BIG BOYS: Action from the early heats of the streetstocks at Oceanview.PHOTO/BEVAN CONLEY
THE THREAT of rain wasn't enough to deter racers at Supercheap Autos Oceanview Speedway on Sunday afternoon.
Three titles were decided, and despite there being a large contingent of visiting cars, all went to locally-contracted drivers.
Dion Mooney's stellar 2015-16 season was capped off by a dominant performance in the West Coast Stockcars where he won all three heats to take the title with a maximum 69 points.
It wasn't all plain sailing for Mooney though - in the second heat he had to chase down veteran racer Ron Tye in the 99V tank. Just when it looked as though Tye was going to hold on for the win, Mooney squeezed the 2NZ car to the inside when exiting the final corner.
The cars were neck and neck at the line, and although Tye was at first given the chequered flag, Mooney was later awarded the race by 0.01 sec.
After the third heat, Tye took second place overall on 63 points, with visitor Scott McIntosh (22P) and Tony James (14V) tied in third on 61 points.
McIntosh led out the run-off, and survived one attempted spin from James, driving the Dan Matthews car.
But going into turn three on the last lap, James made a big lunge at McIntosh and punted him off the racing line.
James stormed through to take the race and make it a Whanganui 1-2-3 in their home championship.
Mooney has been a stand-out in the Stockcar class this season wherever he has raced. After four minor placings in championship events around the country this season, his victory was very popular and well-deserved.
A large field of Youth Ministocks gathered for the Heiby Memorial, a gesture of respect to the late Craig Heibner, who was a hugely popular personality at Oceanview for many years.
Drivers from seven North Island tracks took part and for qualifying the cars were split into two groups, with the top 13 from each making the final. Robert Belk (25K) and local driver Dylan Smith (53V) were the top points scorers in qualifying, and earned the front grid positions for the Heiby Memorial final.
Smith got the jump at the start, and led the pack of 26 cars into the southern bend. He maintained his lead throughout, and took the win from Belk.
Bradley Korpf (86S) crossed the line in third.
However, third place was later shared between Korpf and Cameron Swift (42B) after Swift was impeded by a slower car when trying to make a late pass for third. Both drivers were happy to share the position.
Local drivers Trazarn Ryland-Annabel and Callum Sturzaker came home in ninth and 10th places respectively in a very strong field.
The Ministocks turned on some fantastic, clean racing, and in seven races the red lights were only activated twice.
In the opening qualifying heat, Belk held out the fast-finishing Smith by only 0.02 seconds in another extremely tight finish.
Streetstocks made a rare visit to Oceanview for their West Coast title.
After two heats it looked as though Craig Rolston (5P) was going to make no race of things, winning the two opening heats.
In the reverse-direction third heat however, Rolston crashed heavily into the wall at the southern end and his race was over.
Clive Rogers (18W) took the win from Matt Blinkhorne (56S) and locally-contracted driver Simon Bland (31V).
Two second placings in the first two heats however gave Bland enough points to take the title by two points over Blinkhorne.
Rolston's two race wins gave him enough points to tie with Rogers in third place, and the 5P car took the run-off after spinning the Wellington driver a couple of times.
The racing surface was probably the best it has been all season.
Although racing had to be suspended for 10 minutes early in the afternoon as a shower passed over, the track was quickly restored and the competitors enjoyed a surface with plenty of drive.
The season is fast coming to an end, although there is still one big meeting to come.
The West Coast Superstocks meeting, postponed last weekend, has been rescheduled for Sunday, April 24, and with Palmerston North running its last meeting of the season the night before, the club is hopeful of a big field for the premier class. This meeting will also feature the third round of the Elite Mechanical Stockcar Challenge.
At the Wanganui Stockcar and Speedway Club's clubrooms on Sunday night, meanwhile, the locals toasted the Whanganui clean sweep of titles.