The title above refers to the feeling I had as I ventured towards my first speedway meeting in over a month at WP, the final round of the Leisurerite Spa Pools and Pacific Urethanes North Island Modified Series.
You see, over the past few weeks there have been some fairly heated arguments about the way in which meetings are being presented/promoted/cancelled at WP after the resent Stockcar teams two night meeting that became a no nights meeting. The Jamo I refer to is involved heavily in the modified section at WP and is passionate about the class and has along with a few others like Phil Crumpe (driver of 36a Modified), gone about resurrecting the modifieds with or without the support of the club. It hasn't been easy and criticism of anything to do with WP, whether it be modified related or not has been met with some fierce 'fightin' talk' and challenges laid down to be 'more positive' in posting comments about the club or to get off your butt and do something about it. So writing a review of any sorts about a meeting that features Modifieds, Sidecars and a Caravan Derby is not going to be easy if the meeting follows the usual 2006 season at WP.
Well, first I will say that the Modifieds turned it on (phew!) 15 of them turned up which is pretty good for this time of year. One from Stratford 4s Dixon, 2 from Rotorua 19r and 16r, and all the rest from Auckland. Now just to be clear, if there are any classes at WP that turn it on week in week out, it's the Stockcars and the Modifieds, so there was little doubt that the Mods would be anything but spectacular on this last meeting in the Series.
Three heats were run on a heavy track that didn't help the drivers any, and probably played a part in a huge crash in the third heat that took a bit of the sting out of the race but no complaints from me, Jamie Fox took out the series with an almost faultless performance. Winners of the three heats were 11a Fox, 19r Lane and 6a Jesen. The Auckland drivers took out the top three spots in the series too. The resurgence in Modifieds over the last two seasons has been a credit to everyone involved and it looks as though it will only get stronger with the continued support from the two main sponsors featured tonight.
Now the difficult bit... the sidecars were canned due to the track conditions, now that's unavoidable and just part of racing although massively disappointing as it looked like they had one of the best fields of sidecars I've seen in a while including 1nz and 2nz and representation from Wanganui and Christchurch.
The superstocks numbered six, although 271h only appeared in the last race and they were boring to say the least. In fact 441a Andrew Weir ran with them to boost the numbers in the first heat and actually won the race! This season must rate as one of the worst for this class, there's not much entertainment you can create if you only have five cars on the track.
The Stockcars numbered about 10 which has to be one of their lowest turnouts and barely touched each other. One of the most reliable classes for entertainment value was decidedly average and a let down.
Limited saloons were alright, not one of my favourites although 12a Nevano Cowan was excellent, and the streetstocks were pretty tame to say the least.
The night finished with a Caravan Derby that was pretty good. I'm usually gone by the time these things start but thought I'd check it out for once and stayed until about three of them were endlessly lapping before I did go.
So there you have it, a meeting that was held together with one section performing well, and all the rest on cruise control. Not great. Perhaps these other sections are missing behind the scenes people like Jamo and Co. who's passion for their class has not only raised the numbers competing but has made a difference to what is happening on the track and made their class a standout worth going to see? Perhaps they are the template that should be used for Superstocks because something has to be done soon, the horse is bolting and the metophoric gate needs shutting now before the actual gates are shut for good!
Meeting rating: 4/10
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