Springs Speedway
NZ Midget Championship
Feature 30 laps
1. Shaun Insley
2. Bill Clarkson Jr.
3. Tony Fabish
4. Wayne Green
5. Chris McCutchen
6. Scott Buckley
7. Bryce Townsend
8. Dave Harding
9. Graham Standring
10. Dave Gick
11. Alvin Cobb
12. Michael Kendall
13. Michael Brunt
14. Lance Beale
15. Brad Mosen
16. Tony Josephs
17. Michael Pickens
18. Bradley Anstis
19. Carl Worboys
20. Shayne Alach
Sprint Cars
Feature 20 laps
1. Mark Browne
2. Allan Wakeling
3. Ricky Logan
4. Ossie Sokol
5. Dean Brindle
6. Greg Pickerill
7. Raymond Griffen
8. Corey Haigh
9. Kevin Hinchcliffe
10. Daniel Eggleton
11. Hans Boere
12. Glen Torpey
13. Nick Pedley
14. Tommy Rusher
15. Alan Haigh
16. Carl Wilson
17. Jeremy Halpin
-end-
Freeman takes War of Wings Sprint Car Series
Ruapuna Powerbuilt Speedway
Gavin Searle
Nelson’s Kevin Freeman took overall honours in the War of the Wings Sprintcar series when maintaining his narrow lead in the final round at Ruapuna Powerbuilt Speedway on Saturday evening in what was the final meeting of the season. Freeman came into the fourth round holding a three point lead over Christchurch’s Karen Forsey and these two drivers again were locked in tight battled as the twelve race series came to an end.
Freeman increased his point lead to five when winning the opening heat, with Forsey coming from the back of the field to finish in third place behind Glen Everett. Forsey again finished in third place, in the next heat, behind Daryl Wright and Steve Duff with Freeman in fourth place with his overall cut to four points.
Duff then lead the final heat from start to finish with Forsey having a great battle with Freeman for second and third spot.
On a restart Freeman briefly got by Forsey but she quickly responded and regained second place and gave chase to Duff as Freeman seemed content to retain third place knowing that would be enough to take the series by three points from Forsey, on 213 with Darren Nankivell a further third fifty points adrift. Both Freeman and Forsey deserved their top two placing as they were the only drives among the nineteen drivers that contested the series that finished all twelve races. Freeman then took out the Feature event from Duff and Forsey.
David Kerr was the star of the midget car racing, winning all four races with ease. Kerr who won the South Island title in the last meeting had too much speed for his rivals and was less than a second out side both the lap and eight place records.
Ricky Brett was almost as dominant in the TQ class when winning the opening heat and then had to settle for second place behind Rachel Melrose in the next heat before coming back strongly to win the next two races. Glen Milroy also had a good meeting picking up third placing in all four races.
Competition in the modified sprint section was more even with four different race winners with Mark Jamieson backing up two second placings before taken out the feature, with other the race winners being Keith Brough , Kieran Harris and Matt Honeywell.
Kody Tocher and Craig Blacket were the pick of the solo riders with Tocker winning two of the races to Blackett’s won. In the Kiwi Kid classes Kate Warren and Anthony Knowles were the stars in their respective racing classes.
Results (Competitors from Christchurch Unless Stated)
Sprintcars
War of the Wings – Round 4
Ht 1. Kevin Freeman (Nelson) 1, Glen Everett 2, Karen Forsey 3
Ht 2. Daryl Wright 1, Steve Duff 2, Forsey 3.
Ht 3. Duff 1, Forsey 2, Freeman 3.
Final Points: Freeman 216, Freeman 213, Darren Nankivell 153, Wright 146, Everett 126, Steve Duff 74, Jason Scott (Cromwell) 65.
Feature. Freeman 1, Duff 2, Forsey 3.
Midgets
Ht 1. David Kerr 1, Steve McCallum 2, Gavin Wilkie (Dunedin) 3.
Ht 2. Kerr 1, Wilkie 2, McCallum 3.
Ht 3. Kerr 1, Scott Miller 2, Rachel Melrose 3.
Feature. Kerr 1, Miller 3.
TQ Midgets
Ht 1. Ricky Brett 1, Brad Mackwell 2, Glen Milroy 3.
Ht 2. Rachel Melrose 1, Brett 2, Milroy 3.
Ht 3. Brett 1, Melrose 2, Milroy 3.
Feature. Brett 1, Mackwell 2, Milroy 3.
Modified Sprints
Ht 1. Keith Brough 1, Matt Honeywell 2, Tom Lumsden 3.
Ht 2. Kieran Harris 1, Mark Jamieson 2, Honeywell 3.
Ht 3. Honeywell 1, Jamieson 2, Lumsden 3.
Feature. Jamieson 1, Harris 2, Lumsden 3.
Solo’s
Ht 1. Kody Tocher 1, Craig Blackett 2, Cory Lang (Westport) 3.
Ht 2. Blackett 1, Tocher 2, Lang 3.
Final. Tocher 1, Lang 2, Ryan Moss 3.
Kiwi Kids
Quarter Midgets
Ht 1. Kate Warren 1, Matt Leversedge 2, Nathan Clive 3.
Ht 2. Warren 1, Leversedge 2, Jesse Jamieson 3.
Final. Jamieson 1, Leversedge 2, Warren 3.
Solo’s
Ht 1. Anthony Knowles 1, Konner McCluskey-Young 2, Shilo Tocher 3.
Ht 2. McCluskey-Young 1, Knowles 2, Josh O’Docherty 3.
Final. Knowles 1, McCluskey-Young 2, O’Docherty 3.
-end-
David Kerr captures South Island Midgetcar championship
Ruapuna Powerbuilt Speedway
Gavin Searle
After a troubled plagued season David Kerr’s luck held when he won the South Island Midgetcar championship at Ruapuna Powerbuilt Speedway on Saturday evening. Kerr just headed home Ray Baughan, in the final by less than a car length with Barry Low third.
Kerr showed that he meant business when coming from the back of the field to finished in second place in the opening heat, behind Nelson’s Nevil Basalaj with Invercargill’s Barry Somerville third, from Baughan.
Basalaj who was won of the favourite’s for the title looked to have the second heat won when setting the fastest lap times of the night to lead the second heat but his car struck motor problems with three laps to race forcing him to retire which left Kerr in the lead with Baughanand Low claiming the minor placings.
The 25 lap final saw Kerr and Baughan start from the front row and with Kerr almost crossing his car up when the green flag dropped Baughan jumped out to a handy lead with Kerr holding off Low. Motor problems again struck Basalaj who retired to the infield even before the race started. Baughan continued to build what looked to be a racing winning lead but as the leading drivers started lapping slower cars Kerr picked his way through the lapped car the quicker and with five laps remaining has closed right up on the race leader.
With two laps remaining Kerr blasted around the outside of Baughan to hold a narrow lead with the two cars then locked in a drag race for the remainder of the race as the two cars raced side by side with Baughan almost retaking the lead in the final turn but Kerr hang on to take the chequered flag by .22 of a second.
Kyle Glover won the three-quarter midgetcar feature holding out Ricky Brett over the closing laps while Tim Millar drove the race of the night to win his first Modified Sprint feature after Mark Jamieson tried all he could on the closing laps to pass Millar.
Race Results (Competitors from Christchurch Unless Stated)
Midgetcars
South Island Championship
Ht 1. Nevil Basalij (Nelson) 1, David Kerr 2, Barry Somerville (Inv) 3.
Ht 2. Kerr 1, Ray Baughan 2, Barry Low 3.
Qualifying Points: Kerr 27, Baughan 24, Low 22, Gavin Wilkie 20 (Dunedin), Somerville 20, Steve McCullam 15, Basalaj 14, Ross Teesdale 9, Matt Milne 8, Steve Campbell 7, Graham Sharp 7, Andrew Brown 6, Scott Millar 4, Gary Robinson 0.
Final. Kerr 1, Baughan 2, Low 3, Wilkie 4, Sharp 5, Robertson 6.
Three Quarter Midgetcars
Ht 1. Glen Milroy 1, Kyle Glover 2, Lindsay Bailey 3.
Ht 2. Ricky Brett 1, Milroy 2, Glover 3.
Feature. Glover 1, Brett 2, Kelvin Matheson 3.
Modified Sprints
Ht 1. Tom Lumsden 1, Mark Jamieson 2, Daryl Harris 3.
Ht 2. Matt Honeywell 1, Lumsden 2, Jamieson 3.
Feature. Tim Millar 1, Jamieson 2, Paul Denson 3.
Quarter Midgetcars
Ht 1. Kate Warren 1, Matt Leversedge 2, Jesse Jamieson 3.
Ht 2. Jamieson, Nathan Clive 2, Warren 3.
Ht 3. Jamieson 1, Leversedge 2, Warren 3.
-end-
Shaun Insley wins Southern 50 lap classi at Rupanua Speedway
Ruapuna Powerbuilt Speedway
Gavin Searle
Current New Zealand midgetcar champion, Shaun Insely won the Southern 50 Lap Classic at Ruapuna Powerbuilt speedway on Saturday evening but was pushed all the way by Christchurch’s Ray Baughan with Auckland’s Michael Kendall third overall.
The Classic certainly lived up to its billing as the endurance event was raced at an electric pace with only two yellow lights giving the 22 drivers a chance to take a breath. Both Insley and Baughan started in the middle of the field as Nelson’s Nevil Basalij blasted his car to an early lead which built to almost a 100 metres by lap four. Four laps later Basalij was lapping cars with his lead disappearing as the first yellow came out after Simon Longdill car was stranded on the track with a flat tyre.
By this stage Baughan had worked his way up to second place with Kendall and Insley battling it out for third position. When the ‘green’ came back on Basalij again opened up a lead as Baughan then had to fight off a challenge from Isley. On lap twenty three the race went back under ‘caution’ when Auckland’s Scott Buckley rolled his car heavily three times on the Town bend.
At the restart Basalij was immediately challenge by both Baughan and Insley with Insley moving into second place when passing the Nelson driver on lap twenty-five and a lap later forced his way by Basalij who then loss another two places as both Baughan and Kendall got by. Kendall then passed Baughan but Baugan regained second place two laps later.
In the final ten laps Baughan tried all he could to close in on Insley but the national champion was equal to the task and took the chequered flag by just over two seconds. Shayne Alach (Auckland) who started off grid 21 stormed home to finish in fourth place with Basalij fifth. One of the pre-meeting favourite’s, Michael Pickens, who won the New Zealand Grand Prix on Thursday evening, suffered motor problems in his first qualifying heat, forcing him to miss his next qualifying race but lined up in the Southern 50 when local driver, David Kerr, loaned him his car. However Pickens was forced to retired on lap 38 after Kerr’s machine also suffered motor problems.
In other racing Ricky Brett continued to dominate the three-quarter midget section winning all four races. Matt Honeywell took out two of the modified class which Greg Clemene won his second successive sprintcar feature. The South Island team defeated their northern rivals by 61 points to 40 on the Shane Turner Memorial with Matt Leversedge winning two of the heats.
Race Results (Competitors from Christchurch Unless Stated)
Midgetcars
Pacifica Transport Group Southern 50 Classic
Ht 1. Shaun Insley (Auck) 1, Simon Longdill (Auck) 2, Bill Clarkson (Auck) 3.
Ht 2. Scott Buckley (Auck) 1, Michael Kendall (Auck) 2, Alvin Cobb (Auck) 3.
Ht 3. Insley 1, David Kerr 2, Bill Clarkson (Auck) 3.
Ht 4. Kendall 1, Nevil Basalij (Nelson) 2, Michael Brunt (Auck) 3.
Southern 50 Lap Feature. Insley 1, Ray Baughan 2, Kendall 3, Shayne Alach (Auck) 4, Basalij 5, Carl Warboys (Auck) 6, Clarkson 7, Michael Brunt (Auck) 8, Cobb 9, Gavin Wilkie 10.
Sprintcars
Ht 1. Darren Nankivell 1, Greg Clemence 2, Karen Forsey 3.
Ht 2. Kevin Freeman (Nelson) 1, Forsey 2, Daryl Wright 3.
Ht 3. Steve Duff 1, Forsey 2, Nankivell 3.
Feature. Clemence 1, Duff 2, Wright 3.
Three Quarter Midgetcars
Ht 1. Ricky Brett 1, Brad Mackwell 2, Rachel Melrose 3.
Ht 2. Brett 1, Ryan Stone 2, Glen Milroy 3.
Ht 3. Brett 1, Darryl Cook 2, Milroy 3.
Feature. Brett 1, Melrose 2, Milroy 3.
Modified Sprints
Ht 1. Matt Honeywell 1, Rachel Melrose 2, Mark Jamieson 3.
Ht 2. Tom Lumsden 1, Melrose 2, Chris Haskill (USA) 3.
Feature. Honeywell 1, Melrose 2, Jamieson 3.
Quarter Midgetcars
Shane Turner Memorial North vs. South
Ht 1. Matt Leversedge 1, Ryan Barry (Auck) 2, Konner McClusey-Young 3.
Ht 2. Kate Warren 1, Jesse Jamieson 2, Leversedge 3.
Ht 3. Leversedge 1, Barry 2, McClusey-Young 3.
Final Points. South Island 61 North Island 40
-end-
Picklens wins New Zealand Midgetcar Grand Prix
Ruapuna Powerbuilt Speedway
Gavin Searle
Auckland driver, Michael Pickens dominated the New Zealand Midgetcar Grand Prix, raced at Ruapuna Powerbuilt Speedway on Thursday evening. The 25 year old took out the GP Feature, set a new ten lap record, set the fastest time of the meeting and was joint top points scorer in his qualifying group and will go into Saturday’s Southern 50 Lap event, at Ruapuna, as red hot favourite.
Pickens collected his first Grand Prix title, leading for most of the 30 laps after having a great battle with Shayne Alach on the opening laps with the lead swapping several times before Pickens opened up a lead. Alach then has a close dice with follow Aucklander, Scott Buckley for the first half of the race before Alach was passed by Michael Kendall.
With Pickens holding the lead on the slick racing surface his rivals had try and drive around the outside but Pickens car, borrowed from local driver Aaron Webb, always had the measure on his rivals. Buckley looked to be heading for a deserved second place until he rolled his car was five laps remaining restarting the race for the rear of the field and eventually finishing eighth.
This left Kendall holding second place behind Pickens at the restart but Kendall was passed by New Zealand champion, Shaun Insley (Auckland) during the next lap with Kendall having to settle for third place overall, from Bill Clarkson and Bryce Townsend, both Auckland, with Ray Baughan the first local drive home in sixth place.
Earlier in the evening Kendall shattered the 15 lap race record by over seven seconds but this mark was short lived at Pickens lowered the record by another two seconds when winning his second qualifying heat. Pickens followed Buckley and Alach home in his first heat, setting the fastest lap time of the meeting of 14.34 seconds, which was just over 0.1 of a second outside the lap record held by Pickens.
Once Pickens finishes his racing commitments in Christchurch he will be heading back to the USA to further his quest to race in NASCAR.
Race Results (Competitor from Christchurch Unless Stated)
Midgetcars
Metalcraft 21st New Zealand Grand Prix
Qualiflying
Group 1
Ht 1. Scott Buckley (Auck) 1, Shayne Alach (Auck) 2, Michael Pickens (Auck) 3.
Ht 2. Pickens 1, Alach 2, Nevil Basalij (Nelson) 3.
Points: Pickens 20, Alach 20, Buckley 18, Basalij 16, Bill Clarkson (Auck) 16, Scott Millar 12, Gary Robinson 10, Gavin Wilkie (Dunedin) 8.
Group 2
Ht 1. Michael Kendall (Auck) 1, David Kerr 2, Alvin Cobb (Auck) 3.
Ht 2. Shaun Insley (Auck) 1, Bryce Townsend (Auck) 2, Kerr 3.
Points: Insley 18, Kerr 18, Kendall 17, Cobb 16, Carl Warboys (Auck) 15, Townsend 13, Ray Baughan 10, Steve McCullum 6, Graham Sharp 6, Simon Longdill 5, Barry Sommerville 4.
Pole Shuffle. Alach 1, Kerr 2, Pickens 3, Kendall 4, Insley 5, Buckley 6, Cobb 7, Clarkson 8.
NZ Grand Prix. Pickens 1, Insley 2, Kendall 3, Bill Clarkson 4, Townsend 5, Baughan 6, Wilkie 7.
Modified Sprints
Ht 1. Rachel Melrose 1, Kieran Harris 2, Brett Robinson 3.
Ht 2. Mark Jamieson 1, Andrew Goldsmith 2, Tom Lumsden 3
Ht 3. Melrose 1, Lumsden 2, Jamieson 3.
Feature. Melrose 1, Harris 2, Lumsden 3.
Sprintcars
Ht 1. Darren Nankivell 1, Steve Duff 2, Karen Forsey 3.
Ht 2. Kevin Freeman (Nelson) 1, Forsey 2, Duff 3.
Feature. Greg Clemence 1, Forsey 2, Mike Gourley 3.
Quarter Midgetcars
Ht 1. Jarod Guptill (Auck) 1, Matt Leversedge 2, Jesse Jamieson 3.
Ht 2. Kate Warren 1, Leversedge 2, Jamieson 3.
Feature. Leversedge 1, Jamieson 2, Ryan Barry (Auck) 3.
LAST CHANCE CHAMPIONSHIP
The New Zealand Midget Car Championship fell victim to Auckland’s wet weekend weather on the 1st and 2nd of March and has been re-scheduled for this Saturday night, the 15th March, at Auckland’s Western Springs Speedway.
Defending Champion Michael Pickens will start as one of the favorites at the hotly contested New Zealand Midget Car Championship this weekend at the historic speedway venue in Auckland.
The 24 year old Auckland driver returns to the famous Auckland track hoping to return to his winning form which saw him dominate the $50,000 International 50 Lap Championship earlier in February during the International World Series racing at Western Springs.
Over the last month Pickens traveled to Gisborne to compete in the North Island Championship and also to Perth to contest the Australian Championship. An unfamiliar car in Gisborne and engine problems in Australia meant the normally super competitive Pickens was off his winning form.
The best 26 New Zealand drivers will line up for a shot during Saturday evening’s qualifying rounds hoping to secure a place in the Championship feature race later in the race meeting. The race winner takes home the trophy, his share of the $12,000 prize purse and the title of New Zealand Champion.
The battle for the title race this weekend, at what is regarded by many as one the “raciest” tracks in the world, will be fierce and Pickens will need to be at his very best to take a consecutive title win.
20 year old Brad Mosen has shown winning form all season but battled with engine gremlins during the Midget World series at Western Springs this month. A second place at Gisborne to Veteran Graham Standring has given Mosen the confidence he needs in his car to throw down the gauntlet to Pickens.
Both Mosen and Pickens will leave New Zealand for another season of racing in the USA this winter. Pickens to drive in the ASA Northern Championship, a series of 12 pavement races in the upper mid-west area of the USA. Mosen will race a mix of dirt track and pavement Midget races in the USAC series.
Popular racer Shayne Alach has been on form all season and has every intention of winning the title. Alach is a spectacular driver to watch and is a crowd favorite whose flamboyant and hard charging driving style has won him many races including the prestigious International 50 lapper.
Veteran racer and former National title holder Bryce Townsend has had a difficult season so far but is likely to be one of the main challengers to Pickens’ defence of the title.
Local Auckland favorites and Western Springs Championship points contenders, Scott Buckley, Lance Beale, multiple champion Michael Kendall and veteran Graham Standring have all got what it takes to win the race and have all had some standout races this season.
The Midgets, along with the Sprint Cars, are racing in the final night of the season at Western Springs on Saturday 15th March. The last round of the Western Springs Championship series will be run and all drivers will be looking for the best result possible to share in the $90,000 series prize purse.
New Zealand Midget Championship official entry list
Name Car # Hometown Motor Chassis
Shayne Alach 11A Auckland Esslinger Breka
Bradley Anstis 84A Auckland Ford Harris
Lance Beale 87A Auckland Ed Pink Ford Aggressor
Eric Beardmore 99S New Plymouth Esslinger Stealth
Michael Brunt 17A Hamilton
Scott Buckley 25A Auckland Sesco Mopar Aggressor
Bill Clarkson Jr. 75A Auckland Gaerte Ford Aggressor
Alvin Cobb 5A Hamilton Mopar Alach
Tony Fabish 95A Te Awamutu Gaerte Breka
Dave Gick 44A Auckland Fontana Breka
Wayne Green 10A Auckland Ed Pink Ford Clark
Dave Harding 66A Auckland Pontiac Stealth
Duane Hickman 95S New Plymouth Ford Breka
Shaun Insley 77A Auckland Mopar Aggressor
Michael Kendall 81A Auckland Esslinger Spike
Brice Kenyon 61A Auckland Fontana Aggressor
Simon Longdill 88A Auckland Synergy 2400 Aggressor
Chris McCutcheon 96A Auckland Gaerte Stealth
Brad Mosen 13A Auckland Mopar Aggressor
Mark Mullins 19A Auckland Autocraft TCR
Michael Pickens 54A Auckland Ed Pink Ford Breka
Pam Shanley 8A Auckland Pontiac Wilkie Ellis
Graham Standring 33A Manukau Esslinger Lendich
Andrew Stewart 16A Auckland VW Harris
Bryce Townsend 91A Auckland Hawk Aggressor
Carl Worboys 12A Auckland Fontana Breka
Wynns National Midget Championship Series Points Table
Pos Driver Total
1. Michael Pickens 128
2. Brad Mosen 116
3. Bryce Townsend 101
4. Shayne Alach 96
5. Scott Buckley 86
6. Lance Beale 75
7. Michael Kendall 70
8. Bill Clarkson Jr. 66
9. Graham Standring 50
10. Dave Gick 45
11. Carl Worboys 43
12. Davey Ray 37
13. Alvin Cobb 36
14. Shaun Insley 36
15. Shane Snookes 32
16. Brad Kuhn 26
17. Tony Fabish 25
18. Michael Brunt 25
19. Wayne Green 23
20. Andrew Stewart 23
-end-
Basalja leads wire-to-wire for Midget win, Kevin Freeman takes sprint car A-main
Ruapuna Powerbuilt Speedway
Gavin Searle
Nelson driver, Nevil Basalaj, lead from start to finish to, win the 30 lap midget car feature at Ruapuna Powerbuilt speedway on Saturday evening and collect the $1,000 winners cheque. Basalaj took the lead from the green light and lead Ray Baughan into the first turn and slowly opened up a lead which increased by over four seconds when the race ended. Baughan maintain second spot for the entire race distance which ran without a caution light with Dunedin’s Gavin Wilkie third.
Earlier in the meeting Basalaj won the opening two races but was relegated two places in the second race for starting from the wrong grid, with Shane Clark awarded the win. The third heat was marred by a five car pile-up which meant several of the damaged cars missed the feature race, with Steve Campbell winning the race from Wilkie and Basalaj.
Follow Nelson driver, Kevin Freeman, was the pick of the sprintcar field winning three of the four races including the feature. Cromwell’s Jason Scott chased Freeman all the way in the opening heat with Karen Forsey third. Forsey then headed home Freeman in the next heat before Freeman took out the final two heats by clear margins.
Ricky Brett continued on his purple patch in the three quarter midget races winning all four races. Brett’s smooth driving style saw the young driver using the pole line to good effect with other drivers having a good meeting including Brad Mackwell, Glen Milroy and South Island champ, Kyle Glover with all three claiming several minor placings.
There were four different winners in the Modified Sprint class in the form of Kieran Harris, Matt Honeywell, Chris Haskell and feature winner Tom Lumsden. Haskell, from the USA, had a top three placing in the heat racing before cars problems saw him retire from the feature.
In the quarter midget racing Kate Warren was unbeaten with Matt Leversedge and Nathan Clive having to settle for the minor placing in each race.
Races Results – Competitors from Christchurch Unless Stated
Remembrance Champs All Classes
Sprintcars
Ht 1. Kevin Freeman (Nelson) 1, Jason Scott (Cromwell) 2, Karen Forsey 3.
Ht 2. Forsey 1, Freeman 2, Darren Nankivell 3.
Ht 3. Freeman 1, Jim Forture 2, Danny Mayson 3.
Feature. Freeman 1, Nankivell 2, Forsey 3.
Midget Cars
Ht 1. Nevil Basalaj (Nelson) 1, Rachel Melrose 2, Ray Baughan 3.
Ht 2. Shane Clark 1, Baughan 2, Basalaj 3.
Ht 3. Steve Campbell 1, Gavin Wilkie (Dunedin) 2, Basalaj 3.
Feature. Basalaj 1, Baughan 2, Wilkie 3.
Three Quarter Midgetcars
Ht 1. Ricky Brett 1, William Cunniffe 2, Brad Mackwell 3.
Ht 2. Brett 1, Glen Milroy 2, Kyle Glover 3.
Ht 3. Brett 1, Mackwell 2, Milroy 3.
Feature. Brett 1, Glover 2, Mackwell 3.
Modified Sprints
Ht 1. Kieran Harris 1, Chris Haskell (USA) 2, Brett Robinson 3.
Ht 2. Matt Honeywell 1, Mark Jamieson 2, Haskell 3.
Ht 3. Haskell 1, Tom Lumsden 2, Honeywell 3.
Feature. Lumsden 1, Mark Jamieson 2, Honeywell 3.
Quarter Midgets
Ht 1. Kate Warren 1, Matt Leversedge 2, Nathan Clive 3.
Ht 2. Warren 1, Leversedge 2, Clive 3.
Ht 3. Warren 1, Leversedge 2, Clive 3.
-end-
Ricky Logan wins New Zealand Sprint Car Grand Prix
Powerbuilt Ruapuna Speedway
Gavin Searle
American driver, Ricky Logan, won a pulsating New Zealand Sprintcar Grand Prix, at Powerbuilt Ruapuna Speedway, on Saturday evening after being pushed all the way by Auckland’s Dean Brindle, with Jim Siegel (USA) third. Logan and Brindle then again had a great dice in the Gold Cup with Logan again just taking the honours from the Auckland driver.
Logan, a professional driver who is a regular on the dirt tracks during the New Zealand summer, was joint top qualifier top going into the Grand Prix, along with eight time NZ champion, Kerry Jones (Auckland), after each driver had claimed a win, second and third from their three qualifying heats to finished on 27 points, out of a possible 30 points. Brindle was two points behind with current NZ champion, Carl Wilson (Auckland) on 24, one ahead of Phil Game with two other American drivers, Jim Siegel 20, and Steve Buckwater 17 next with Greg Clemence, the first local also finishing with 17 points.
Jones and Logan started on the front row for the 25 lap Grand Prix, which saw two cars involved in a spectacular crash after Jones got a ‘flyer’ which forced race officials to abort the start and has the cars concertinaed going down the back straight Kevin Freeman (Nelson), who won the first heat and Auckland’s Ron Salter car touched as they slowed causing both cars to roll and end their race.
Jones was allowed to restart under protest in his original position and lead the restart for the first two laps before spinning out on the Town bend which allowed Logan into the lead from Brindle. Jones recovered but dropped back to fifth to finally finish in seventh place. Brindle slowly then applied the pressure on Logan with Brindle’s car liking to run wide out on the Town Bend Brindle twice got by Logan only to have the yellow lights come on after other cars spun with the lead resuming back to the previous completed lap which allowed Logan back in front. On lap eight, Siegel used the outside groove to pass Brindle with Brindle then repeating the move to get by Siegel five laps later and set out after Logan who had opened up a small lead. Over the remaining laps Brindle slowly reeled in Logan and mounted one challenge coming out of the Town bend but Logan squeezed Bridle up by the safety fence with the chequered flag coming out two laps later. Siegel claimed third place after first seeing off Wilson and then re-passing Game with four laps to run after Game had held third place for a lap.
The Speedworx Gold Cup turned out to be another heart stopping affair with Logan and Brindle using the wide passing line blast by lapped cars as the chased each other for the entire 30 laps. Jones again lead from the start with Brindle taking the lead with almost half the race completed and with Logan back in fourth place Brindle looked that have the race in the bag but Logan first passed Jones and then set out after Buckwater with Logan passing his countryman with eleven laps to race. Logan then closed on Bridle and with just two laps to run blasted around the outside of the Aucklander to claim his second big feature win of the night. Buckwater was third with Allan Wakeling of Auckland, producing the drive of the night when coming from grid sixteen in the eighteencar field to claim fourth place. The former multi NZ champion had to sit of the Grand Prix after the motor problems in his first heat with local driver, Daryl Wright loaning Wakeling his car for the Gold Cup.
In the supporting races Ricky Brett had the ideal build up for next Saturday’s TQ Masters when winning all four races while Gary Chadwick won the first two midgetcars races with Ray Baughan taking out the Feature.
Races Results – Competitors from Christchurch Unless Stated
Sprintcars
New Zealand Grand Prix
Qualifying Heats
Ht 1. Kevin Freeman (Nelson) 1, Steve Buckwalter (USA) 2, Karen Forsey 3.
Ht 2. Kerry Jones (Auck) 1, Glenn Everett 2, Ricky Logan (USA) 3.
Ht 3. Phillip Game (Auck) 1, Carl Wilson (Auck) 2, Jones 3.
Ht 4. Logan 1, Dean Brindle (Auck) 2, Forsey 3.
Ht 5. Brindle 1, Logan 2, Wilson 3.
Ht 6. Jim Siegel (USA) 1, Jones 2, Buckwater 3.
Qualifying Points. Logan 27, Jones 27, Brindle 25, Wilson 24, Game 23, Siegel 20, Buckwater 17, Clemence 17, Everett 16, Forsey 16, Nick Pedley(Palm. North) 15, Ron Salter (Auck) 15, Gary Price (Cromwell) 15, Freeman 14, Jim Forture 11, Darren Nankivell 10, Danny Mason 9, Daryl Wright 4, Steve Mora 0, Alan Wakeling 0.
Grand Prix feature: Logan 1, Brindle 2, Game 3, Buckwater 4, Siegel 5, Wilson 6, Jones 7, Clemence 8, Price 9, Pedley 10.
Speedworx Gold Cup. Logan 1, Brindle 2, Buckwater 3, Wakeling 4, Game 5.
Three Quarter Midgetcars
Ht 1. Ricky Brett 1, Michael Moulin 2, Jeremy Beaton 3.
Ht 2. Brett 1, Brad Mackwell 2, Rachel Melrose 3.
Ht 3. Brett 1, Moulin 2, Melrose 3.
Feature. Brett 1, Melrose 2, Moulin 3.
Midget Cars
Ht 1. Gary Chadwick 1, Rachel Melrose 2, Scott Millar 3.
Ht 2. Chadwick 1, Aaron Webb 2, Mark Morris 3.
Feature. Ray Baughan 1, Shane Clark 2, Gavin Wilkie (Dunedin) 3.
Sprint Car Doubleheader at Powerbuilt Speedway
NZ GRAND PRIX PREVIEW
Christchurch, New Zealand
Speedway fans are in for a double whammy this Saturday night (February 23) at the Ruapuna Powerbuilt Speedway when last weeks washed out New Zealand Sprintcar Grand Prix will also be backed up by the running of the 6th Sprintcar Gold Cup.
A twenty car field is still expected for the event with several drivers unable to alter travel plans, and the break has given the American duo of Steve Buckwalter and Jim Siegel an opportunity to make some adjustments to the two local Scorpion Racing cars that they will drive.
Siegel has been eager to get back behind the wheel, with last Thursday nights show being the first racing that he has done since last October.
“I felt a little rusty, and to be honest the closeness of the racing on a quarter mile track like that at Ruapuna caught me out a bit. I am more used to running on half milers, and the biggest adjustment was the hard out wheel to wheel stuff that you get on the smaller tracks”said Siegel.
Among Siegel’s rivals on Saturday night will be defending Grand Prix title holder Dean Brindle (Hamilton) who showed plenty of pace in winning last Thursdays feature, and another visiting American Ricky Logan.
Multi time New Zealand Champions Allan Wakeling and Kerry Jones will also return from Auckland for another assault on the silverware up for grabs. Jones will be at the wheel of his regular Salter Motorsport car, while Wakeling will strap into Steve Duff’s near new machine.
The top finishing South Island driver at last Thursdays show, Ruapuna regular Kevin Freeman is another to be watched. He has shown no shortage of speed all summer long, and is starting to extract the best from his Chinese built XXX chassied machine.
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Ruapuna Powerbuilt Speedway
Gavin Searle
Auckland’s Dean Brindle took out the honours in the USA verses New Zealand sprintcar clash at Ruapuna Powerbuilt speedway, on Thursday evening when heading home the fifteen car field in the 20 lap feature.
Brindle when into the feature three points behind American Ricky Logan, each having won a heat as did James Siegel (USA), who was making his racing debut in New Zealand. The heat racing was fast and furious but clean, with the only incident coming in the opening heat when 8 time NZ champion, Kerry Jones of Auckland, car rolled softly on its side after contact with Siegel coming out of Town bend.
In the feature Logan lead briefly on the green but Bridle was leading out of the first turn and opening up a handy lead hen only closed up going through lapped traffic. Logan pressed Brindle all the way with Stratford’s Graeme ‘Skinny’ Coleson third with a great battle between Nelson’s Kevin Freeman, Siegel and Auckland’s Ron Salter for the next positions with the American finally managing to pass Freeman with three laps to run to claim fourth spot.
All the drivers plus seven, including current NZcham, Carl Wilson and 8 time champ Allan Wakeling will line up in the New Zealand Grand Prix at Ruapuna on Saturday evening.
In the supporting events Gary Chadwick took out the midget car feature when gunning by Nelson’s Nevil Basalaj early in the race with Basalaj having to settle for second with Dunedin’ Gavin Wilkie third.Earlier in the meeting Basalaj and local Ray Baughan had so great dices with Basalaj winning two heats from Baughan before the roles were reserved in the final heat.
Ricky Brett was the star of the TQ section when taking the chequered flag in the opening two heats before finishing second to Rachel Melrose with Brett then coming back to claim victory in the feature.
The modified sprint class provided plenty of action with all the heat winners, Jamie Duff, Matt Honeywell and Tom Lumsden all rolling during the meeting as did American Chris Haskell which left Kieren Harris to win the feature from Paul Denson and Keith Brough.
Results (Competitors from Christchurch Unless Stated)
Sprintcars - International USA v NZ
Ht 1. Ricky Logan (USA) 1, Steve Buckwater (USA) 2, Skinny Coleson (Stratford) 3.
Ht 2. James Siegel (USA) 1, Logan 2, Dean Brindle (Auckland) 3.
Ht 3. Brindle 1, Kevin Freeman (Nelson) 2, Coleson 3.
Qualiflying Points: Logan 41, Brindle 38, Coleson 37, Freeman 34, Ron Salter (Auckland) 26, Buckwater 24, Siegel 23, Bernie Gillon (Tauranga) 22, Daryl Wright 22, Gary Price (Cromwell) 20, Darren Nankivell 18, Greg Clemence 16, Kerry Jones (Auckland) 11, Kerry-Anne James (Tauranga) 10, Karen Forsey 9.
Feature. Brindle 1, Logan 2, Coleson 3, Siegel 4, Freeman, Salter 6.
Midgets
Ht 1. Nevil Basalaj (Nelson) 1, Ray Baughan 2, Gavin Wilkie (Dunedin) 3.
Ht 2. Basalaj 1, Baughan 2, Wilkie 3.
Ht 3. Baughan 1, Basalaj 2, Gary Chadwick 3.
Feature. Chadwick 1, Basalaj 2, Wilkie 3.
TQ Midgets
Ht 1. Ricky Brett 1, Brad Mackwell 2, Glen Milroy 3.
Ht 2. Brett 1, Rachel Melrose 2, Gareth Nixon 3.
Ht 3. Melrose 1, Brett 2, Kyle Glover 3.
Feature. Brett 1, Jeremy Beaton 2, Mackwell 3.
Modified Sprints
Ht 1. Jamie Duff 1, Chris Haskell (USA) 2, Tom Lumsden 3.
Ht 2.Matt Honeywell 1, Kieren Harris 2, Lumsden 3.
Ht 3. Lumsden 1, Honeywell 2, Harris 3.
Feature. Harris 1, Paul Denson 2, Keith Brough 3.
NO LOVE WILL BE SHOWN AT VALENTINES DAY SPRINTS
Christchurch, New Zealand
Love is unlikely to be in the air on Valentines Day at the Ruapuna Powerbuilt Speedway in Christchurch
on Thursday night (February 14 when ) twhen he opening night of a three race International Sprintcar Series kicks off and two of the visiting American drivers Jim Siegel and Steve Buckwalter are promising a night of ‘tough love’ for their kiwi counterparts.
The two youngsters are part of the ‘Pennsylvania Posse’, a name given to drivers from that region who traditionally give the famous World of Outlaws drivers their toughest challenge in the seventy race series that weaves its way around America each year.
Buckwalter has already out qualified the Outlaws at two meetings on his home track, the daunting half mile circuit at Williams Grove and he is promising that Christchurch is not a holiday destination for him.
“I’m here to clean up. Why else would I fly half way around the world” said the feisty thirty year old who’s recent antics after he was crashed out of a big event by a rival were caught on national television in the USA.
“We race hard, but clean. I haven’t really met any of the guys that I’ll be racing against down here but we will have a healthy respect for them.”
Ricky Logan, a veteran of the American Sprintcar scene will also be in action on Thursday night, and he has racked up a string of feature wins during his recent appearances throughout the North Island. Logan has competed at Ruapuna several times before, and is keen to continue on his winning ways.
A number of North Island drivers will also be competing on Thursday night, which serves as a lead up to Saturday nights New Zealand Sprintcar Grand Prix. Among those arriving for an early shakedown are the Salter Motorsport team headed by former truck racing star Ron Salter, who has eight times national champion Kerry Jones, and Dean Brindle as his team mates.
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Powerbuilt Ruapuna Speedway
Gavin Searle
Racing was keen at Powerbuilt Ruapuna Speedway on Saturday evening as the Canterbury championships were contested for all car classes. Nelson based Kevin Freeman took out the sprintcar title which was good build up to the three international meetings over the coming fortnight which will see three American drivers plus a host of top drivers from the North Island racing against the best from the South Island.
Freeman had to work hard in the two qualifying heats, the first won in a canter by Jamie Duff, who’s car was ‘dialed’ in to the track surface. Duff won the race by over ten seconds, from Danny Mason and Darryl Wright with Freeman fourth. Duff set one of the fastest lap times of the season, 13.39 seconds on lap two of the fifteen lap race.
Karen Forsey took out the second heat with Duff coming from near the back of the field to finish in second place with Darren Nankiville third, with a spin in the open laps costing Freeman any hope of the top placing. With the top six points scoring being inverted for the starting grids in the final Freeman Wa second after the first lap and then passed Nankiville on the next lap was the never serious challenged for the lead with all the action coming for the minor placings. Forsey Wright and Duff were battling for third place until a spin dropped Duff to the rear of the field which meant Forsey finished in third place behind Freeman and Nankiville.
Gary Lennon was first in the midget car title changing to the lead on the opening lap to win the title by three seconds from Ray Baughan and Nevil Basalaj. Basalaj (Nelson) won the two qualifying heats but his twice nearly stalled on the Prison bend which cost him any hope of taking out the title.
Ricky Brett dominated the Three Quarter midget title finishing third in the opening heat and then winning the next heat before starting in sixth place in the final and was in second place behind Glen Milroy by the end of he third place. Brett hit the lead the following lap with Milroy second overall with Gareth Bindon third.
Matt Honeywell won the Modified Sprint tile from Tom Lumsden and Darryl Harris. Rachel Melrose won the first two heats but was denied at start in the final after the pit gates were closed as she was trying to get her car on to the track.
Kate Warren won the Quarter Midget title from Matt Leversedge and Chevenne Hassan.
Races Results
Canterbury Championships - All Classes
Modified Sprints
Ht 1. Rachel Melrose 1, Kyle Mason 2, Jamie Duff 3.
Ht 2. Melrose 1, Tom Lumsden 2, Kieren Harris 3.
Feature. Matt Honeywell 1, Lumsden 2, Darryl Harris 3.
Three Quarter Midgets
Ht 1. Rachel Melrose 1, Brad Mackwell 2, Ricky Brett 3.
Ht 2. Brett 1, Michael Moulin 2, Ryan Stone 3.
Feature. Brett 1, Glen Milroy 2, Gareth Bindon 3.
Midget Cars
Ht 1. Nevil Basalaj (Nelson) 1, Ray Baughan 2, Gary Lennon 3.
Ht 2. Basalaj 1, Gary Chadwick 2, Lennon 3.
Feature. Lennon 1, Baughan 2, Basalaj 3.
Sprintcars
Ht 1. Jamie Duff 1, Danny Mason 2, Darryl Wright 3.
Ht 2. Karen Forsey 1, Duff 2, Darren Nankivell 3.
Feature. Freeman 1, Nankivell 2, Forsey 3.
Quarter Midgets
Ht 1. Jessey Wright 1, Kate Warren 2, Matthew Leversedge 3.
Ht 2. Leversedge 1, Wright 2, Warren 3.
Feature. Warren 1, Leversedge 2, Chevenne Hassan 3.
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Western Springs Speedway -2/9
Midget World Series 50 Laps
1. Michael Pickens
2. Brad Kuhn
3. Jerry Coons
4. Shane Alach
5. Scott Hatton
6. Brad Loyet
7. Lance Beale
8. Wayne Green
9. Bill Clarkson JNR
10. Shaun Insley
11. Chris McCutcheon
12. Tony Fabish
13. Dave Gick
DNF Michael Brunt
DNF Michael Kendall
DNF Scott Buckley
DNF Bryce Townsend
DNF Tony Elliot
DNF Graham Standring
DNF Carl Worboys
DNF Brad Mosen
DNF Davey Ray
DNF Alvin Cobb
DNF Brice Kenyon
DNF Dave Darland
Western Springs Speedway
King of Springs (2/5)
40 lap Feature
1. 71USA Brad Khun
2. 81 Michael Kendall
3. 3USA Jerry Coons
4. 10 Michael Pickens
5. 7USA Tony Elliot
6. 91 Bryce Townsend
7. 77 Shaun Insley
8. 25 Scott Buckley
9. 87 Lance Beale
10. 5 Alvin Cobb
11. 17 Michael Brunt
12. 05USA Brad Loyet
13. 12 Shane Snookes
DNF 21 Carl Worboys
DNF 15USA Scott Hatton
DNF 95 Tony Fabish
DNF 2USA Dave Darland
DNF 33 Graham Standring
DNF 11 Shane Alach
DNF 75 Bill Clarkson JNR
DNF 88USA Davey Ray
DNS 13 Brad Mosen
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Looking compact even within the already compacted confines of a Midget frame, this shot illustrates just how small this innovative power plant is. Photo © Doug Watson/The Dirt Track Channel-New Zealand.
NEW MIDGET ENGINE TAKES DAVEY RAY TO INTERNATIONAL SERIES FEATURE RACE WIN FIRST TIME OUT IN NEW ZEALAND
By The Dirt Track Channel-New Zealand PR Staff
A small piece of history was made on January 30th at Western Springs Speedway when the #88 Aggressor Midget driven by US ace Davey Ray won the night’s feature race.
What is most interesting is that the car is powered by a New Zealand designed and built engine. The design work of Mechanical Engineer Simon Longdill, the engine uses Kawasaki ZX12R 1200 cylinder heads and cylinder blocks to form an 80 degree V8 displacing 2400cc (147C.I.)
Remarkably, perhaps reflecting the degree of development already achieved by Kawasaki, the cylinder heads, camshafts and cam chain drives are stock standard. The same goes for the pistons, running the standard 12:1 compression in the standard nickasil iron liners.
First departure from stock is the con rods, custom made with smaller width larger diameter journals. A custom made 5 bearing crankshaft configured as “flat” with 180 degree throws, with pairs of con rods on four journals spins in plain copper lead bearings in a custom made crankcase machined from billet T6 aluminum. As a concession to rules the engine is fed a methanol diet via a mechanical injection system, the by now customary electronic ignition taking care of ignition chores firing stock plug top coils. Initial in car testing showed up that the lube oil was having a larger role in cooling than envisaged and an oil/air oil cooler was fitted, solving that particular problem.
Longdill displays the traditional designers’ coyness when questioned about power outputs, admitting only that he sees dyno pulls ”in excess of 360HP at around 12,000rpm”. Similarly, questioned re future plans for the engine, all that was forthcoming was the intention to move towards a production engine, “and not just as a Midget power plant”. Development driver Davey Ray is similarly reserved, allowing only that the engine “is doing all I want it to”.
While justifiably proud of “his” baby, Longdill freely credits assistance he has received from Neil Gray and Kerry Jones Engineering in performing the extensive machine work, the technical assistance of the entire team at Lynn Rogers Automotive and also the long term support of Ian Mc Callum and Transitainer as tireless sponsors for his project, in particular making it possible for Davey Ray to drive the car here as part of the development program.
Driver Davey Ray (left) and designer Simon Longdill with the #88 Aggressor/Longdill V8 Midget before night 2 of the International Series. Photo © Doug Watson/The Dirt Track Channel-New Zealand.
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Western Springs Speedway
World 30 lap Darby Feb. 2
1. 2USA Dave Darland
2. 13 Brad Mosen
3. 71USA Brad Khun
4. 11 Shane Alach
5. 81 Michael Kendall
6. 15USA Scott Hatton
7. 77 Shaun Insley
8. 33 Graham Standring
9. 25 Scott Buckley
10. 7USA Tony Elliot
11. 75 Bill Clarkson JNR
12. 96 Chris McCutcheon
13. 10 Wayne Green
DNF 91 Bryce Townsend
DNF 88USA Davey Ray
DNF 87 Lance Beale
DNF 21 Carl Worboys
DNF 54 Michael Pickens
DNF 95 Tony Fabish
DNF 3USA Jerry Coons
DNF 05USA Brad Loyet
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