Here's a bit of Hawke's Bay speedway trivia fans will struggle to believe.
Hawke's Bay super saloon driver Steve Flynn, 40, has been racing for 20 seasons but has yet to win the North Island Championship. The 2012 national champion has had three seconds and a third in the event and has been on the podium for the past three seasons.
"If I can win it on Saturday night I might be able to retire," Flynn remarked as he pondered the 18-car Thirsty Whale-sponsored North Island Championship to be raced at Hauraki Speedway.
His father and Hawke's Bay Speedway Club life member Mike Flynn, who raced saloons from 1972-'92, agreed a win in this championship is long overdue for the older of his two sons in the event but pointed out he would be happy with a "Flynn quinella" either way. Flynn's younger brother, Grant, 37, who also races a V8 Chev and is in his 17th season of racing, has also yet to win this title.
"I've come third in the past but in saying that I haven't raced in it for three years. I'm reasonably confident about Steve and I both going well but at the same time we know at least 12 of the starters are all capable of taking out the title."