Motorsport: Making a speedy u-turn

By JULIE ASH

Auckland midget-car driver Graham Standring may have just completed the fastest comeback in New Zealand sporting history.

Standring retired in March but quickly decided he wasn't quite ready to relinquish his position behind the wheel. So he "unretired" and will now take his place on the startline when the 2004/05 season at the Western Springs speedway roars into action tomorrow.

"I just love it, eh," he laughs.

But this time things will be a little different.

Previously he usually rocked up to the startline in his own car. But this year he will drive Danny Lendich's grunty little number.

"In essence all I do is drive now," Standring says. "It will be quite different. I used to be able to call the shots, whereas now I get to consult. The final decision rests on the driver and the car owner ... but in the testing that we have done so far, we have struck a really good relationship.

"It should take a lot of the unseen pressure off me like organising a team and things like that so I can concentrate more on driving."

Lendich couldn't wish for a better man behind the wheel of his prized possession.

Standring has been racing for 21 years, and in that time he has been the national champion three times, represented New Zealand every year for the past 14 and won an impressive 93 feature races or finals.

With the magical 100 number on the horizon, it is no surprise Standring was a little reluctant to cast his helmet aside and settle into a seat in the spectator's stand.

Especially since few people have reached the century ... "maybe in the really olden days but at the moment, in the competing drivers, there is no one else close to getting that," Standring says.

The midget class has always been the star attraction at Springs Speedway and this season is no different, with close to 40 drivers ready to roll.

Among those Standring will be keeping his eye on are Michael Pickens, defending national champion Michael Kendall, Bryce Townsend, defending Springs champion Matt Thompson, Carl Worboys and Shaun Insley.

Competing is anything but cheap. Standring estimates it costs $1500 each meeting to run each car - about $30,000 for a season.

Over 15 meetings at the stadium the teams will battle it out for Springs supremacy, national series honours and a spot in the six-man New Zealand team which will take on Australia and the United States in the New Year.

"I want to win feature races, I'd like to win the national series and I'd like to compete and win the Australian championship, it is not much too ask for, is it?"


Graham Standring


Date of birth: November 22, 1955

Birthplace: Sydney, Australia

Lives: Manukau.


Career highlights: Four New Zealand championships, 14 New Zealand team selections, two USAC feature wins.

Opening night


* Springs national championship series, round one, starts tomorrow.
* All racing classes.