Peter Rees continued his great run of form at Wanganui's OceanView Speedway on Sunday afternoon when claiming the Charlie Berntsen Trophy for stockcars. The Foxton Flyer almost made it the perfect afternoon when he went tantalisingly close to also claiming the Craig Heibner Dash For Cash for Superstocks - losing out by the solitary point to clubmate Kerry Humphrey.

Charlie Berntsen Trophy

A solid field of 26 cars faced the starter for the first heat of the event held over from the end of the 2010/11 season (the 2011/12 version being held later in the current season). Wanganui with 12 cars and Palmerston North with 10 had a stranglehold on the field with Gisborne-registered local Ian Barron joining the three visitors from Stratford (incl defending champion 898S Sandy Flett).

Heat One

It didn't take long for the small crowd in attendance to sit up and take notice as cars speared in all directions in the first corner. 89V Blair Lockett was the first major casualty while 88G Ian Barron and 15V Kyle Heibner were held up long enough to dent their hopes - Heibner started smoking badly and was not sighted again during the afternoon. Up front 6V Dion Mooney was making headway but the red tank of 2NZ Peter Rees was looming large. With just over a lap to run Rees made his move and spun Mooney who suffered damage in the resultant meelee. Although he eventually crossed the line to claim some points, Mooney's championship was over and Wanganui's challenge was wilting. Rees took the win comfortably from son 126P Asher Rees with 98P Brian Taniwha in third.

Heat Two

There was action from flag fall when 762S Damien Hiestand nailed his colours to the mast by turning left in to Asher Rees to dent his title hopes. After that it was a case of catch me if you can for Peter Rees but when you are circulating over ½ a second quicker a lap than your rivals it is not that easy. Rees coasted to the win ahead of Lockett and Barron.

So after two heats Peter Rees was 6 points clear of Taniwha and 321V Hilton Parker who was tied together in 3^rd place with Asher Rees. And with the Wanganui challenge down to 8 cars it looked like another walk in the park for Rees and his Palmerston North teammates.

Heat Three

20 cars made the final stanza with Rees on grid 7 with Hiestand on his bumper. It wasn't long before Rees had swatted his way to the lead and with Hiestand unable to stop the master, the rush was on to the TAB to put your house on the nose of the indomitable 2NZ. And when 52V Francis Potaka retired mid-race it became a stroll in the park as Rees again won easily from 48P Damien Mulcahy and 68P Jared Lamb.

So with three wins from three it was Peter Rees all the way from Parker who was 11 points adrift. Asher Rees was aided by only 7 cars recording points in the last heat to hold 3^rd from Lamb.

Full Points Table:-

Craig Heibner Dash For Cash

 The second championship held over from 2010/11 was the Craig Heibner Dash for Cash for the Superstocks. With a few locals still sorting out their cars the three locals of 23V Scott Duncan, 31V Daniel Matthews and 35V Mick Paul were joined by 3NZ Peter Rees, 54P Bevan Humphrey, 79P Kerry Humphrey, 511P Mike Gaskin and 282S Phil Ogle.

Heat One

The final lap chart will show Kerry Humphrey winning from Rees and Scott Duncan but there were signs in this race that might point to the future. With Duncan rolling out the new Rees-built at home after competing strongly in Palmerston North, he demonstrated that with good machinery he has become a competitive force. With Duncan leading, Rees tried to force the issue but the youngster never backed off and kept his nose in front only for a slight misjudgment leaving the door open. A nice spin of Bevan Humphrey later in the race meant that their might be changing of the guard at the top table in Wanganui in meetings to come.

Heat Two

Rees gained the upper hand in this contest and never let Kerry Humphrey close enough to force the issue. Duncan's afternoon was over when he was walled heavily by Bevan Humphrey that started a small exhaust fire that quickly extinguished itself.

So after two heats Rees and Kerry Humphrey were locked together on points with the chance of the 3NZ making a double championship.

Heat Three

With Kerry Humphrey on pole and Rees on grid 5 the opportunity was there for there for the taking. With the inside pole line a bit greasy (the track itself held up beautifully in the afternoon and looked very smooth and drivable) after some watering, Humphrey tried to get the all important break. Mid-race and it looked like the 3NZ was going to pounce on the leader but the 79P produced enough grip and track position to hold on for the victory.

Sp Kerry Humphrey held on the barest one point from Rees with 282S Phil Ogle third overall.

Full Points Table:-

Grand Slam

One last gallop and just for a change the name of 3NZ Peter Rees topped the charts.

1. 3NZ. 2. 89V. 3. 9V. 4. 33P. 5. 34P. 6. 48P