Track: Rotorua
Date: 3 March 2007
Event: World Invitation Stockcar Champs - "World of Stocks"
Pictures  & reporting by Mike Pollard 

Rotorua - 3 March 2007
World Invitation Stockcar Champs - "World of Stocks"
Pictures  and reporting by Mike Pollard

Hello and welcome to Rotorua for the Inaugural World Invitation Stockcar Champs. not to be confused with an event won by #501uk Chris Elwell 20 years ago, since which time the Standard Stocks (aka Stockcars) have become Stockcars, and the "A" grade Stockcars (aka stockcars) have become Superstocks. So to avoid any possible confusion (?), the championship has been given the alternative title of "World of Stocks", with the winner invited to take part in the BriSCA v8 Stockcar (Hot Stox) Nationals later in the year.
whoever ends up winning this will have earned their stripes, as the invited kiwi grid reads Like a who's who of the sport. with 22 x of New Zealand's finest, joined by Aussies; #15aus Dudley Ward and #449aus Raymond Cannons, together with Brits; #1uk Chris Fort and British Stock Car Drivers Association Chairman #392uk Stu Milnes.

Heat 1
#392uk Stu Milnes started on outside front row, and the plan to "cut across" didn't quite work as he became slightly held up on turn 1, slotting into race position 5. #11w Michael Gray led for a short while before being caught and spun by #11p Peter Rees, who was opening a gap over #31p Gary Davis and #8m Scott Fredrickson, who were having a great scrap for second. Now when most Kiwi's get a flat early on, they retire to the middle and cross the line after the chequered to record a finish. However, it seems no-one told #1uk Chris Fort this, as chaos rained behind the Brit, who legitamately refused to budge from the racing line despite only travelling at half speed. #31p Davis was another of many to suffer a puncture, dropping him down the order, as #11p Rees claimed the flag ahead of #8m Fredrickson. #392uk Milnes retired at half-way recording the races only dnf.

1.#11p Peter Rees 2.#8m Scott Fredrickson 3.#51w David Marshall 4.#89w Dale Robertson 5.#16r Clive Pritchard 6.#48r Ivan King ....22.#1uk Chris Fort

Heat 2
After a long break for a rain delay, the cars slithered their way off the grid with #449aus Raymond Cannons, #48r Ivan King and #15aus Dudley Ward all leading on the opening lap, and all managing to lose it by spinning out. The first to get round the first lap was 3nz Steve Axtens, who was putting some light between himself and #17p Shane Simpson who was fending off the challenge of #44p Graeme Ward. The nightmare continued for #392uk Milnes who was first to retire after requiring the reds, when fuel pump problems left him stranded on turn1. On the restart it was still #3nz Axtens out front, but now being chased by #16r Clive Pritchard who was moving smoothly through the field. Reds again, this time for #99p Scott McIntosh who was in the wall, #11w Michael Gray being trailored off at the same time. The third bout of reds came out for #449aus Raymond Cannons who was well and truly stuffed into the wall by #1nz Gerry Linklater who seemed to take a dislike to all things Australian! On the green #1uk Chris Fort delivered a hefty wallop, only to develop a severe mis-fire and retire to the middle. The reds were out for one last time, as #8m Scott Fredrickson failed to get going, with #3nz Axtens ploughing on for the win.

1.#3nz Steve Axtens 2.#16r 3.#89w 4.#17p Shane Simpson 5.#77e Tim Alexander 6.#22w Richard Gaskin

Heat 3
A check of the points show #16r Clive Pritchard tied with #89w Dale Roberson, both 3 x points ahead of #3nz Steve Axtens.
All cleanly away on the green with #3nz Axtens first to show ahead of 77e Tim Alexander and #16r Clive Pritchard, as #31p Gary Davis puts #392uk Milnes into the wall. A mistake from #77e Alexander sees him get tied up, leaving #3nz out front ahead of #16r Pritchard and #31p Davis. #31p Davis moves up another spot after spinning #16r Pritchard, but is a long way behind leader #3nz Axtens. With no hope of catching the leader, #31p Davis slows dramatically and attempts (but fails) to nail #3nz Axtens on his way past, leaving #3nz Axtens to make it two in a row, and overall victory in the "World of Stocks"

1.#3nz 2.#44p Graeme Ward 3.#1uk Chris Fort 4.#51w 5.#11m Graham McRobbie 6.#48r

Overall
1.#3nz 2.#16r 3.#89w ....14.#1uk ....26.#392uk

Superstocks

The superstocks were in town for the Bay of Plenty Champs, and with 25 x turning out, this was another Champs that was gonna take some winning.

Heat 1
#2nz Peter Rees led them out, with #33p Craig Rolsten, #52r Mike Herbert and #192r Kyle Fraser all taking it in turns to chase from second spot. #2nz Rees slowed after hitting the stationary #138r Russell Hunter car, allowing #58p Peter Bengston to take close order and race side by side with #2nz Rees over the last 5 x laps.

1.#2nz Peter Rees 2.#58p Peter Bengston 3.#515r Stan Hickey 4.#118r Bryce Steiner 5.#85h Jared Wade 6.#38r Ross Ashby

Heat 2
#58p Peter Bengston was first up ahead of #21r Wayne Francis, with the latter giving way to #96h Scott Redfern, before the reds came out firstly to remove debris from the track and then again to retreive #52r Mike Herbert who had stopped on the racing line. #22r Wayne Talbot was trying all he could to baulk leader #58p Bengston, but #58p Bengston was having none of it, delivering a huge smack to the #22r Talbot machine en route to victory. the whole meeting so far had been subject to very light drizzle, but the last few laps of this event had been run under heavy rain, which caused a delay to the rest of the programme.

1.#58p 2.#2nz 3.#96h Scott Redfern 4.#85h 5.#5r Laurence Christini 6.#7r Dayne Wright

Heat 3
Heading into the final race; #2nz Peter Rees and #58p Peter Bengston were tied at the top, 6 x points ahead of #85h Jared Wade, with the Rotorua crew looking to lose their "home" trophy!
#7r Dayne Wright lad after lap1 ahead of #41h Lionel Penn, with #337r Kenneth Hunter and #99r Mark Decke swapping 3rd and 4th between themselves. The reds came out for #33r Robbie Mabey who was sent backwards into the fence, requiring the services of the ambulance. On the green #7r Wright increased his lead, whilst #41h Penn, #337r Hunter and #99r Decke all fought over second spot. The championship was momentarily ripped wide open as #2nz rees took a huge hit from #21r Wayne Francis, whilst simultaneously #58p Bengston took a massive blast from #22r Wayne Talbot. Following these 2 x huge hits, the reds came out, but it was for #22r Talbot who had come off worst following his assault on #58p Bengston. #99r Decke also retired at this point as did #41h Penn. #7r Wright was left to take the win as #515r Stan Hickey pinned #58p Bengston to the wall after the chequered.

1.#7r 2.#337r Kenneth Hunter 3.#96h 4.#2nz 5.#515r 6.#21r Wayne Francis

Overall
1.#2nz 2.#58p 3.#7r

Cars racing
Stockcars 53
Ministocks 35
Superstocks 25
Saloons 10