Speedway: McInteer's saloon title hopes up in air

After over a month of rain-offs, speedway drivers were getting a bit toey.

Cars that were primed to race had to sit under wraps in garages.

After Taranaki's Ferndene Raceway was closed, Whangarei Speedway was awarded the regional and national title races which had been scheduled to be held in Taranaki. The Whangarei Saloon and Stock Car Club, based at Whangarei Speedway track in Port Road, has seen an increase in popularity all over New Zealand.

The drivers got a stern talking to about some antics that would no longer be tolerated - jumping the start, cutting the pole and excessive argy-bargy, club spokesperson Didi Muncaster said.

"Good for spectators but not a fair cop for competitors. The black flag was produced and brandished for extra impact," Muncaster said.

Apart from some minor incidents, racing was fair and close.

Competing for the North Island Super Saloon title, Mangawhai driver Shane "Macca" McInteer badly damaged his car when he was sent airborne. While he may have to spend the rest of the season watching from the sidelines, McInteer was thankfully uninjured in the incident.

Meanwhile, Ministock driver Luke Brown cleaned up at the Kaikohe Speedway Easter Stampede soon after getting off the plane from Perth, where he represented New Zealand at the Trans-Tasman Challenge.