Superstocks will close Manawatu season
For the first time in memory, the premier class superstocks will race over three heats for the coveted Manawatu title at the Robertson Prestige International Speedway. The hard work will begin for teams as they get their superstocks ready, then into hibernation until October when the new season begins.
The Total Sheetmetals Manawatu Superstock Championship has had many great New Zealand stockcar drivers grace the title since Dexter Dunlop beat Gus Gapes and the late great Charlie Berntsen in the 1966-67 decider.
One of the truly great Palmerston North drivers, Dave Evans, who along with others still races in the popular classic stockcar class where there is meant to be minimal contact, has won more Manawatu titles and over a long career.
Evans, also a two-time national champion, secured his first title at the fifth running of the event at the then-named A&P Showgrounds, in the 1975-76 season.
Evans, more commonly known in speedway circles as the General, won an amazing nine Manawatu titles over the next 19 years until his final win in the 1994-95 season. Incredibly, with six podium finishes during that time, it left Evans out of the money on just five occasions, surely a record that will never be headed.
Another driver with an enviable Manawatu superstock record is another former national champion, Gary Parkes, more recently a key management member of the Palmerston North Panthers. Parkes is the only driver to win four consecutive seasons; his first in the 1984-85 season, then his four-time repeat from 1990 to the 1993-94 season.
Two drivers have three consecutive titles up their sleeves. Jack Miers is chasing a fourth consecutive title this Saturday, while the great Barry Podjursky, who is retired, won three titles from 2000-01 until the 2002-03 season once he shifted from Stratford to Palmerston North.
Jack Miers and father Scott are the only father and son to win the title, with Scott beating Bryce Penn home in 1997-98. Penn’s son Shane, both New Zealand champions, won three times in six years between the 2007-08 and 2012-13 season.
There’s plenty of history with Peter Madsen, Roy Eaton and Bruce Robertson. Robertson, long-time promoter and the man who brought the famous Tank onto the track, won in 1972-73. Peter Hetterley followed Robertson. Adrian Flett won in 1977-78 before brilliant Whanganui driver Evan Mooney became the first visiting driver to win at the Robertson Prestige International Speedway in the 1980-81 season. Two years later as a Palmerston North contracted driver, Mooney won a second title.
Popular Norm Dempster won in the 1983-84 and 1987-88 seasons. Robin Wildbore won in the 1985-86 season. Gary Trotter won twice, in 1996-97 and 200405. Other quality drivers who have stood on the top step include Kelvin Gray twice, Kim Lace, Peter Bengston, the great Peter Rees twice, Wayne Hemi three times, William Humphries twice, Jordan Dare and Simon Joblin.
Whanganui great Kerry O’Connor became the second visiting driver to win the Manawatu title, in 1995-96, while Christchurch’s Malcolm Ngatai shocked the local drivers by taking it in 2011-12, over Scott Joblin and Graeme Barr.
The title decided this Saturday will be run over three heats with the usual accumulating points. Racing begins at 5.30pm.