Track: Wellington
Date: Friday 26 January 2007
Event: New Zealand Stockcar Teams Champs - Qualifying
Pictures & reporting by Mike Pollard

Wellington - 26 January 2007
New Zealand Stockcar Teams Champs - Qualifying
Pictures & reporting by Mike Pollard

The winner gets the staging rights for the following year, and so this is the one where everyone gives it their all in an effort not only to win the trophy, but secure a big pay day for their club.

I have to say that after having watched many meetings over a large number of years, I dont think I have ever seen as many cars leave the track on the back of a hook ....... man it was like fishing in a barrel. Teams racing can be brutal, but this was something else!

Palmerston North Pumas v Hawkes Bay Meanee Maulers

The "Group of Death" also included the Baypark Bulldogs, and whoever lost this was going home.
Palmerston looked strong early on as #4p Peter Rees, #8p Gary Davis, #7p Graeme Ward and #9p Kevin Large were running 1-2-3-4 at the front. And yet Palmerston somehow managed to grasp another defeat from the jaws of victory as #9p Large was seen to large by #84b Beatle Tarrant. #8p Davis was despatched by #83b Keith Hingston and new leader #5p Scott McKintosh was absolutley blasted by #81b reagan o'brien. palmerston showed some resilience by overturning #85b Ricky Kuru, but when Palmerston's last hope #4p Rees was pinned to the wall by #83b Hingston and #81b O'Brien, they were as good as done as #84b Tarrant came through to take the chequered with a fabulous, clinical, and classic come from behind performance.

Wanganui Vulcans v Te Marua Terminators

#77w Jordan Keene raised the commitment bar to new heights in this one as he tried to make the break at the start only to be gunned down and launched skyward by #33v Daniel Matthews. The crash back to earth ripped all the bodywork off and immediatley brought on the red lights. Amazingly, #77w Keene waived away the onrushing track crew and made it clear it wanted to carry on. Two laps later and the car lost the right front wheel, and yet was still being put to effective use as it baulked and blocked at every opportunity. The reds were out late on for #18w Matt Gaskin, but the job was already beyond the Wellington second string (Auckland were a no-show), as #33v Matthews stormed round to a convincing victory.

Huntly Waikato Raiders v Stratford Stormers

#595s Rhys Wadsworth led early on for Stratford, but after the reds came out for #484s Hayden Barker, they seemed short of ideas as huntly cruised round to a fairly uneventful win.

Gisborne Gladiators v Kihikihi Crusaders

#56g Brett Lloyd ran from the front for Gisborne but was caught and sent fenceward by #71k. However, the fencebound #56g Lloyd collided with team mate #47g Chris Lovell turning him over and bringing out the reds whilst leader #56g Lloyd escaped unharmed and stormed on to take a strong win.

Baypark Bulldogs v Palmerston North Pumas

#11m Scott Fredrickson took an early lead and as the first spots of rain started to fall, #8p Gary Davis tried to break the high jump record in a reach for the stars spectacular. with all cars running in all black it was difficult to tell who was hitting who, but ended unusually in a drag race for the line as #11m Fredrickson held on to beat #4p Peter Rees.

Rotorua Rascals v Wanganui Vulcans

The rain had stopped as #33v Daniel Matthews ran from the front again ahead of #201r Kevin Henry. The #33v Matthews charge was ended abruptly by #203r Caleb Beaumont, but the scores were evened when #205r Steve Axtens rolled himself after a botched attempt to take out #44v Shane Beech. however, without #33v Matthews Wanganui seemed to be without a plan B, as #204r Steve McPherson ran to the chequered.

Blenheim Eastern States Titans v Huntly Waikato Raiders

Blenheim who were running stockcars for only the second year were making their debut at the champs, and little was expected against the might of Huntly.
The Blenheim cars looked unexpectedly quick, and were out front early on before their inexperience at teams racing started to show and they were nailed by a far more tactically aware team, with #93h J Chestnut taking the flag.

Wellington Young Guns v Gisborne Gladiators

There was some discussion prior to the meeting, regarding the fact that the reigning champs had given themselves a somewhat "slanted" draw by pairing themselves with the lesser lights of Gisborne and Kihikihi. And so it proved as Wellington were looking far too strong for Gisborne as the rain started to fall again. Gisborne could have fared better had they drove to the conditions, as the rain started to pelt the track became like an ice-rink, sending the cars (mainly from Gisborne) skidding in all directions, with Wellington claiming a straightforward if somewhat wet win.

Hawkes Bay Meanee Maulers v Bay Park Bulldogs

With the cars sat on the dummy grid, and with no sign of the rain abating, the Clerk of the Course made the decision to abandon the remainder of the fixture after 2/3rds run.

Cars racing

Stockcars 72