Young Guns to go Hard at it

More than 60 youth minstockers from various North Island tracks will be racing tomorrow night in Gisborne Speedway Club’s Youth Ministock 100. Picture by Liam Clayton

Up-and-coming youngsters of the North Island speedway scene will be in action at Gisborne Speedway Club’s annual Youth Ministock 100 tomorrow.

The night will conclude with a 26-car demolition derby and Santa will be doing the rounds on the track, handing out sweets to the younger fans.

“We’ve got just over 60 entries in the Repco Gisborne Ministock 100, which is awesome,” Gisborne club president Sam Hughes said.

“They are coming from all over the North Island — from Auckland to Wellington and from lots of tracks in between.”

Gisborne fans will not get to see two of their local stars racing on their home track.

Tomorrow the Rotorua club is hosting its Charity Invitational at Paradise Valley Speedway, drawing the top 20 drivers in various classes, including ministocks.

Gisborne’s Corbyn Wilson (44G) — fresh from his national drift challenge success — and Koby Gooch (59G) are in the invitational line-up.

“Ari Robertson (97G) will be our club’s big hope for success (in the ministock 100) tomorrow night,” Hughes said.

“He’s been really consistent and has been running at the front of the pack all year.”

The youngsters will race in three groups — juniors (12 to 14 years) and two groups of seniors (15-16yrs).

“The title will be decided on accumulated points over the three races for each age group,” Hughes said.

“We will see some great racing through the youth ministocks tomorrow night. They are the future of speedway.”

The support programme includes saloon cars, production saloons, streetstocks, stockcars and TQs.

“The TQs will contest the The Fuhrer Motorsport Development TQ Champion of Champions title,” Hughes said.

“It’s drawn a field of 14 cars, with drivers and vehicles here from Hawke’s Bay and Rotorua to mix it with the strong local line-up spearheaded by 17G Dylan MacGregor.

“We also expect a good field of saloon cars, including a couple from Auckland and Hawke’s Bay.”

Ethan Cook will drive the car he built for his brother Daniel (77G), who won the North Island Saloon Grand Prix last weekend.

The demolition derby has been sponsored again by Metalco.

“We will run that at the end of the night, probably around 9.30pm,” Hughes said.

“As usual, it will be won by the last vehicle and driver still moving.”

The reigning demolition derby champion, Jordy Smith, will be out there again.

“Overall, it should be a great meeting and a terrific way to celebrate the festive season,” Hughes said.

The gates to the speedway will open at 5pm with the first race set to go at 6pm.