Gisborne's Ethan Cook (left) took out second place in the New Zealand speedway saloon car championship in Dunedin. Kihikihi’s Chris Cowling won it and Cromwell’s Ashton Osborne was third.
Gisborne Speedway Club’s Ethan Cook is to replace the 76G on his car with 2NZ after a great drive in the NZ Saloon Championship at the weekend.
Kihikihi’s Chris Cowling won the title at the Beachlands Speedway in Dunedin on Saturday, with Cook second and Cromwell’s Ashton Osborne third.
“We’re stoked with the result,” Cook told the Gisborne Herald.
The podium decider was a 25-lap final featuring 20 cars.
Cook was in pole position after qualifying top.
“Off the start line, Chris Cowling on the outside of me got a really good start with a faster car, and just pulled away,” Cook said. “But I managed to head off everyone else.”
Cook won the New Zealand title at the Meanee track in the 2018-2019 season.
Saturday’s second placing adds to his three NZ Grand Prix crowns and third at the NZGP recently in Invercargill.
Gisborne club drivers Rodney Mcindoe (7G) and Daniel Weston (444G) also raced at Dunedin but were eliminated in qualifying.
Cook had a couple of wins in the qualifying heats featuring 48 cars and a middle-of-the-field finish in the other to qualify for the final.
“It was good, fast racing.”
Gisborne Speedway club president Sam Hughes said Cook’s achievement was “fantastic”.
“He’s a credit to the club and has been for years.”
Meanwhile, Cody Gooch (6G) continued a Gisborne family tradition of streetstock success in winning the NZ Grand Prix at the Meeanee track in Hawke’s Bay on Saturday.
It came after he finished fourth at the NZ championships at the Waikaraka Speedway in Auckland the previous weekend.
Gooch won a run-off with Hawke’s Bay’s Brent Redington (46B) to clinch the title. Rotorua’s Philip McNamara (9R) was third.
“It’s my first major speedway title that I’ve won, so I’m feeling pretty stoked,” Gooch said.
“I have been racing for so long, 17 years now, and now finally I get a big one. It feels great.
“I’m the first Gooch to have ever won the GP title. My brothers (Brenden — NZ champ and three-time North Island champ; and Travis — three-time North Island champ) have pretty much won everything else but this one.”
Hughes said it was great to see Gooch do so well.
“Like Ethan, he’s an ornament to the club. “We are very proud of both of them.”
A report on Gisborne Speedway Club’s Saturday meeting is to follow.
Armed police have blocked off a road as they respond to the incident.