By his own admission Johnny Browne is the "quiet one" on the Hawke's Bay super saloon racing scene.
While his brother-in-law, former 3NZ Grahame Strong and old Tamatea High School mates Grant and Steve Flynn, have hogged the headlines in recent years Browne has enjoyed being the quiet achiever. However, the driver of "Lightning" (the nickname for his ZRI Corvette) hasn't been able to sidestep the limelight in the build-up to the New Zealand championships which will be raced at ZM Meeanee Speedway tomorrow and Saturday night.
"Yes I've had an awesome season so far," said Browne, who was the best of the Hawke's Bay starters in the recent East Coast championships at Meeanee with a seventh placing.
The previous night he had started on grid 18 in a race at Mount Maunganui's Bay Park and worked his way up to an 11th placing. Should he sell Lightning - his 95B car is for sale - this weekend is likely to be his swansong in speedway racing.
"Jeremy [Browne's 6-year-old son] wants to race karts so the plan is to sell Lightning and buy Jeremy a kart," said Browne.
Should this eventuate Browne could end up back in speedway again in the future as he switched to speedway after racing karts - a 125cc kart initially and then a 250cc kart.
"I bought one of Graham Martin's old cars, back in the days when limiteds were limiteds," recalled Browne.
However, he was introduced to speedway when he was 2 months old as his father Chris crewed for former Hawke's Bay superstock driver Terry Lay who drove "The Big Apple".
Browne's dad now heads the crews for Strong and Browne.
"It's a real family affair. My brother Garrett is also in the crew and Jeremy and Kylie (Browne's wife) clean my car," said the Onekawa Metal Recyclers and Quality Automotive-sponsored driver.
A third season super saloon driver, he raced a limited for five seasons before making the step up, Browne's goal for this weekend is a predictable one.
"Qualifying is the main aim. Obviously if things don't go to plan I will do my best to help the other Bay starters qualify or get as close to the podium as possible."
The best Bay placing would be an appropriate send off for Browne. It would also make an ideal belated birthday present for Browne who turned 37 on Monday.
A quarry operator for Holcim Aggregates, Browne spends a lot of time driving heavy machinery and enjoys another form of driving when he hits the track. His race day eating routine this weekend will be the same as usual - a big breakfast and then water for the rest of the day until racing has finished.
With one East Coast and one Hawke's Bay title along with three podiums it obviously works. He is full of praise for Wellington driver Martin Halcrow.
"Lightning wasn't going too well last season and Martin suggested a few things. We took his advice and it was a totally different car to drive," said Browne.
It will be interesting to see Halcrow's reaction if Browne upstages him this weekend.
Other Hawke's Bay-contracted starters in the 38-strong field are defending champion Brent Emerson, Strong, Grant Flynn and Simeon Howard.
Emerson, the Huntly-contracted 2NZ Shane McIntyre, who has already won the Hawke's Bay and East Coast championships at Meeanee this summer, and the Huntly-contracted Steve Williams, the golf caddy for Tigers Woods, are all ranked high among the favourites.
Browne is tipping Mount Maunganui's Matt Smith, who finished second in the East Coast champs this month, to capture the title.
The drivers have been divided into two groups and the top nine from each group after four heats tomorrow night will qualify for the three championship heats on Saturday night. The top two placegetters in Saturday night's repechage will also qualify.
The three championship heats will determine grid positions for the winner-takes-all deciding final race. Fans wanting to mix and mingle with the drivers will have the opportunity to do so on Napier's Marine Parade during scrutineering between 10am and 2.30pm tomorrow.
Browne racing towards limelight
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