Long weekend expected to race by
Local petrolheads are gearing up, pun intended, for a massive long weekend of motorsport action with the two Far North clubs officially opening for business.
The first chequered flag of a new season of dirt track racing will be waved at Kaikohe Speedway on Saturday, while the Taipa Stock and Saloon Car Club gets its 2018/19 campaign underway on Sunday.
The following are reports from both clubs previewing their respective campaigns.
KAIKOHE. Kaikohe Speedway spokesman Darren Emm said this coming Saturday’s meet is one of a dozen on the programme the club has planned for the 2018/19 season.
Marquee titles up for grabs this summer as usual include 20 lap dash trophies in production and C-grade, limited and super saloon trophy races, while special meets include the annual Christmas and Mother’s Day meets.
The club’s major event is still the three-day festival of motorised mayhem over the long Easter Weekend which incorporates Kaikohe’s allocation of national and North Island CTRA (Circle Track Racing Association) titles on Good Friday followed by the two-day Easter Stampede spectacular.
Emm said everyone was raring to go following the five-and-a-half month spell Spectators watching action during the Queen’s Birthday Weekend meet at Taipa Speedway earlier this year.
of hibernation over winter, although he suspected there were a few keen racers who will be needing to work overtime to have their cars ready for Saturday.
Emm said the season opener would be well supported by drivers from Taipa Speedway — and other Northland clubs
— while several committed Kaikohe racers will reciprocate by heading to Taipa on Sunday.
“Every one is more than welcome. It’s all a big family here. Come along and race or just come to watch,” he said, extending an open invitation to the wider community to get out and support the local racing crew.
TAIPA. As the newly-elected president of the Taipa Stock and Saloon Car Club, Lizzy Perry said there was a noticeable sense of anticipation in the air with the season opener now only days away.
“Quite a few people excited about having two days of racing,” she said of the Labour Weekend schedule. She was also looking forward to seeing a number of new drivers join proceedings this year and the veteran campaigners returning to renew longstanding rivalries.