We had a good grid draw of 4th in the green group to begin the 1st race. The green flag dropped and we got off to a good start around the outside. But at the exit of turn 2 they had put water down and my car just went straight ahead with no grip and hit the wall fairly hard. I thought everything was ok but going into turn two the car just didn’t feel right. It got a bit sideways and an Auckland car drove up over my left front and we got hooked for a brief moment before I shook him loose.

The rest of the race I spend struggling with the car and made contact with the wall several more times. Then two laps before the end I felt my left leg getting extremely hot. I managed to get the car across the line but pulled off immediately. I shot back into the pits and chucked some cold water on my leg and tried to work out what had gone wrong. We found that the bottom king pin in the front right had dropped out and the whole front assembly was very unstable, we couldn’t believe how it had hung together. This was obviously from the initial contact with the wall in turn 2.

The bell housing had cracked somewhere along the line and also power steering fluid was leaking from the steering box which was the reason my leg was burning. The front bumper had also bent back and had a crack in the front. It was too much damage to fix and we did not make it out for any further races, which was a huge shame. We did manage 6 points in the 1st heat and would have qualified if the car was running.

It was a bit of a downer after I had hoped to get a good result, but hopefully we can get the problems fixed and be out again in two weeks time for the Alex Gillan Memorial.

P.S. Happy Birthday and thanks to my girlfriend who was there to support me on her birthday.

We were called up to be race 5, right before the Modifieds, and they had just watered the track which mean for a slippery start to the race from grid 10, and us getting caught in an early incident. But as the surface started to get some grip back into it late in the race we started to make progress and moved up to finish 7th.

The next race the track was wet again and any hopes of a quick start from grid two faded when the car just wheel spun before a touch from behind got us under way. We ran the high line most of the race, as it was providing the best drive, and we did well to finish a very good 3rd. We had some good tussles along the way and I was rapped at how well the car was going.

The third race we got a start from grid 13 and for that 1st time we had a dry track to go racing on. We got a good start and were picking our way through traffic and once again were involved in some good scraps. The car really felt as good as it had ever done and we managed to work our way up to 4th by the end of the race. We ran a 18.9 second lap which is the best the car has done, and was not far off the pace set by some quick cars that were in attendance. This is very promising for our low budget, standard car and shows that with a bit more under the hood, we are not far off giving the front runners a real good go.

The night was defiantly a good hit out after a disappointing New Zealand’s and had given us a good boost in confidence going into the Waikato Champs in two weeks time. We will be looking forward to that one. See you all there.

We had drawn gird 21 which was right near the back so I had a lot of work to do. The start of the race was fantastic for us. In the first two laps we had made considerable ground and had moved up to mid pack, passing some cars I was surprised to in the process. But coming out of turn 4 I heard a rattle beneath the floor. I tried to nurse it home and we were holding our place until the last lap when it went bang and I pulled off to the infield.

We got a toe back to the pits, which ended up in the tow trucks boom going right through the back of our body and causing a fair bit of unnecessary damage. We found the universal had smashed and half was still out on the track. We couldn’t find a spare and we did not make any further races.

It was hugely disappointing for me and the team after the first few laps had shown so much promise. We defiantly had a good chance of qualifying for at least the Grand slam but as it turned out we went home empty handed but with a bit more experience under our belts for future big meets.

Thanks to everyone who was there to support me and everyone that gave me a hand, leading up to and at the event. It was much appreciated. Cheers all.

We will hopefully be running the next meet at Huntly this weekend if we can get another universal. See you all there.

The second race was a bit of a different story. The track was rough in turns 1 and 2 and our car did not like this at all. We try to run through the middle of the track as before but the car was bouncing into the air and made for a bit of a rough ride. It got so bad that for the last half of the race we were running the high line around the bumps and were happy with how the car performed.

The third race we started off the back and began running the high line from the get go. It was very effective and we were going extremely well and were passing cars on the outside due to the racing being clean and feeling confident to not be run to the wall. This race was defiantly our quickest but with no lap scoring being in effect there were no lap times or placings to compare.

It was the perfect hit out before taking on the New Zealand Champs at Auckland next Friday and Saturday. It will be our first big meet since the North Islands last season and we are looking forward to the huge challenge. Hope to see you all there. 

It was first up best dressed and with 34 cars and a wet track it was going to be one hell of a night. We started the 1st race mid pack and got a good start. There was a lot of pushing and shoving mixed with some good fast racing and we managed to keep our nose clean and come home 18th.

Once again we started mid pack for the 2nd race and had made another good start. For the first 2 laps I managed to have a clean run but that was about to end. For the rest of the race I was in survival mode as I was receiving attacks from all angles. I was almost wound of the end of the straight twice and managed to save both attempts from the wall. I also managed to keep the nose pointing forwards during numerous attempts by other cars to do otherwise. It was an enjoyable race and it was good to get in there and mix it up. We also managed a respectable 15th amongst all the action.

We knew there was going to be carnage in the 3rd heat, and starting middle of the pack in a four wide start that was defiantly on the cards. The green flag dropped and the third line which I was in didn’t move. The car in front of me was on the picks. We eventually got to the inside and got through a four wide Huntly block that was just ahead and into the clear. For 3 or 4 laps I got to put the hammer down and get some quick lap times under my belt. The middle portion of the race was spent ducking and weaving through block cars, parked cars and cars that were facing in allsorts of directions. I was gaining places and getting through the traffic, that was until with only 2 laps to go an Auckland car got me in there sights. I tried to jump on the brakes but it was too late and I got run up the wall in turn 1 and got my front bumper hooked. After two or so laps of rocking back and forth I managed to get free and cross the line in 7th. A good result for us. Plus being able to drive the car onto the trailer after a hard night was a bonus.

All up it was a great night and a lot of fun. It was stockcar racing as it should be and was a good watch for the crowd that had showed up despite the impending weather. After a good wash and a tidy up we will be ready to hit the track again on the 10th of Feb. See you all there.    

The first race saw us start 19th out of 21 and a wet track meant a slow start with a lot of dodging and ducking through and around cars. It was tough going to begin with but as the laps wore down, and the track dried out, I started to move up the field and was happy with the pace of the car. Eventually coming home in 13th. And ok result but we were hoping for better in the next heat.

We stared from 7th and were dicing with the leading pack. It was good fun and we were swapping positions frequently. Until our bad run of luck continued and the new axle did not hold up and broke again. To rub salt into the wound as I was about to pull off, I was drilled and taken to the wall backwards by one of the many visiting cars. The impact was not immense and the car gained no further damage. I crossed the line in 16th after all that but we would not be running in the third heat.  

It was a bit of a bash fest in the 3rd and a lot of local cars were taking shots from the visiting boys but was good entertainment for the sizeable crowd.

A must mention was the drive from 2nz Brett Emerson in the final Super Saloon race. It was amazing to watch him carve up the field around the outside from the back and it had both the crowd and I in awe. The best driving I have seen so far this season. It was unbelievable and a well deserved North Island Saloon Title.

We will be trying hard to get the axle fixed over the xmas break for the meeting on the 31st at Huntly and hoping it will hold together. Hope to see you all there.

It was rather hot so was good to get out there and get a bit of wind rushing in. It was still quite a battle as it was a mini race. Complete with blockers and runners. And after dodging and ducking I crossed the line first. After that we had to line up for another race and during that race the rough, dry track took its toll. The car caught a deep rut wrong and the right axle broke which was a real shame and ended my fun in the sun.

Unfortunately it meant we could not race the following night but with a bit of elbow grease we should be out again in two weeks time. See you all then.

The first race began with a 6th place grid and after two laps of being unable to get to the pole line due to the 30 odd cars, and wet track meaning I was getting hits from cars sledging out and putting me into the wall, the torsion bracket broke and the car was subsequently pulled to the infield due to the suspension failure.

We limped the car back to the pits and we got to work on trying to fix the bracket. With great help from Tony White, which was much appreciated, we had it up and running for the 3rd race, and were going out to hopefully be a pain for visiting cars, and to help a Huntly Car take the trophy. We started of grid 16 and soon had a leading visiting car up the wall. The resulting feud was a good one and was good experience for me personally. The car and I got away unscathed, and we continued on to finish the race in 7th position which was mainly a result of the high casualties. But all and all a goodnight for the team and I, and a good result for Huntly as we managed to get a Huntly Car across the line to take the title.

See you all next week race fans.

The 1st race started well and from grid 18 I was up to 4th before with just two laps remaining I was involved in a tangle which ended in me being spun and dropping to tenth which still wasn't a bad result. The second race was also promising. I started grid 5 and was running in a strong 3rd and with the leading pack, until when swerving to miss a car I collected sum debris and punctured the front right tyre. The 3rd race however saw the change in luck we needed. I started grid 13 and battled through to take 3rd and run some of my quickest laps yet.

A very pleasing result for the team and I. The action was awesome and I'm sure the big crowd enjoyed the night. I hope to see another big crowd in a fortnight when we will be racing again at Huntly Speedway. Cheers

After a bit of a rough start I started to claw my way back passing some very good cars in the progress. Then attempting to go around a car turned fatal when it ran wide and drove me into the wall. The throttle cable fell off and my race was effectively over. The second race did not go much better. The suspension came lose in the first lap and the very severe vibrations made the car a handful and the car would not stay in gear. It resulted in me pulling to the infield and ending my night.

The initial speed of the car was pleasing and with a bit of luck things could have gone a lot better. Fingers crossed for the next meeting at Huntly.

P.S. GO FORD!!! You little beauty!