'G' cars filled all three top podium spots at the North Island Superstock Championship in Gisborne. Ethan Rees (centre) was first, followed by Josh Prentice (left) second and Asher Rees third.
'G' cars filled all three top podium spots at the North Island Superstock Championship in Gisborne. Ethan Rees (centre) was first, followed by Josh Prentice (left) second and Asher Rees third.
Gisborne cars produced a clean sweep of the podium in two nights of the “best racing you could wish to see” at the North Island Superstock Championship over the weekend.
Ethan Rees (127G) emerged victorious in the BF Goodrich Tires & The Tyre General-sponsored event, which attracted more than 30cars to the MTF Awapuni Speedway.
Clubmate Josh Prentice (5G) was second, Ethan’s brother Asher (126G) was third and father Peter (10G) fourth.
The superstocks delivered two great nights of racing including the first of the finals heats on Saturday night, a helter-skelter encounter of pace and sound that set the tone for the night. Eventual winner Ethan Rees (127G) is buried in the pack through turn one. Photo / Murray Robertson
“I was definitely stoked to win the title on home soil,” said Ethan Rees.
“The two nights were as good as we expected – really hard and fast. It was the quality and the quantity of the field that made it special. Not quite so many cars but they were all good cars and drivers.
“As a family, it felt awesome to do so well together. We’ve achieved it before but to do it again felt fantastic.”
The Rees family and Ethan’s fiance Brittany Carpenter, who races a stockcar, will be back competing in Gisborne on April 13 and 14.
Carpenter (85G) finished third in the Ashley Scott Memorial on Friday night.
Club president Sam Hughes said it was an “unreal” two nights of racing.
“We saw some of the best racing in any class that you would see on this track.
“The four top spots taken by our club members shows just how strong the ‘G’ cars were on their home track,” Hughes said.
The crowds on both nights were exceptional.
The meeting drew a good-sized crowd of 3000-plus both nights to watch the enthralling racing. Photo / Murray Robertson
“The crowds were awesome,” Hughes said. “The whole thing was just a really great two-night meeting and all the feedback we got was positive from the visitors.
“Paul Vayzey, from Rotorua, for example, said it was the best club atmosphere and track he had raced on in his 30 years in speedway.”
The superstocks produced exactly the thunderous, fast-paced display expected, but the rest of the programme had moments of magic, too.
Gisborne's Bryce Simpson was rapt to make it back-to-back titles in the Ashley Scott Memorial Trophy for stockcars on Friday night. Photo / Murray Robertson
Gisborne young gun stockcar racer Bryce Simpson (98G) went back-to-back in winning the coveted Ashley Scott Memorial with Huntly’s James Marshall (16H) second and Carpenter winning a race-off with Huntly’s Kacey Cheetham (97H) for third.
“It was a great feeling,” said Simpson. “The car has had a few issues this season, but Friday night it was perfect.”
He thanked his sponsors and supporters for their help.
“It was cool to see the trophy stay local again, especially given the number of outside cars (15) and drivers out to win it,” Hughes said.
In other results, the Metalco Tier 2 section of the North Island Superstock Champs was won by Tyler James (89G) from Vazey (371R) and Sean Gooch (7G).
The Simpson Automotive & Gisborne Agricultural Services Dash for Cash stockcar honours went to Cheetham, who pocketed $1200.
Conrad Gooch (6G) was named mini stock driver of the night.
The good news kept on coming for Gisborne, with saloon racer Rodney McIndoe winning the South Island Saloon Car Championship at the Woodford Glen track in Christchurch.
“A well-deserved win,” Hughes said. “That’s a great result for Rodney and our club.”
