Rocketships on wheels

Gisborne’s Clyde McGrory was behind the wheel of this sprintcar on his home track several seasons ago. The fastest machines in speedway are back tonight in a meeting which also features the Gisborne Gladiators stockcars team up against the Meeanee Maulers. Pictures by Liam Clayton

gisborne Speedway Club tonight hosts the fastest machines in the sport in New Zealand — sprintcars.

Seen by many as the pinnacle of speedway racing, the 800-horsepower winged warriors produce amazing racing.

They can get around the track at an average 12.5 seconds a lap.

“It’s a sight you have to see to believe,” club president Sam Hughes said.

“We’re expecting a dozen of them on our track tonight for the McIndoe Logging Sprintcar Extravaganza.”

It’s all part of the JA Russell Ltd Outlaw Sprintcar Masters Series.

The line-up tonight includes three young guns who have joined the series this year — Zackary Sokol (47A), Chris Kernohan (92A) and Christian Hermansen (99M).

“While they may have less experience than some of the veterans in the sprintcar class, they should not be underestimated,” a series spokesman said.

“These drivers are the future of our sport and have been climbing their way up through the ranks.”

Also racing in these rocketships on wheels will be Daniel Thomas (1NZ-K), Jamie Larsen (82M), Ryan O’Connor (98M), Jamie McDonald (71M) and Rodney Woods.

A sprintcar can be described as a larger version of a TQ midget with a big “wing” on top.

“It will be as fast and as close racing as you could want to see,” Hughes said.

“It’s the biggest field of sprintcars we’ve ever had here.”

Gisborne Gladiators will take to the track for the first time together this season in stockcar team racing. They will take on the Meeanee Maulers.

The Gladiators are Bryce Simpson (98G), Ethan Bruce (71G), Jason Lovell (67G), and Will Kaa (164G), who will make his team debut.

“We’d like to think the Gladiators can beat the Maulers. Either way it will be good experience for them,” Hughes said.

The support programme features club points races in the youth ministocks including Ari Robertson (97G), fresh from his success last weekend at Bay Park, where he picked up a first, two seconds and a fourth to win overall.

Corbyn Wilson (44G) will also be out there and fresh from his outstanding drift car victory in Auckland last weekend.

Dylan MacGregor, on board 17G, is expected to maintain his scintillating form in the TQs.

Stockcars will be well represented in a field of about 16.

The saloons will also be in action. Drivers in this class have demonstrated superb skills and close racing this season.

Productions saloons and streetstocks will complete the 22-race programme.

The gates to the speedway open at 6pm and the first race is at 7pm.

The Gisborne Giants development team travel to Huntly International Speedway tomorrow morning for the Pollock Cranes Teams Invitation.

The team are 77G Sam Hughes, 81G Jason Jones, 87G Brodie James, 89G Tyler James and 235G Regan Penn. Tom Cooper is the spare driver.

The team are managed by Geoff James and Steve McCafferty.