Track: Palmerston North
Date: 9 February 2007
Event: 2007 Superstock Teams Championship - Qualifying
Pictures & reporting by Mike Pollard

Palmerston North - 9 February 2007
2007 Superstock Teams Championship - Qualifying
Pictures & reporting by Mike Pollard

Nelson Tigers v Auckland Allstars
It all started out with a touch of deja vu, as #85n Dale Ewers blasted off the front, in a copy of last years successful tactic, which saw Nelson go all the way to the final. It was left to #8a Bryce Marx to try and stop #85n Ewers, and although he did manage to get a piece of the flying orange machine, it wasn't enough to stop #85n Ewers running largely untouched toward the chequered.

Palmerston North Panthers v Kihikihi Kings
A measure of the task in hand became quickly obvious to the Kings, as the defending champs had a 1-2-3 after the first lap, with #6p Wayne Hemi, #5p Peter Rees and #8p Scott Miers out front. #29k Kerry Remnant held up leader #6p Hemi long enough for #5p Rees to inherit the lead, but it was as good as over when #26k Gary Hunter was forced to retire, leaving #5p Rees to take the win.

Hawkes Bay Hawkeyes v Manawatu Mustangs
Well the packed crowd really came alive with this one, it was always likely to be close, but what a ripper. #52p Gary Hayes and #34b Brendon Rowlands ran from the front, before deciding to mix it with each other, handing the lead to #33b Murray Long. #33b Long was immediately baulked by #53p Kevan Roberts, allowing #9p Brett Hyslop and #31b Paul Demanser to slip through and battle for the lead. At about half distance, #34b Rowlands delivered a huge hit on #9p Hyslop, sending the Palmerston car barrel rolling down the straights, and bringing out the reds. #9p Hyslop landed on his wheels, and waived away the safety crew, signalling his intention to carry on. The green was soon out, but just as quickly followed by another red as #9p Hyslop with a little help from #53p Roberts, exacted revenge and rolled #35b Steve O'Dwyer immediatly on the restart. With just a couple to go #9p Hyslop was well ahead, but struggling with punctures, which allowed #31b Demanser to take the lead on the last lap. The road ahead was full of Palmerston Blockers, but somehow #31b Demanser managed to parry all the blows, and take a superb win.

Waikato Wanderers v Christchurch Glen Eagles
There was never very much between #41h Lionel Penn and #74c Jason Smith, as they built up a huge lead over the rest of the field. #41h Penn was finally tagged by #77c Mark Osborne, leaving #74c Smith to take the win.

Nelson Tigers v Wanganui Warriors
#85n Dale Ewers made his now customary dash from the front, being hotly pursued by #15v Dion Mooney and #14v Darryl Taylor, but the well used tactic came to an end as #85n Ewers was shot into the wall by a huge hit from #14v Taylor, leaving #15v Mooney in the lead. The reds came out for #81n Brendan Higgins, who was making his twelfth succesive appearance in the teams champs, and decided he was well enough to carry on, but #15v Mooney dodged all the hits aimed at him, and led Wanganui to a surprise win.

Palmerston North Panthers v Otago Cougars
A real David and Goliath here, as reigning champions Palmerston were up against Otago, who were still without a win in this competition after 4 x years of trying. The order after lap 1 was; #6p Wayne Hemi, #95d Terry Hall, #5p Peter Rees and #93d Ricky Boulton. #5p Rees despatced #95d Hall fenceward, and #6p Hemi tangled with #94d Noel Innes, leaving #5p Rees in front. #8p Scott Miers tried blasting #94d Innes into the wall, but somehow managed to come off worst, with the #8p Miers car left facing backwards, half on the wall, and half on the #94d Innes car. #94d Innes stayed put for a lap or so, weighing up the race situation, before slowly driving off, allowing the #8p Miers car to slowly fall onto it's roof bringing out the reds to a huge cheer from the anti-Palmy fans. Kespite knocking out Miers, Otago were no match for the mighty Palmy, as #5p Rees charged toward the chequered.

Hawkes Bay Hawkeyes v Rotorua Rebels
#118r Bryce Steiner was quick away, ahead of #33b Murray Long, #66r Steve Hampton and #34b Brendon Rowlands. #66r Hampton took a huge hit, courtesy of #34b Rowlands requiring the reds, as the main chassis rail snapped on the #66r Machine, leaving Hampton feeling "very unwell". #31b Paul Demanser despatched leader #118r Steiner, leaving #33b Long in front. With only #22r Wayne Talbot truly mobile for Rotorua, #33b Long had a fairly easy ride to the flag.

Waikato Wanderers v Stratford Scrappers
#41h lionel penn made the running for waikato, followed by #818s chris flett of stratford. the stratford side looked very makeshift and offered little resistance as #41h penn ran round virtually untroubled.

Auckland Allstars v Wanganui Warriors
Following Wanganui's surprise victory over Nelson, and Auckland's loss to them, this was now looking like a very close contest indeed. What transpired turned out to be the most one sided match up of the night, as Wanganui continued to confound all by turning in a superb 1-2-3-4 finish. #14v Darryl Taylor was first away followed by #7a Wayne Whittaker, #5a Gary Ellis and #15v Dion Mooney. #7a Whittaker hit #14v Taylor wide to take the lead, as #17v Steve Guilford slammed #5a Ellis into the wall. With blockers waiting for runners, it all happened in turn three, as all 8 x cars came together in a huge heap, blocking the track. The cars thrutched, reversed, and climbed all over each other, with the Wanganui cars coming out on top. After the white flag was shown, #6a Aaron Headington was rolled, bringing out the reds, and ending the hopes of Auckland as #15v Mooney took the win.

Kihikihi Kings v Otago Cougars
Nothing at stake here apart from next years seedings, as Kihikihi started with just three cars, giving Otago the chance of their first ever win. However, the car advantage to Otago was negated almost from the off, as #96d Donny Innes took to the grass, and #24k Mike Herbert took to the front. #25k Rick Taylor and #92d Matt Boulton were soon sidelined, leaving it 2 against 2, as #24k Herbert made it an easy march to the flag.

Manawatu Mustangs v Rotorua Rebels
Hello and welcome to the amazing race! #112p Shaun Pearson shot off the front and built up a useful lead over teammate #66p Tony Whittaker before #66p Whittaker required the reds after being fenced. #52p Gary Hayes quickly retired also, leaving #112p Pearson in the lead but with just a solitary teammate to help him. The numbers advantage started to work in Rotorua's favour as #7r Dayne Wright nailed leader #112p Pearson leaving #118r Bryce Steiner out front and seemingly on his way to victory. #53p Kevan Roberts was pinned up against the fence by #38r Ross Ashby and unable to move, and yet when #118r Steiner passed on his last lap, #53p Roberts somehow managed to wriggle out and touch the flying #118r Steiner, with the knock just being enough to send him sideways and into a roll, finishing just short of the start/finish line and bringing out the reds, inches from a victory. On the green the remaining three cars raced round with #112p Pearson finishing ahead of #22r Talbot and #38r Ashby.

Christchurch Glen Eagles v Stratford
#77c Mark Osbourne was first to show ahead of #818s Chris Flett. and that's as close as Stratford got, as #77c Osbourne sailed round for an easy win whilst Stratford looked to be missing any sort of a game plan.

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