Teaming Up @ Waikaraka Park

After missing the Teams Champs at Palmerston North in February, I was really hanging out for some Superstock teams racing. So a huge thank you to the crew at Waikaraka Park for making it happen. Sure there was only six teams entered but hey it was a dream come true for this fan and the Panthers were one of those teams. I certainly wasn't going to quibble about the gate prices and thanks WP for coming up with the 2 night concession.

So who were the other teams that were going to put their cars and bodies on the line and attempt to knock the Palmerston North Panthers off the top rung. After missing the show in Palmy, we would see the return of the Auckland Allstars. They were joined by the Kihikihi Kings, Waikato Wanderers, Hawkesbay Hawkeyes and Rotorua Rebels. For only six teams there was some serious talent spread right through all the teams and some of the best machinery available in the North Island.

 
 

Friday night was about making the finals the following night. Two groups of three and six teams races. Sure it would have been great to have a couple of more teams competing but I was more than satisfied with what was served up. The teams races were supported by good fields of Stockcars, Saloons and Ministocks to add a bit of variety. There was some great racing in all the classes which kept a decent Friday crowd entertained. The Panthers and the Rebels came out top of their groups but would they end up facing each other in the final.

Saturday night and a great show lined up by the WP crew. Five more teams races with the promise of more intensity. Add in a reasonable field of Super Saloons, a large field of Minisprints contesting the Gran Prix and a great lineup of Modifieds to contest the Auckland Champs. All on a well prepared track.

My highlights of the weekend were in no particular order

• Adam Joblin's drive in the 162S stockcar on Friday night, fast car and big talent.
• Scott Joblin's initiation into the Panthers in the first race of the weekend.
• The return of the Auckland Allstars.
• The mussel fritter van added to food alley - mmmmmmmmmmmmm.
• Watching Macca absolutely chucking the 99A Super Saloon into turn 3 from my possie at the pit gate.
• Ricky Mitchell's return to teams racing and that blocking effort against the Panthers.
• The Panthers almost faultless team work.
• The spectacle that a full field of Mods create.
• The semi-final between the Hawkeyes and the Rebels.
• Most of all was being able to watch Superstock teams racing 10 minutes from where I live..........BRILLIANT.

This was a huge gamble by the Auckland Committee and I am really thankful that they took the leap along with a massive effort to run this meeting. It has some great history and hopefully this is a step towards keeping it on the annual calendar.

Lastly I will thank the Drivers, Owners, Crews and Sponsors. Just an awesome commitment from everyone to compete at this level.

 

 

Has it been that long !!!

I must apologise for the lack of updates for anyone who follows this blog. Sounding like a broken record, but time just seems to vanish and the days slip by before I realise that I haven't posted an update or report for so long. I am currently working on a couple of projects for drivers and sponsors who have kindly taken an interest in some of my photos, which is great. Looking forward to a couple of upcoming meetings, especially the Auckland Superstock Teams. Will certainly be looking to post some words and pics after these meetings.

I have been to a number of meetings since the last post and did manage to put some pics up on everybody's favourite speedway site - http://www.macgors.has.it/

Please use the following links to view some of these threads -
NZ Modified Champs
http://macgor.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=photos&action=display&thread=19988

SuperSaloons @ WP
http://macgor.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=photos&action=display&thread=19991

http://macgor.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=photos&action=display&thread=20322

Minisprints @ WP
http://macgor.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=photos&action=display&thread=20008

Stockcars @ WP
http://macgor.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=photos&action=display&thread=19992

http://macgor.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=photos&action=display&thread=20321

http://macgor.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=photos&action=display&thread=20319

Saloons & Streetstocks
http://macgor.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=photos&action=display&thread=20323

NZ Welding School World Invitation Superstocks Finals

And so after a great nights racing to find the the qualifiers it was back to Paradise Valley for finals night. Some of the pre-match entertainment was the annual pit crew challenge where two crews go head to head at changing a front wheel. The McRobbie crew successfully defended their title over the Hickey crew.

 As 7.00pm rolled around, everyone was eagerly awaiting the repercharge for those who missed qualifying the previous night. This is one of my favourite races of the event and boy did it deliver this time around. Just when you thought things were pretty cut and dried something would happen and completely change the race. Brilliant.

Here is some of the action from the repercharge.

Now to the main event, the finals over three heats. As on night one I only shot the first round of racing so the following pics are from the first heat. As is the norm at Paradise Valley, a lot of the action takes place in turns one and two and so many driver's races were won or lost negotiating the carnage. It is really interesting to watch how different drivers approach turn one at the start of the race.

The line up for heat one of the finals.

Some of the ensuing action from heat one.

The final heat would turn out to be a Palmy benefit which was a reversal of the recently run NZ Champs at the same venue where the Nelson boys made the crucial plays. However this time around I think the sheer weight in numbers of P cars made the difference. I was more than happy with the outcome as the 1st and 2nd placegetters are currently two of my favourite drivers to watch and like a dose of dejavu these two drivers would meet in a run off after ending heat three equal on points. Who doesn't like a run off to decide a major title. It is unfortunate though how the run off ended with a wheel going astray over the fence, initially heading directly in my direction although I was well back and out of harms way. Glad the spectator that copped it was not seriously hurt. At this stage I made for the gate for the drive back to Auckland.

Congratulations to  the following drivers, you really earned your spots.

1st - Peter Rees 3NZ (what more can you say about him)

 

2nd - Scott Joblin 2NZ (damn wheel)

3rd - Graeme Barr 32P (oh so close)

1st Superstock in Paradise - Dale Ewers 1NZ (well deserved)

Well that's it for another year. Will be hoping that Peter, Scott and Dale can make the trip to the UK later in the year and crack the BRISCA World title.

To all the competitors, crews and the Rotorua club members, thanks again for a truely great event. Lastly thanks to all the sponsors of the event and namely the NZ Welding School for their continued support.

NZ Welding School World Invitation Superstocks Qualifying

This is part one of a double-header covering another great event run by the Rotorua club at SG Equipment Paradise Raceway. A sunny hot afternoon greeted everyone as Drivers, Crew and Spectators arrived for qualifying night. I must admit that I was not expecting too much drama given the low numbers in each group but was pleasantly surprised by the amount of aggressive driving a number of competitors displayed in their attempts to make the main game the following night.

It never amazes me how a drivers race can change in an instant. Some drivers made their own luck and some couldn't even buy any. I think this is one aspect that makes speedway so interesting to me.

As with other recent meetings I have attended, the plan was to take some photos of the first round of racing then sit back and enjoy. After all that is why I spend so much hard earned dosh travelling to these meetings.

For an in depth description of the racing, please visit the Rotorua Club website -

http://www.rotoruaspeedway.co.nz/cgi-bin/control.pl?Function=Results&pageid=1295416054&Item=20110116.txt

Here's some the action from round one of the three qualifying groups.