WP Practice 2+3, Huntly Opening Meeting

The fact that we got to see any racing this weekend was a bonus if the weather predictions were to be believed, although my luck ran out after the first round of heats at Huntly's meeting Saturday night. But first a few photos from the second and third practices at WP Saturday afternoon which had a bigger turnout of cars than the week before although fewer stockcars than last week. I spoke to Stacey and Neville Macken who I had met when I went up to Whangarei Speedway last season and they had brought down the ex Ricky Kuru Coupe that Stacey will be campaigning this season registering with Auckland. The weather played it's part and the taste of speedway made me keen to travel down to Huntly for their opener later in the day. Interesting to see that the 95a must be the first car to have it's second paintjob of the season before the first meeting has kicked off!









Huntly Speedway
Meeting 1

Opening meetings can sometimes be a massive let down and the only attraction is to check out the new cars and enjoy the fact the season is finally under way. But a quick look through the pits I was pleasantly surprised to see some good numbers in most classes. At least 31 Stockcars, masses of Ministocks, 8 Superstocks, 15 Saloons and also about 8 Supersaloons. The meeting kicked off at 7.05pm after parade laps for each class and began with Superstocks first up. The green flag dropped, a tank took the win and suddenly all thoughts of the All Blacks and any other recent sporting disasters seemed distant and unimportant, the 2007/08 season has begun...

The meeting was flowing nicely with a popular win for 21h Steve Williams in the Supers, the Saloons seemed to be a flashback to the past with both 9a Steve Louden and 46a Nigel Ross back racing and Louden taking an emphatic victory. Then it was the turn of that huge field of Stockcars coming out on to the track. My attention was on the radically different looking 12h of Lionel Halse. His first heat wasn't one to remember but the car certainly was. 441a Andrew Weir took a great win and there was plenty enough action to know this class will once again be a winner at most tracks. The Minisprints came out to a track that was starting to be affected by the rain that had threatened for a while and were fairly unlucky not to get at least one good heat in. Superstocks came out for another go and at that point I left knowing that the meeting would probably finish pretty soon after.

So only an 'entree size' meeting but promising signs as far as competitor numbers go. Also I was lucky enough to meet up with Nevano Cowan who has recently bought the PT Cruiser stockcar and will be running it out of Auckland this season. It was looking great during the practice runs at WP earlier in the day and no doubt will feature when WP kicks off it's opening meeting Labour Weekend. Hope to bring you all a profile on Nevano if everything works out okay.

Meeting rating : a soggy 5/10