Post by The Observer on Mar 16, 2011 12:05:15 GMT 12
Sprinkle of rain early on Saturday turned into a downpour, meaning we were postponed until Sunday for the Best Pairs Stockcar meeting. Bad luck for some locals, who had shift work requirements on Sunday, and meant they missed the meeting. WE still had an excellent turn out with a four cars from Christchurch, two from Nelson, and even two from Blenheim. Great to see the support for the big money meeting, haha.
Changed the size of the RR up a couple of inches to increase the stagger a wee bit after last week’s push. Big thanks to Olly and Jonny for helping us get ourselves sorted out for the day. I wanted to drop my visiting wife off at the airport in the afternoon, which meant the rainout date meant I’d miss heat 3, but had a couple of drivers in mind who would be (hopefully keen).
21 drivers had shown up, so I elected to go pair less since I knew I’d miss the last race, to give all the others the chance for the money. It was almost as bad as racing in Wellington with 6 Rees chassises, and 3 Tri-rails and one tank making up half the grid. I Drew grid 17 for this race, With Olly somewhere up the front.. We packed the track after the rain, and given the track grader had dug quite deep during the week, the rain had actually helped bring some of the clay out, and the track was looking a treat for the 1st race, despite a couple of lumps entering the first corner.
WE lined up out by the wall, and off the green I went to the inside, and we kept it straight through the first corner. Red lights come on at the exit, just as I saw 54c putting the immaculate 34c up the wall along the back straight.
Slowed down with arm out the window and came to a stop, as arm almost got taken off by Blaine Blythe 81c and big Jock Valance in 71c, who had the foot hard up it, and went past sideways spraying us with dirt and put half a lap on the field. I think they call that white line fever in rugby, haha.
Red light was for Gill Simpson who had the flatty parked on its roof by Clevo in the new tank. A bit of payback from the last time the two raced together, and Gill put a big shot on the big red Keith Gill machine. Gill will be glad that’s out of the way, so we can get back to racing haha. Don’t think the flatty had any damage (make a great buy for a first year driver) but he kicked his leg on something in the cockpit – must have forgot the shin pad I reckon.
Recka Rico had also had a big dive at Cody Teece on the exit, so the crowd were getting their money’s worth already, with plenty of action in the first turn! Recka smoked the gearbox, so that was him for the day, as Cody caught him next corner and repaid the dive. Saw Cody later on in the race, he had Dwayne Honey high and dry in the entrance to turn 3, so he was getting stuck into it everywhere, which is always good to see!
Took off again, following Olly and a few others. Managed to keep it low in the turn as 38gm and 71c battled, changing position over 4 laps which allowed me to close up on them both. 38gm slipped wide, and coped a wheelbarrow load of dirt through the visor – I was following, and completely lost site of the cockpit for mud, haha, so took the opportunity to slip by. Race was winding down, and we had a bit of lapped traffic to get by at this stage. Towbar Dave was one of them (bad hangover, but still able to front Jase, haha) and managed to get loose in front of the leaders, who both drove into them!
I thought it was a little poetic justice since the two chch hotrods had certainly not been put back by the referees after keeping hard up it on our red lights – don’t worry boys, I know you’re not used to daytime racing, and yep, I hear ya when ya say you weren’t worried about the big cash price...honest I do. Anyway, that put me in first place for the race, so got to take the flag for a change, and even better the wife was there to see that one.
Race two was off 9 or 7 I think. Keep it straight out of the corner, and raced like a big poof (no offence to any poofs out there, some of my best mates are gay, aye towbar). Raced with Gav Marshall for a bit, went up the inside after a couple of laps.
Raced a few more laps with Tony Stanton, then went up the inside of him (another non contact pass – sheesh, been hanging around olly waaay to much), closed in on Dwayne Honey, and had a bit of a dive and look up the inside and opened the door up – Smack Attack came up the inside with a lesson and spun me out of the way, that will teach me for driving like a plonker.
Something to work on next time! Came home in 5th, which put me 2nd on points behind Blaine, who I think, won this one. Good on ya mate, great to see you back out there now the leg is healed. Real sportsman BLaine is, getting a few others in the car when he couldn't drive, a top speedway man
(and wife is looking foward to the new wing haha)
Did the quick pack up of the gear, teed the sponsor Hahno (Hahn Logging – got any trees need chopping, yard clearing etc give them a bell) up for a drive, and after a bit of indecision he got the license and sheet signed, and paid up. Then left for the airport. Got the txt when down there that Hahno, off grid 9 had stormed through the pack on the first turn, and had followed Cody Teece for about 8 laps, before Cody put it around in the loose stuff – which there was quite a bit off by this stage out wide. Hahno swept through, and took the flag, with apparently a win he couldn’t get off for the rest of the weekend.
Overall, the car ended up 1st on points for the day (thanks for clarifying that for us Blaine LOL), not bad for a wobbler. Prize money went straight onto the license costs, and the OAS bill. Wife made it safely away from HOkitika, and I think a good time was had by all, except Olly who had a clutch problem in the 2nd that stopped him from finishing, and made him miss the 3rd heat. He did enjoy letting me know the car had gone faster than it ever did before with someone else behind the wheel ha-ha cheers maaaate. ANd also, good to hear the bonnet can stay on for the whole race without bonnet pins, good on ya hahno.
also a big well done to Graeme Reade and Gavin Vallence for winning the best pairs on the day - a great effort for Graeme, coming back from injury and a torid season - he even had a big wall ride in heat two as well! ANd good to see the 10k Terry O Connor motor paying off Gav. Towbar still reckons it went better with "smokey joe" haha. Lucky colin C wasn't there to block ya!Must be the pair of shark fins those guys were running i reckon.
Once again, a big thanks to Coast Photos for the great shots, don’t forget to check out the site here -www.coastphotos.org/ - for some great shots of your car in action, and a review of the racing. Thanks also for the A4 sized poster, and nice momento of the car looking good – can recommend these to anyone who is looking for one.
i joke
