Ding dong battle dazzles

A good turnout of 23 cars competed in the Wairarapa Car Club's Puketiro Road gravel hillclimb on Sunday.
Conditions were hot and dusty and the road surface good after the early runs had swept loose gravel away.
There was a ding-dong battle between local favourite Roger Brader, in his Nissan Pulsar and eventual winner Tony Dixon, from Wellington, in a Subaru Impreza, Dixon eventually prevailing by just over half a second.
Three locals, Kevin George, Stu McLean and Michael Mortensen, all in Toyotas, were all within a second of each other in the 1301 -- 1600cc class, George winning by less from McLean and Mortensen.
All cars completed the event..
Top 3 results (Wairarapa unless stated):
0 - 1300cc: Mark Anstis, Wton, Starlet, 95.13s, 1.
1301 - 1600cc: Kevin George, 1587 Toyota, 87.57s, 1; Stu McLean, 1587 Corolla, 88.44s, 2; Michael Mortensen, 1587 Corolla, 88.46s, 3.
1601 - 2000cc: Graham Heath, Harbour Capital, 1998 Pulsar, 86.25s, 1; Chris Hayman, Kapiti, 1998 Escort, 87.52s, 2; Doug Hoskings, Wellington, 1800 Mazda, 3.
2000cc and over: Evan Beattie, Levin, 2720 Starlet, 84.35s, 1; Shane Mackay, Levin, 27290 Starlet, 88.70s, 2; John Esler, 3000 Escort, 89.44s, 3.
4WD: Tony Dixon, Wellington, 3400 Impreza, 79.85s, 1; Roger Brader, 3396 Pulsar, 80.48s, 2; Mark Kibble, 3400 VR4, 84.08s, 3.