By DAVID OGILVIE David.ogilvie@wanganuichronicle.co.nz Wanganui driver Michael Eden leads the Central Muscle Car series after the first weekend's racing at Taupo. The series involves seven meetings, this season around Manfeild, Taupo and Pukekohe. Eden, driving his 1970 Ford GTHO, completed a good weekend for Wanganui drivers by heading his group, while Ian Williamson(1969 Ford Mustang) finished third overall and Ross Francis (1968 XTGT Ford) third in group two. It was a tough weekend for all, in a format which saw drivers faced with qualifying, two reverse grid races and one from their qualifying grid positions. Eden says he had a bit of luck ? when the rain came down and everyone was caught using slicks (tyres) he managed the Taupo track a little better than the others. "I was fourth in qualifying, which then put me 14th on the grid for the first handicap race ? and I managed to get up to fourth," Eden said. "The next race was a grid start ? we were all on slicks, and it started raining at the start of the race ? and my car handled the wet better and I had quite a comfortable win. People say Michael drives the car sideways pretty well ? in the dry or the wet?. "But you can imagine what it was like. There are guys out there pushing 600-700hp, and with slicks on in the wet, it can get a bit exciting," Eden says. The last race, another handicap race, saw Eden get through to second ? and claim the weekend's overall points honours. "There was all sorts of action in that race, with cars going off etc." All races were over six laps of the long Taupo track, where the A1 Grand Prix will be held in January. Eden is most impressed with the new track. "It's fantastic ? very tight and twisty over the first half, and the second part is very high speed. So you get a bit of both. And it's a spectator's delight up there as well." There are six more meetings in the series, the next being at Manfeild (the MG Classic meeting), on November 12 and 13. "There'll be a good turnout of muscle cars there ? last year we had more than 30." Eden was third in his class last year.
