Napier – 30 April 2005
Superstock Autumn Classic
Reporting and pictures by Mike Pollard

Napier – 30 April 2005
Superstock Autumn Classic

Reporting and pictures by Mike Pollard

Close on 150 cars in the amazingly well organized pits, for the 16th and final offering of the season from the Meeanee Speedway at Napier. and what a great dish it was, by way of the Superstock Autumn Classic and the footy!

A huge prize fund of over $12,000 for the Superstox (5K to the winner) drawing some of the country's top names to the oval, including #1NZ Bryce Penn and #2NZ Rodney wWood, who was aiming to finish his stockcar career on a high.

Heat 1
The place was full, as local favorites Shane Penn in the #77B car and #21B Grant Hollyman lined up at the front. On the green it was Hollyman who was quickest away as #11B Nigel Cooper and #33R Robbie Mabey fought for 3rd. 2 laps later and the reds were out as #10P Peter Rees was sent crashing into the wall (breaking his diff') by a rampaging Rodney Wood, as #18P Graham Peter got tangled up in the mess and was joined by a fast moving Bryce Penn who was unable to avoid the melee. On the restart and Shane Penn moved ahead of Hollyman at the front as Rodney Wood extracted himself from the pile-up to move into 3rd. Wood looked possessed as he continued on his charge ending in 2nd place at race end.
Result:
1.#77B Shane Penn 2.#2NZ Rodney Wood 3.#21B Grant Hollyman 4.#4P Joel Pitcher 5.#5P Bruce Ward 6.#515R Stan Hickey

Heat 2
#13B Marty Brandt and #54W Mike Pye started at the front and it was Pye who was 1st to show ahead of #5P Bruce Ward and rodney wood who was charging again, as brandt was sent to the infield by the force of the pack. A couple of laps in and the reds came on to retreive a car from the dark place!...... the lighting was a bit like Crewe! On the green Wood moved past ward for 2nd and then swept Pye a lap later to take the lead.......this guy was on a mission, as the reds were out once more to rescue a car from the gloom! Away again on a very fast but well rutted track ..... it really was becoming very Crewey!! And Shane Penn together with #85H Jared Wade were giving chase, but could not catch the flying Wood.
result:
1.#2NZ 2.#77B 3.#85H Jared Wade 4.#337R Darcy Hunter 5.#5P 6.#4P

Heat 3
Wood and Shane Penn were tied at the top 7 points ahead of Palmerston duo Ward and Pitcher going into the last. #337R Darcy Hunter was on pole with #1NZ Bryce Penn alongside. Wood was starting near the front with Shane Penn at the very back. Bryce Penn was slow at the start, and after a torrid night was looking to shape the outcome! Hunter was 1st away, ahead of Hickey and Wood. A lap later and Wood had moved his way into 2nd before being baulked to great effect by Bryce Penn.... a huge groan from the huge crowd as son Shane Penn's chances evaporated to the infield as he became involved with #22R Wayne Talbot! Hickey took the lead followed by Ward before the reds came out to remove Hollyman from the wall. #72S Simon Joblin moved ahead of Hunter late on to take 3rd.
Result:
1.#515R 2.#5P 3.#72S Simon Joblin 4.#337R 5.#2NZ 6.#58P Peter Bengston

Despite the attentions of Bryce Penn amongst others, the 5th place of Woods was enough to give him the money and end his stockcar career on a high.

However, for me the meeting will always be remembered for the stockcar soccer! 4-a-side with a Fiat Bambina for a ball! The idea being that one team took the "ball" clockwise round the track whilst the other team tried to push it anti-clockwise. The programme said it would be better than Chelsea v Man Utd! Well I'm not sure about better, but certainly more memorable, especially as one car tried for most of the event to "mount' the Bambina, only succeeding in doing so with the help of an opposition shunt resulting in an "up and over"! And then managing to do the exact same thing once again .........unforgetable!

Cars racing:
Std Stox 35
Superstox 30
Ministox 28
3/4 Midgets 21
Streetstox 17
Saloons 15