Motorsport: Rascals chief applauds perfectionism

Rotorua Rascals in action. Photo / Peter Rees

Rotorua Rascals manager Steve Axtens toasted his troops' attention to detail after they tasted Peter Barry Memorial stockcar teams glory at Meeanee for the first time on Saturday night.

"These blokes tinker about with their cars all day until they are satisfied everything is right. I can't say enough about them," Axtens said after the Rascals completed their fourth consecutive win for the weekend with a first across the line victory against the Stratford Stormers in the final.

The former Bay of Plenty rugby rep who is in his first season managing the Rascals said his team of Damian Orr, who secured the final win, Brent Stewart, Mike Hohneck, Darcy Meuran and Dale Stewart were also rewarded fortheir speed and consistency.

"Some of these blokes raced against Peter so they know about the significance of this event," Axtens said, referring to former Central Hawke's Bay businessman and farmer Peter Barry who died in 2009 after a speedway incident.

The Rascals were too strong for the Meeanee Maulers in their semifinal. The Maulers were dealt an early blow when Randal Tarrant was shunted up the wall 15m into the first of 15 laps by Stewart.

Within the next two laps veteran Tony Palmer was called off the track by the referee for an infringement and Tarrant's father Beatle was towed off with mechanical issues. Mike McLachlan was the best of the Maulers in third place.

The Stormers beat the Auckland Alley Cats in their semifinal and the Alley Cats beat the Maulers in the battle for third. Mauler Josh Swannell was shoved up the wall by Aucklander Jamie Fergusson and the Maulers failed to identify long-time leader and eventual winner Gary Lonergan.

This season's remarkable roll for Hawke's Bay Hawkeyes captain Steve Jude continued when he won the 20-car Hawke's Bay Superstock championship by one point from rapidly improving clubmate Zach Lawrence. Last month he won the East Coast Championship and in February he led the Hawkeyes to their history-making title win at the ENZED team champs in Palmy.

Fellow Hawkeye Thomas Stanaway beat Rotorua's Pat Westbury in an entertaining run-off for third.

Former rally driver Brent Redington and Josh Shepherd won an all-Hawke's Bay seven-team streetstock best pairs event by two points from Dave "The Sheriff" Brand and Ben Darroch. Shayne Melling and Al Howatson were a further five points back in third place.

Aucklanders Joshua Melrose and Ryan Barry finished first and second respectively in an 11-car Gold Cup TQ event. Kris Gillies was the best of the Hawke's Bay starters in third.

Palmerston North's Hawke's Bay champion Jason McKay won all three heats in a four-strong solo bike class.