Track: Palmerston North
Date: 09 February 2008
Event: Superstock Teams Champs - Finals
Pictures & reporting by Mike Pollard 

Palmerston North - 09 February 2008
Superstock Teams Champs - Finals
Pictures & reporting by Mike Pollard 

Palmerston North Panthers v Wanganui Warriors

It was no surprise to see the clinical Panthers in the final and trying to make it three titles on the trot, whilst the Warriors continue to impress by punching above their weight, and were trying to secure their first Teams Champs title.
Controversy reigned before the off; as #9p Shane Penn retired from the event with an injury, and the #8p tank of Scott Miers was declared unraceworthy. so, the Panthers decided to take the 3 x minute bell and install Miers seat in the #9p Penn car for Scott to drive. The end result was that the crowd (70% of whom wanted anybody to win, so long as it isn't Palmerston!) was baying "times up .......times up" and had others claiming that this was against the rules, and the reserve driver should have been called up if #9p Penn was injured.

In any event the cars lined up for the 15 x lap race, and the lights turned green. after just 1 x lap, the race had somewhat of an inevitable look about it; as #5p Peter Rees led team mate; #7p Peter Bengston ahead of the chasing warrior; #17v Steve Guilford. However, only half a lap later, and the race was turned on it's head, as #16v Kerry Podjursky lined up #6p Wayne Hemi from a looooong way back, and delivered an almighty blow, sending #6p Hemi careering into the wall and bouncing off, landing on his roof. The reds came on, and the crowd realised that Wanganui had a fabulous chance of victory as it was now 4 v 3. The euphoria was short lived however,as on the green, the car of #16v Podjursky (perhaps not surprisingly, given the ferocity of the attack) failed to restart, but heartbreakingly for Wanganui, the car of #15v Dion Mooney failed to fire, and within seconds it was 3 v 2 in favour of Palmerston. Another lap down, and as #17v Guilford approached turn1, the crowd were shouting and waving like mad for him to give a push start to the #15v Mooney machine. #17v Guilford realised just a split second too late what was required of him, and fearing that he would overshoot the stranded #15v Mooney, slewed the car sideways in an attempt to pull in behind. It was the right idea, but in doing so the car stalled, and it was effectively all over Wanganui. #18v Richard Watkins circulated as the lone warrior, as a classic Teams Champs produced another anti-climatic finale, #7p Bengston and #5p Rees circulated for 12 or so laps to take the chequered on another emphatic Teams Champs victory.

#390uk Stu Smith competed in the individual Superstock races, and managed to "show his stuff" by taking victory in the final heat.

Cars racing
50 Superstocks
16 Super Saloons
13 Historic Stocks
8 Sidecars