Gisborne Speedway Club’s opening round begins tonight for the Ashley Scott Memorial Trophy

Stockcar and superstock action highlights the start of the speedway season in Gisborne tonight, with more than 20 superstocks and 30-plus stockcars roaring around the track. The stocks will be hunting the coveted Ashley Scott Memorial Trophy. File picture

The Ashley Scott Memorial stockcar trophy battle and the first round of the superstock points dash will highlight the action-packed opening to the Gisborne Speedway Club’s season tonight.

Superstock drivers Josh Prentice (2NZG), Ethan Rees (3NZG) and his father Peter

Rees (10G), with the addition of Jamie Hamilton (9G), look set to lead the charge in that class.

But they will be tested by others in the field, with more than 20 superstocks expected for Round 1 of the MTF Finance Points Dash.

The likes of Trent James (56v), Brett Kelly (461B), Regan Penn (235G) and Brett Loveridge (16B) will be in attendance.

Then there’s the Gisborne-based drivers including club president Sam Hughes (77G), Ben McArthur (328G), Jason Jones (81G) and James Clarke (29G).

“It’s going to be fast racing, for sure,” Hughes said.

“Regan (Penn) raced really well in Napier last week, so he’s got to be a contender.

“The top guys are as quick as each other, so it’s going to be exciting racing.

“We all can’t wait to get out on the track in front of our home crowd, and that includes all the ‘G’ cars.”

At last report, there were 30 entries expected for the Ashley Scott Memorial.

The standouts there include visitors Clinton and Kacey Cheetham (361H and 97H respectively), Bradley and Jason Penn (7B and 55B respectively), and former local Jonny Morley (98R).

Hughes will race in that class as well in his stock car 77G, joined by Jason Lovell (67G), Bryce Simpson (98G), and David Bacon (52G).

“Bryce will be one of the top competitors I’m picking for it,” Hughes said.

“He went really well in Napier and Whanganui last weekend as well.”

The rest of the programme includes 32 youth ministocks, including about a dozen from Gisborne, the others from Rotorua, Huntly, Napier and as far as Wellington.

“There’ll be young Gooches out there racing tonight.

“It will be great to see how they go.”

The golden oldies (stockcars) will be racing, including Reece Lister in Ashley Scott’s old car.

“There will be about a dozen of them.”

A dozen TQs will face the starter, and that includes about nine Gisborne cars.

“That’s the biggest line-up of local TQ Midgets we’ve had for several years,” Hughes said.

Production saloons and the saloons will be in action too.

“We’ve got about nine productions and about the same number of saloons, possibly including the new car Ethan Cook has built for his brother Daniel.”

Streetstocks will also be out there tonight.

“We’re really happy to get the season under way and hopefully the weather will help us do that.

“The track looks great,” Hughes said.

“It’s in terrific order and with the GPS grading we’ve done to the surface, it’s a nice evenly balanced track.

“It’ll be faster.”

The speedway gates will open to the public from 3.30pm today, with the first race to start at 5pm.