Thunder Down Under revs its engines for annual meet
Not even Covid-19 is expected to stop the roar of engines gathering for the annual Thunder Down Under at Levels Raceway.
Sports Saloon Cup series section co-ordinator Mitchell Hamilton said the January 30-31 event was set to be the biggest gathering at Levels for some time.
Hamilton was rapt with the expected turnout, with 38 cars registered in the SS Cup section racing, and about 200 vehicles across the various categories which are headlined by the Super Trucks along with other support from Open Saloons, Mainland Muscle Cars, Formula Ford, pre ’65, 2k Cup South Island, Mini 7s and Pro7/NZ6 classes for the two days of racing.
‘‘I would have thought that Covid would have put a bit of a dampener on things but instead people have really responded with open arms,’’ Hamilton said.
‘‘There’s been a lot of work done in the shed for many of the guys over the past few months. ‘‘Most of the SS Cup races are handicapped, so you’ve got to be quite skilled in passing, as well as keeping to a set speed.
‘‘It’s quite a special class, you can bring out any vehicle with any specification as long as it’s a saloon car.
‘‘This is the most cars we’ve had in a while. It’s definitely an important event on the calendar. It’s really well supported locally.
Hamilton said the event took a long time to organise.
‘‘We’re bringing a whole lot of classes together,’’ he said.
‘‘The turnout of entrants is quite impressive.’’
Hamilton said he was tipping Timaru’s Jarrod Parmenter and Jared Pyke to do well in the SS Cup event, with returning champion Phil Gurney also posing a threat in an event which will have drivers from all over the country competing.
Weather permitting, he hoped several thousand fans would turn up to Levels Raceway over the weekend. Previous iterations of the Thunder Down Under have pumped millions of dollars into Timaru’s economy.