in court charged with causing the death of a friend in a crash last year.

Murray Warren Gordge, 57, was behind the wheel of a Corvette C6 in New Plymouth on November 6 when he lost control. The car hit a concrete power pole and flipped.

His passenger, Clifford Francis Guy, 62, a friend and fellow speedway driver, was killed.

Police said the car displayed dealer plates and was believed to have been speeding. Gordge, a six-time national modified speedway champion, entered no plea in New Plymouth District Court yesterday to charges of careless and dangerous driving causing death, the Taranaki Daily News reported.

He was remanded to reappear on May 14.

- NZPA