Motoracing: World champ midget tour trial at Springs

Western Springs Speedway is facing tough times, but promoter Dave Stewart will squeeze some top talent into the restricted season.

One innovation will be a series combining races in the United States and New Zealand, as a trial for a world championship midget tour jointly sanctioned by the US Auto Club (USAC) and New Zealand.

This season there will be four rounds at Western Springs, two at Ruapuna in Christchurch and four in the United States. The Auckland rounds will be on January 18 and 20 and February 3 and 5.

Last year's International Midget World series winner Scott Hatton is making the trip to Western Springs for the third year, having won the series for the past two years.

One of his main targets will be the 50-lapper on January 20, a race he compares to some of the biggest in the States. Hatton will captain a six-man American team, which will also include Dave Darland.

Western Springs is running under a compromise regime negotiated by an independent commissioner.

There can be only 12 meetings and each month must have speedway-free weekends. This season there will be two meetings in November, three in December, January and February and one in March.

One practice has been held and there will be another next Saturday. Opening night will be November 4.

The noise level at the boundary may not exceed 90 decibels for 60 per cent of the meeting and 88 decibels for the remaining 40 per cent. Meetings must finish by 10.30pm.

"It's going to be tough," said Stewart. "Everybody agrees the noise measuring system isn't a fair representation. A long race with lots of accidents is always quieter than a short sprint heat. TQs are quieter than midgets and sprintcars.

"We met those noise restrictions last season and we'll do it again. But it will be tough."

Stewart was encouraged that registration was on a par with last season, with an increase in midgets.

Three sprintcar drivers, Kerry Jones, Ossie Sokol and Carl Wilson, have arranged to race at both Western Springs and Baypark. The Springs will stage an international sprintcar classic on December 9. Baypark has the North Island championships on December 22 and the New Zealand Grand Prix on February 24.

The midget drivers, led by Bryce Townsend, are arranging a tour and have confirmed a date in Napier.

And the good news for fans is that Western Springs prices will be the same as last season.