Track: Palmerston North
Date: 6 February 2010
Event: New Zealand Superstocks Team Champs - Finals
Reporting by Alan Skayman and pictures by Mike Pollard

Palmerston North
New Zealand Superstocks Team Champs - Finals
5 February 2010
Reporting by Alan Skayman and pictures by Mike Pollard

Another glorious day awaited the finals night. The first semi final was a repeat of last years Final, but this year the Tigers had the better of the Panthers. Peter Rees was rolled early on and then it was just a complete demolition job by the Nelson Tigers crippling and immobilizing every Panther for a memorable 1, 2, and 3 across the line.

The 2nd Semi saw Team GB take on Waikato with Team GB winning the toss. This put Frankie on pole with 93H Karl Ross on his outside. Behind Frankie was Jared Wade 94H in the tank with Craig alongside. Row 3 inside was Mick alongside Warwick Ansty and on the final row was Lance Ashton 97H with Tom on his outside. At the green Wade squeezed Craig briefly holding him against the wall. Ross was in the lead chased by Frankie and as Ross came up behind Mick Frankie launched an attack on Ross causing all 3 cars to hit the infield. This had allowed Wade into the lead and a skirmish between Mick and Ansty resulted in a shower of sparks coming from the 00GB car whilst he continued his blocking role. Ansty then climbed all over Tom. At around halfway there was a huge melee on the start straight involving half a dozen cars. Tom attacked the front end of Wade’s car and on the second hit he detached the front wheel of the Tank which caused the reds to come out. This left Craig in the lead with 5 laps to go. On the restart Craig rode a hit from Ansty with Wade still trying to wreak havoc in the 3 wheeled tank. As the chequered fell it was Craig from Frankie which meant the Lions were through to their first final in only their second attempt and meant they were guaranteed of beating last years achievement of 3rd place.

As the cars came out for the final Tony Maclanachan announced that the 02 car of Toms had been too badly damaged and it was decided to put Tom in the 03 car due to how successful he had been in the previous races at blocking. So it was an unchanged foursome that were going to try and tame the Nelson Tigers, who had been looking more and more impressive as the weekend went on. The Lions lost the toss giving 84N Shane Harwood pole with Frankie on his outside, row 2 was Craig and Brendan Higgins 81N. Nelson captain Dale Ewers 85N was on row 3 with Mick alongside leaving Tom on the inside of row 4 accompanied by Daryl Peterson 82N. At the green Higgins and Harwood attacked the 01GB car. Mick took Ewers allowing Craig into the lead with Tom and Peterson holding one another at the line. As Craig came round to lap the Higgins, Harwood, Wainman skirmish he went for a gap around the outside but the Tigers saw him and launched a devastating blow crippling the 04GB car. The reds came out for Mick who was left stranded across the track out of turn 4 and the 00GB car was subsequently removed to the infield. Ewers was now 3 laps ahead of anyone else and the Tigers had all 4 cars running compared to the Lions 3 of which Frankie was the only car race worthy. On the restart 81N went clean over the top of Toms car leaving him facing the wrong direction and immobile. The reds came out again to remove Tom’s car. On the restart the 84N car was holding Craig and 81N had Frankie up against the wall, again Frankie used reverse and came up the other side of the Higgins car swiping him into the wall. At the flag it was a convincing win by the Nelson Tigers with Ewers taking it from Peterson and Frankie in 3rd.

The final presentations were made with the Mustangs taking out 3rd spot, the British lions in 2nd and the Nelson Tigers taking a well deserved win. There was one other award to be handed out for the Entertainer of the Teams and this went to Tom Harris for his outstanding blocking efforts all weekend. The full British Team did a jog round the track to a standing ovation from the crowd. Once again the weekend had been a huge success for Team GB and thanks must go out to the drivers who laid everything on the line for the cause, Guy Parker for all the logistics, Tony Maclanachan for his mentorship, all the guys who crewed on the cars all weekend and the sponsors for making it all possible.

So 2009….3rd, 2010…..2nd, roll on 2011.