Hawke's Bay streetstock driver Richard Houston got the perfect start to his 25th anniversary meeting at the Hawke's Bay Speedway Club's Meeanee opening night on Saturday.
Houston, 41, who started racing on the corresponding night 25 years ago as a 16-year-old and hasn't missed a season since, won his first heat in the nine-strong class.
"Nothing was arranged before the race ... it was just one of those nights when I got it all," Houston said after the meeting, which also saw him finish third in the second heat and forced to retire in the third with a puncture.
"You're right ... I couldn't have asked for a better start to the season and after what I've achieved during a career in which I've only missed six meetings out here, anything from now on will be a bonus. I'm just here to enjoy my racing now," Houston said.
"It was great Dad and other members of the family could be here to see it," he said, referring to his father Ray who was the club's oldest competitor at 67 during the 2009-10 season.