Motorsport: Poignant victory for Gisborne visitor

David Pellow in a dramatic mid-air tumble ahead of Jacob Le Cren during the quarter midget racing at Kaikohe Speedway on Sunday. Photo / Debbie Beadle

A moment of poignancy arose from three action-packed days of motorised mayhem to become one of the enduring memories from this year's Easter Stampede over the long weekend.

It came roughly at the midway point of the annual season-ending extravaganza at Kaikohe Speedway, with Gisborne racer Johnathon Morley awarded the Sam Mouat Memorial for winning the most points overall in the youth ministock grade racing on day two, Saturday.

The trophy is dedicated to Samantha Mouat, the 15-year-old who died from injuries while competing in the youth ministock class at the Kaikohe Speedway five years ago.

Elsewhere, Morley was also rewarded for the effort in leaving Gisborne at midnight on Thursday and arriving in time to contest and win the CTRA (Circle Track Racing Association) New Zealand Youth Ministock Title on Good Friday. His effort was a fine example of those made by the many outsiders who travelled long distances, some coming from as faraway as New Plymouth, to be part of proceedings, particularly to contest the various CTRA titles on the card.

Many of the long-distance campaigners arrived in the days leading up to the event and set up camp at the track, in order to come to grips with the unfamiliar surroundings, with most staying on to race in their respective grades over the following two days.

Overall, it was business as usual, with club officials particularly pleased to report their pre-event promotion paid off in spades with a great turnout of drivers and strong spectator numbers enjoying fabulous Indian summer conditions throughout the Stampede.

Other highlights included a couple of spectacular rollovers, including one in the ministocks by Thomas Harris-Green, who continued racing throughout the weekend - an X-ray later showing he had fractured his arm; while youth driver David Pellow was airlifted to Whangarei after taking a spectacular four-roll tumble in the quarter midgets but was given a clean bill of health.

All up, a total of 130 races were completed before the Stampede was wrapped up on Sunday afternoon with the demolition derby, won by Jeremy Stensness.

-There will be more action at Kaikohe Speedway this Saturday with another burnout competition.

Results

• New Zealand titles:

ATV: Gavin Millen (car No157) 1, Troy Hawkins (22) 2, Arin Riwhi (30) 3.

• Youth ministock:
Jonathon Morley (98) 1, Robert Belk (25) 2, Bailey McKee (27) 3.

• North Island, quarter midgets:
David Pellow (7) 1, Benjamin Le Cren (14) 2, Jacob Le Cren (41) 3;

• B-saloons:
Arron Johnston (12) 1, Roger Frear (45) 2, Fraser Blacklock (2) 3.

•Ladies' Production:
Didi Roycroft (8) 1, Nerida Deibert (323) 2, Sharyn Campbell (41) 3.

•C-saloons:
Alana Smith (12) 1, Fran Verney (16) 2, Amanda Cortesi (34) 3.