The youth ministockers put on a great show that augured well for the future of speedway.
The senior (15/16-year) division of the Repco-sponsored event was won by Tom Steel from Hawke’s Bay, ahead of drivers from Rotorua and Auckland.
It was a special night for the MacGregor family, with Vinzent MacGregor (5G) winning the junior division (12-14yr) on overall points.
“He was absolutely awesome,” meeting controller Dave Gooch said.
“Vinzent’s got his father’s blood in him.”
His dad was thrilled with his son’s performance.
“Vinzent’s a talented young driver and is trying to make a name for himself,” Dylan MacGregor said.
“Saturday night was the first time he has started from the full grid, and to get two firsts and a second was awesome.”
Earlier, Dylan (17G) was a clear winner of the Fuhrer Motorsport Development TQ Midget Champion of Champions title.
In Heat 1 he came from the back of the field to win by 40 metres, and in the final he led from start to finish.
“He won the final by a country mile,” Gooch said.
The second and third positions in the junior youth ministocks went to drivers from Rotorua and Hawke’s Bay.
The 12-car saloon field put on a spectacle. Race 1 produced one of the best finishes seen this season when Sean Robertson (16G) held off the hard-charging Ethan Cook (77G).
Cook hunted him on the inside and the outside but couldn’t get around him in the new car he built for his brother Daniel, who won the New Zealand Grand Prix in it last weekend.
“You’ve got to take your hat off to Sean; that was a great drive,” Gooch said.
Cook finished a coat of paint behind David Ingram from Auckland in Race 2 and then went on to win the feature race in the saloons.
“Ethan drove so well,” Gooch said.
“He was doing 14-second laps in the final race.”
Ethan said the car was fast and easy to drive.
“It was good fun . . . cool to be back out there.”
From now on this season it will be just his brother behind the wheel.
“I’m building a new one of my own for next season, after I’ve built the cars ordered by my customers.”
Anton McKay (17G), won the feature race in the production saloons.
Cody Gooch (6G) won the feature in the streetstocks, and Josh Mulcahy won the feature in the stockcars.
The night finished with a 20-car demolition derby, which was won by Josh Maats. Cody Gooch was runner-up.
“The derby was good,” Dave Gooch said.
“The drivers got into it, and there were some pretty good hits. It was an awesome night.
“The track was in perfect order after Dean Moore worked all day on it. He did a great job.”
Santa was a welcome visitor to the track on Saturday night as he toured the track meeting the children and their parents, and handing out sweets.
The club’s next meeting will be on January 13 and will feature the Saloon Champ of Champs, Production Saloon Champ of Champs and F2 Midgets.
• At the Rotorua Invitational on Saturday night, Corbyn Wilson (44G) was second in the youth ministocks and Koby Gooch (59G) third.
Wilson and a Hawke’s Bay driver won the “best pairs” competition.
Peter Rees (10G) was second in the superstocks, and Tim Ross (144G) third.
