When it comes to racing, it doesn’t matter who the rival is, with Regan admitting to putting his dad into the fence close to the end.
As a result Regan was able to push through for 4th place, Kairyn was 6th, and granddad Chris was 7th.
It showed nothing much had changed over the years, with Regan saying as he tried to recall when he would have last raced his father: “One of the last times I think I took him out to win the race.”
Chris O’Brien started racing when he was 17, in the footsteps of an uncle, and stuck to streetstocks. He last raced, he estimated, about 14 years ago.
Regan rang last week and offered him the chance to race his car on the night. While Regan helped with infield roving-mic commentary he grabbed the chance to race superstocks for the first time, having two races on the programme before the big match, with a slightly different recollection of the final stages, and being “put into the wall”.
“On those things they’ve got a left-foot brake,” he said. “I knew Regan and Kairyn were behind me. I forgot to hit the brakes.”
In the true spirit of the game, he said: “I’m not finished yet.”
Meanwhile, the family awaits the arrival of his great-grandchild, another generation possibly already destined for a lifetime in stockcar racing and speedway. With the little one due this week, expectant granddad Regan reckons the imminent arrival is stuck “at the pit-gates”.
The season at Meeanee ends with the Superstock Autumn Nationals on April 27.
Doug Laing is a senior reporter based in Napier with Hawke’s Bay Today, and has 50 years of journalism experience in news gathering, including breaking news, sports, local events, issues, and personalities.
