Track: Wanganui
Date: 24 February 2007
Event: West Coast Stockcar Champs
Pictures  by Mike Pollard & reporting by Roger Morrison

Wanganui - 24 February 2007
West Coast Stockcar Champs
Pictures  by Mike Pollard & reporting by Roger Morrison Sidecars

Brent Boddy Cars Ocean View Speedway played host to the West Coast Stockcar Champs on Saturday. With a glorious spell of weather here in the River City the track preparation meant that the surface held up well during a busy night’s racing. And with Palmerston North not racing there was a noticeable increase in crowd numbers with the terraces at the southern bend humming.

West Coast Stockcar Champs

The 12 locals were joined by Wellington’s Allan Levien, Hawkes Bay’s Mike McLachlan, Kihikihi’s Robbie Sisson, Stratford’s Wayne Booker and Dave Maxwell and Palmerston North’s Gary Davis, Robert Mason and Alec Wilson. So a busy 20 strong field meant that an interesting championship was in the offing. Defending title holder, Gerry Linklater, proudly did a couple of laps prior to the first race toting the new 1NZV number and trophy. The spirit of the occasion extended to a number of kids (& adults) sporting 1NZV face painting and mock mohawks – Alan "Moon Goon" Luoni looked a different man with his Mohawk accentuated by his follicly challenged head!!

Heat One

27V Josh Annabell was having his 1st run of the season and drew pole. But it was the Keith Gill chassis of 18V Tony James that made the immediate impression as he was quickly in the lead and kicked well away from the field to record an easy win. Behind him though all manner of action was happening. Linklater was quickly in the action when he upended clubmate 31V Daniel Matthews in the city bend that brought out the red lights. At the same time 65V Lisa Black had to make a quick exit from her car when it burst in to flames, ending her night early. Linklater then found himself coming in for all sorts of attention with 88V Ian Barron making life difficult for the 1NZ. Life as a stockcar driver just became more challenging for Linklater. Linklater stopped for a period during the race but recovered to at least finish, albeit well down in the field. 43V Shane Beech showed his intentions early as he made life awkward for visitors (& locals) alike with a hit on 31P Gary Davis memorable. 61V Richard Black was also active when spinning the rapid 46W of Allan Levien. Through it all the main benefactor was 6V Dion Mooney as he came from well back on the grid to record a good 2nd ahead of Richard Black.

1.#18v tony james 2.#6v dion mooney 3.#61v richard black 4.#84b mike mclachlan 5.#711s wayne booker 6.#31p gary davis

Heat Two

Linklater got away to a better start but was soon picked up by Davis who drove a classy race to easily pick off the chequered flag. Beech was the chief destroyer of the heat though as he went on a search and destroy mission. Levien again came in for attention with Beech having at least two cracks at him. Linklater also suffered at the hands of Beech as he drove him in to the wall. In behind Davis, James and Mooney quietly went about their work accumulating points. Levien recovered well to pick up 4th while 711S Wayne Booker again picked up points for consistency crossing in 5th place.

So heading in to the final heat and James was ahead on 51 points, 2 points clear of Mooney who had a 2 point gap back to Davis. But with Wanganui cars apparently not confining their elimination tactics solely to visiting drivers this was going to be an interesting finale.

1.#31p 2.#18v 3.#6v 4.#46w alan levien 5.#711s 6.#27v josh annabell

Heat Three

From the green flag mayhem erupted. 52V Francis Potaka did a left hand turn off the grid to pile Davis in to the infield thus severely denting his title hopes. The next major move was Beech nailing James!!! We’re talking Wanganui driver on Wanganui driver here so what on earth was happening?? It soon became apparent though as Mooney was left alone to chase runaway leader 84B Mike McLachlan. With James finally grinding to a halt it appeared Mooney had the title sewn up. This was confirmed when 67P Alec Wilson drove McLachlan hard into the wall at the ocean bend handing the lead to Mooney. The hits were going in all over the place and there was just no way to keep up with what was happening out in the middle!! But after 12 eventful laps the flag unfurled for Mooney who at long last picked up a title win. So often the "go to" man for enforcing the law Mooney was a comfortable overall winner from Davis who was courageous in 2nd place.

1.#6v 2.#84b 3.#46w 4.#711s 5.#43s dave maxwell 6.#31p

3rd & 4th Run_off

McLachlan and Booker were tied on 3rd and produced an entertaining run off. McLachlan got away but was pursued and muscled aside by Booker. McLachlan waited & nailed Booker but the contact wasn’t terminal. He waited again and forced Booker on to the grass. The distance covered on the grass by Booker to climb back on to the track raised a few eyebrows but in the end Booker was given the 3rd place.

1.#711s 2.#84b

Grand Slam

The meeting concluded with the Grand Slam in what was utter carnage. McLachlan will long remember his trip to Wanganui for being stuck to the concrete circulating the entire race with 3 or 4 cars locked together. At least a couple of trips up the wall were the result for McLachlan only to drop back on all fours. Mooney released all the pent up energy to go on a splurge with Potaka being put up the wall and Richard Black being t-boned by the red 6V. The action was just too much to keep up with as Annabell sneaked home for the win ahead of who knows with Barron, Levien, Mooney, Black and Read all managing to struggle over the line. Great entertainment.

1.#27v

Cars racing
Jnr Ministocks 39
Stockcars 20
Snr Ministocks 17
Saloons 7

For a full report on this meeting visit www.oceanviewspeedway.co.nz