Manawatu¯ minisprint title goes on the line
In a prelude to the running of the New Zealand title, a big field of more than 20 elite minsiprint drivers competes for the Manawatu¯ title at the Robertson Holden Speedway tomorrow night.
Along with the minisprints, the popular Manawatu¯ Standard Guy Fawkes display, postponed from three weeks ago, attracts a huge crowd of families both inside and around the outside of CET Arena and will fire up the night sky, while the famous Ramp Derby will definitely add some fireworks on the track in the final event of the night.
In a class dominated by Palmerston North drivers in recent years, they’ll be looking to again make their mark before the national event on the final meeting of the year on Thursday December 27.
The top three drivers in the country all race out of Palmerston North, with double defending national Christian Hermansen keen to start his buildup to winning three consecutive national titles. But there’s plenty of competition within the Palmerston North drivers, without counting the visitors.
Until finishing third at the national champs last season, Shane Dewar hadn’t had much luck at the big events, but since breaking through he’s been as quick as anyone and now he has consistency.
Dewar is a big winning chance tomorrow.
Karl Mcgill will be another threat, while Kerry Brocklebank, Tony Johnson, Kerry Hodgson and Glen Mccutcheon are the other Palmerston North drivers competing.
Carol Golding, Tabitha-todd Phillips, both from Palmerston North, and Stratford’s Chloe Ingram show this is a class where men and women race on an even footing.
Interesting visiting drivers include Stephen Hart, Kihikihi, and Ben Vaughan, Huntly, as well as Kurt Phillips, Buzzo Greenway and Bayley Mathewbetts, from a Stratford club that is on the rise in the Minisprint class.
The Robin Pratt Memorial stockcar title, also rained out three weeks ago, will be run again, with drivers keen to win the coveted crown that’s been around since 2001, after Robin Pratt died at the track.
Some of the great stockcar names are on the trophy, with Peter Rees at the top, having won seven titles. Other winners include Graeme Ward (2002), Rob Miers (2003), Wayne Norris (2006), Scott Mcintosh (2007), Darrel Wallace (2009), Gary Davis (2011), Asher Rees (2012), William Humphries (2014) and Hamish Mcleod (2015), while former national stockcar champion Josh Prentice won last year.
In what should be an entertaining night, a big field of superstocks as well as youth ministocks make up the programme.