Teams battle for prize trophy

DRAWCARD: Oceanview Speedway is hoping to repeat the crowd numbers it attracted to the fireworks meeting. PHOTO/SUPPLIED

It's a very special day for speedway fans this Sunday when the Oceanview Speedway hosts the annual Charlie Berntsen Trophy programme.

Speedway spokesman Mick Paul said the organisers were hoping for a good turnout because this trophy day was "special".

"A lot of younger people especially don't know who Charlie is, but we liken him to the Colin Meads of rugby. That's how Charlie is to speedway given the respect he has in speedway across the country and beyond," Paul said.

Best known as "Big Bad Charlie", Berntsen was a fixture in New Zealand speedway from the time he started competing in 1962 and ended competitive racing in 1984.

He raced for Wanganui and Palmerston North and was twice a member of the Kiwi team that raced against Australia and England. He picked up championships titles at a number of tracks as well as the national crown in 1982.

More often than not programmes recorded his name simply as Big Bad Charlie and left off the surname because everyone knew who they were referring to.

Paul said the first race on Sunday starts at 3pm and the 27-race programme should be finished two hours later.

Among drivers taking part will be the Wanganui team which successfully won the Rees Shield at Rotorua several weeks ago.

The shield is rated as one of the top teams trophies in the country and the win by the Wanganui Vulcans means the trophy now holds pride of place in the Oceanview clubrooms.

"We got a huge crowd there on November 8 for the special fireworks meeting and we're hoping to repeat that this weekend," Paul said.

"We've got a full programme of races, including stockcars, sidecars, adult and youth ministocks, sprints, production saloons and super stocks.

"We try and get 27 races through in that two-hour period so there's no mucking around in terms of what the spectators will get to see," he said.

Paul said classes for this Sunday were full and Wanganui competitors would be racing against cars from Stratford and Palmerston North.