Motorsport: Racers give rain the slip

Do we, or don't we, was the question for Taipa Speedway track committee manager Bruce Mallindine on the morning of the Taipa Stock and Saloon Car Club opening day on Sunday.

A light drizzle greeted him on his arrival at the speedway and at 9am Mallindine decided to call the meeting a "go" and wait to see if the weather cleared for some racing in the afternoon. The decision proved to be a good one, and during a barbecue lunch provided for the speedway drivers and the infield staff the drizzle faded and the sun came out, so racing started at 2pm.

Free entry had been decided on for spectators because there was no guarantee that the drizzle would not start again.

First out of the blocks were the men's C Grade field of Daniel DeWaal, Tony Over, Allen Hallett, and Craig DeWaal.

All of them went hard on a track nicely prepared by Mallindine.

Over was victorious in the first race at Taipa Speedway for the 2012/2013 season. He was closely followed to the chequered flag by Craig DeWaal in a new C Grade Honda Civic build, car 42.

Tony "the Stig" Cree brought his newly bought limited saloon out in the second race of the day. Kelvin Coate's B grade saloon and Rosalyn Steele's production saloon also joined the round.

Cree showed his two seasons of learned driving skills by taking the round to the chequered flag in style.

The C grade women were next out on the track. Carole Teixeira and Carmen Hallett battled their way through 10 laps, with Teixeira just getting to the line first.

Round two of the men's C grade was another great win for Tony Over, who led from start to finish in front of Daniel DeWaal in car 42, a Honda Civic 1600.

DeWaal said at the end of the race that the tyre size and differential ratio were incorrect because he could not get above 5000rpm on the straight. He said new cars needed to be tested to see how they performed, and adjustments made.

Tony Cree produced another great drive in his limited saloon. Cree got a handle on his new car, and with the track conditions improving, was able to go full noise.

The spectators who arrived were given a treat after the second round, a ride in a speedway car. Many youngsters barely able to see above the windscreen were treated to some laps. It was obvious by the huge smiles and waves as they came round the track that they were having a whale of a time. Maybe some new junior racers will be inspired.

It was then the Z Taipa "all-in" feature race. All saloon cars went out for a mixed race - the Z Taipa sponsored "all-in" is now a tradition at the speedway.

A Limited Saloon has to lap a C Grade Saloon twice in 15 laps in order to win. Cree just managed to pass Allen Hallett's C Grade saloon on the last lap for a great win.

The speedway will be racing again on November 4, at 1pm. It is 1km up Oruru Rd, signposted from the Taipa bridge. Bring the family along for an exciting speedway-action afternoon.

More information at www.freewebs.com/taipastockandsalooncarclub