Track Shots

Thanks to Del Nield for these pics of the Rotorua Track filling up fast before their opening Fireworks meeting last Saturday.

We all love a good bang!

Waikaraka Park's first meeting was the 'Season Opener plus Fireworks' and luckily for me I left home early to get to the track forgetting I'm only five mins away now that I have moved to Onehunga but it turned out to be a wise decision, by the time I had strolled through the pits there was a huge line of people waiting to get in, not helped by the Eftpos playing up. The FanVan was closed and with no sign of a programme anywhere I was beginning to think this is an ominous start... the FanVan woman told us 'the programmes are in the building we just can't find them!" as she opened up the shop. They did appear and while people were waiting she asked what sort of items do you want in the FanVan (I was tempted to say "Programmes would be a good start" but bit my tongue), she handled a potentially embarrassing moment with good humour and at least was showing a bit of interest in what people want.

In previous years the opening meeting is usually a bit of a fizzer, most interest is in seeing the new cars and just getting back into speedway after the winter months. Numbers are usually low and this year was no exception, although the Stockcars who usually hold the show together numbered only 12 which was a surpise. The Park has a new sound system and you noticed it immediately upon sitting down in the grandstand, you could actually hear what they were saying! This is a HUGE improvement and an integral part of presenting a meeting. A couple of times the commentators mentioned sponsoring cars (particularly Rose Halfpenny who had just won a race) and this was great. The infield was not quite ready but looked a whole heap better without the 'bullring' and the place generally looked a bit tidier even though there were obvious teething problems. Whatever has been happening off the track pre-season I imagine it hasn't been easy to get this show up and running but one thing was sure, the heavy radio advertising had worked as the place filled up to bursting.

I wont go into much detail about the racing as I'm sure there will be a full review on the Waikaraka website but any concerns about low numbers in the stockcars were forgotten the moment CJ Chestnutt (14a) hit the track, he was out to cause mayhem and the crowd loved it. The only two visiting cars (yes only two non Auckland cars appeared) were in this class (13k and 61h) which is a bit of a worry. Going by the cheers from the crowd the streetstocks also gave the crowd what they wanted and Jamie Fox in the Modifieds easily won all three heats with a brilliant display. Six Superstocks turned up which was a little light as I had hoped a few Huntly ones would flesh out the field but things got worse as Gary Ellis 11a lasted one lap in the warm up and Paul Vasey 351a retired to the infield with more gremlins, this left 4 cars for the nights racing. Undaunted, they organised a 'championship runoff' which produced more hits than a usual whole nights Superstock racing. Aaron Headington 16a triumphed over 414a Warwick Ansty in the final race. The crowd seemed to like it and it was a better option than just letting four cars do hotlaps. The 414a car could almost be described as having Bling! The car was looking great and was running well too. If the numbers increase in this class even by just 3 or 4 cars (which it should) they will be on to a winner. The Saloons had fairly good numbers with even racing but only two Supersaloons were in attendance.

The Fireworks display was great (better than last years disaster) and lets face it the majority of the crowd were probably here for that but when the display had finished there wasn't the usual mad rush to leave which hopefully means the crowd were enjoying the racing and stayed on for the final round of feature races. Going by the comments on Macgors discussion board (Waikaraka Huge Success!) you would think it was an amazing meeting but I felt it was fairly average but well run and a good start to build on. In fact reading some of the comments has got me wondering if I missed something? If the NZ Stockcar title does drag in the '180 cars' the commentators mentioned and the action is anything like past years then these same people better hope they are selling Adult diapers at the FanVan because they 'ain't seen nuthin' yet' and I really mean that! That can be my suggestion to the woman at the FanVan who was asking for ideas on what to sell!

One major criticism that appears to have been missed that I have to point out was that during the fireworks display the Moon was badly positioned and affected my view of the fireworks and if the promotion could just sort that out for next season... okay, I know, there's only so much the organisers can do but there is always going to be a few moaners and groaners and so long as the team at WP get on with what's really important and that is to present big fields of action packed exciting racing then they cant go wrong and crowds like the one that turned up on Saturday will be the norm.

So that was the first meeting and it must have been a boomer for the Promotion's bank balance which is great, followed by a practice next week that they are charging for and then a Demo Derby which always brings in a huge crowd, the finances should be looking healthy to say the least. As always, I believe it's going to be competitor numbers ON the track that will be the real gauge of success this season and making the drivers want to appear at WP rather than somewhere else or not appearing at all, is the key. Lets not forget that they are the core product and the real reason we want to be at a speedway meeting.

Meeting rating : 5/10

Waikaraka Practice II + III

The weather was kind again for the combined second and third practices at WP on Saturday and there was a bigger turnout of cars as the opening meeting nears.

The unmistakeable 'Gray style' 99m stockcar below is new this season for Jason Brown. Started by Kelvin Gray he never completed it, so Jason bought it off him and with his help finished it off. It looked great and went well in the few laps I saw.

Best laugh of the day was when some guys straw hat was blown on to the track only for the streetstock boys to use it as a target. Unfortunately I couldn't stay too long and then I forgot to charge the camera (doh!) but one thing I did notice is that most of the pics I take are of the cars in the pits or stationary, trying to take shots of the cars moving is another skill altogether and suddenly you realise how good some of these track photographers are... new respect to them! Dont worry about any competition from me, of the 20 or so shots of cars coming down the pit gate I managed to get about two right!

Waikaraka Practice I

A few photos from the first practice run at Waikaraka Park last Saturday. Good signs for the season ahead. I'm only guessing but the sight of 95a and the name Gary Lonergan on the car must be some relation to Murray Lonergan who ran as 95a a few seasons back, one of the top standard stocks around if my memory serves me right...

First sightings

I was driving past WP on Saturday and saw some cars in the pits, couldn't help but go in and have a nosey... here's some photos. Finally feels like the season is not that far away...

It's a Gizzy thing!

They may be thin on the ground but one thing about Gisborne stockcars is that they are usually some of the coolest cars on the racetrack! Check out some of these fine examples and lets just hope that the number of cars with a 'G' next to their number increases this season...

Mint

A mate I work with was heading into Manukau yesterday and volunteered to check out the new Vasey Superstock and take some photos. Great to see two confirmed starters for the new season at WP (along with the Mac chassis piloted by Wayne Whittaker) this early in the build up to the 06/07 season. Is it too early to get excited?

Computer says no

If you've moved house recently, you'll know exactly how I feel right now! Don't get me wrong, it's great finally owning a house, but the fact that it's really old and has about 6 power sockets in total means the computer is just an ornament standing in the corner until we sort out a few 'technical problems.' If you watch Little Britain you'll appreciate the character above, that's how I feel right now!

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19g

The only stockcar I've ever had the pleasure of sitting in (sad I know, the photos are worse, I look like a kid on christmas morning) when it was in the hands of Neil McCoard. Andrew Harvey bought the car off Neil and these photos supplied by PallMall are taken at the New Zealand Stockcar Champs at Gisborne 2002.

It's one of three sister cars built by Neil McCoard, here's the background from Brent Morris from Macgors 'Missing In Action' page:

The 99s was the first Tank built by Neil McCoard nearly 20 years ago I believe. It was first raced out of Stratford and then Auckland. It is longer and wider than the 2 later cars. This is the car Tony Collins races at Temarua as 74w.

The car has always been Ford V8 powered up until a 4 litre falcon re power for 05/06. Has had a lack lustre season with lots of niggles up until last Saturday when it was really cranking in the first race. We have been flat out on it all week and are hoping for a good run this weekend. TC's a driver who can get the best out of a Tank.

The other 2 cars were built around 1994 and were basically the same as each other chassis wise. Neils was Ford V8 powered and the one he built for Frank had a Ford 6 in it.

Neils car went to gizzy and was raced as a Superstock for a while. I believe it is still there, but is being converted to a Stockcar with Rover power.

The other one (Frank's) is sitting at my place and is ready to race - Just needs me to have some spare time and find someone to bank roll it, LOL - next season? In the mean time I like to help TC when I can.

Thanks for the interest guys - If any one has any more photos, stick them on. Its great to see the following these cars have.

Brent Morris






Previous 'Cool Car' postings:
21a
19m
76a
92g

Competition winner

The Auckland Superstock Teams DVD and Weekend Warriors book winner was:

Mark Flower
Whakatane

Congratulations, I will send them out this week.

Tank 3

Just as I was going to do a posting about Tank number 3, I see it is for sale in the latest NZDTR magazine for $12,500. Great to see that it will still be out racing rather than earlier suggested plans of retiring the car to the Historic stockcar class. Built by Dave Evans, the car debuted in 1983 in the hands of Peter Woods and has in it's history been driven by Murray Long, Tony Whittaker, Noel Hawthorne, Weston Hemara, Tony Gavin and Evan Mooney amoung others. It was of course the car that Evans took back to back NZ Stockcar titles in 1983 + 1984, and made the car a real piece of Speedway history.





Previous 'Cool Car' postings:
19m
76a
92g