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Palmerston North - 8 April 2007
Tournament of Destruction - Finals
Pictures and reporting by Mike Pollard

With each team allowed 3 x spare cars, and with most teams using drivers in a "rotation system" any similarity between driver/car/numbers reported and those that actually raced is purely coincidental.

Eliminators

Palmerston Partsworld v Palmerston Firecats

#86p led for the firecats, but #12p Michael Pringle soon went past and showed a clear pair of heels to his more illustrious rivals, leading teammates #13p Byron Wake and #17p Brendon Smith to an impressive 1-2-3 finish ahead of #82p Daniel Lockwood.

Winner - #12p Michael Pringle - Palmerston Partsworld

Takapau Terrors v Nu Generation

Superior car numbers counts for a lot in teams racing, and thanks to some pretty heavy hits it was very soon 5 v 2 in favour of Takapau in another local derby. the remaining Nu Generation pilots fought bravely, but had little chance when up against such an overwhelming force.

Winner - #64b Beatle Tarrant - Takapau Terrors

Team Kaos v Dirty Rottens

An extremely close fought affair, with lots of bumper crunching, eventually won by the impressive #97w John Flaws with #2v Clint Lyford chasing hard.

Winner - #97w John Flaws - Team Kaos

Finals

5/6th place

The 2 x days racing had taken it's toll on Nu Generation who were all spent up car wise and were unable to take their place on the grid.

3/4(5th) place

In view of the demise of Nu Generation this became a 3 x way contest between:

Dirty Rottens v Palmerston Firecats v Palmerston Partsworld

Decisively, unlike the Stockcars; Derby teams line up with all team members nose-to-tail, and it was Partsworld who drew the inside lane. Dirty rottens were in the outside lane, whilst the Firecats provided the filling in the sandwich. The green lights came on and the cars started to pull away from the start/finish line. A moment of classic comedy next as all the Firecats decided to turn right, and because of the narrow nature of the track, all the Dirty Rottens found themselves pinned to the concrete. As far as the race for 3rd was concerned, it was all over as the Partsworld team stormed down the pole line and into a lead they would not relinquish. The Dirty Rottens backed out of the pin one-by-one and set about gaining revenge on the Firecats. What followed was a truly memorable encounter, as the Dirty Rottens attempted, and to a large part suceeded in annihilating the Firecats.
That's not to say that the Partsworld team were there just to make up the numbers, and also became involved in the melee as and when required, showing great aptitude for such a young team.

Winner - #13p Byron Wake - Palmerston Partsworld
2nd - #8v Steve Wilson - Dirty Rottens

Grand Final

Takapau Terrors v Team Kaos

This was set to be a classic as both teams were unbeaten moving into the final round. I'm stiil learning when it comes to teams racing, but i've come to learn that it's as much about team tactics as it is about driver skill or car preparation, and in this department, Takapau team captain #401b Jason Holt played a blinder. As the cars made their way out on track, Jason introduced his hitherto unseen 8th car; a late model, lightly trashed, (one careful owner, only driven on Sundays) #64b stickered Ford Mondeo. Team Kaos mustered a full compliment of cars, but the wellbent metamorphed metal made the Mondeo look like a Ferrari. On the green the #64b Beatle Tarrant Mondeo hid mid-pack surrounded by his teammates, which allowed the still quick #97w John Flaws to hit the front for Team Kaos. One lap down and #97w Flaws started to receive attention from the terrors. #64b Tarrant spied his chance and broke free from his protective envelope, storming past #97w Flaws and into the lead. Try as they might, the Mondeo was too quick and nimble for the Kaos warhorses to contend with as #64b Tarrant drove a faultless race to win the Tournament of Destruction IX for the Takapau Terrors. A superb night's racing, and a wonderful advert for the Banger/Derby Teams formulae, rounded out with a superb win for the trackless but highly enigmatic Takapau Terrors.

Cars Racing

Derby Cars 76
Jnr Ministocks 31
Street Cars 25
Snr Ministocks 22
Minisprints 18
Production Saloons 17
Dwarf Cars 7