Whanganui's Brent Huijs (12v) took out race two of the Midget class before action was halted after much of the field was decimated in the feature race.
Whanganui's Brent Huijs (12v) took out race two of the Midget class before action was halted after much of the field was decimated in the feature race.
On a beautiful Labour Weekend Sunday afternoon, the crowds flocked to Fast Lane Spares Oceanview Family in Whanganui.
And with the pits full to overflowing, they were treated to some terrific early-season speedway action.
The meeting began with a tribute to Wanganui Stockcars and Speedway Club life member George Duncan and club member Karl Holloway, who passed away in recent weeks.
Their respective sons Scott and Max led the Grand Parade, and a moment's silence was observed.
Thirteen Superstocks faced the starter, although 9V Sheridan O'Hara was forced to the infield before the start with possible engine damage.
Holloway's 81V car, running without a wing after tipping over at Palmerston North the night before, started the opening heat from pole and raced away for a popular and emotional win. Ricky Dykstra (28P) came home second, with Duncan (23V) third.
That was as good as it got for the promising Holloway, as his car blew a head gasket on his lap with the chequered flag, and was on the trailer.
Speedway: Swinger Bryce Rose has teamed up with brother Aaron this season.
Brett Hyslop (9P) took the second heat, from Dyskstra and Aiden Eustace (97H). Brendon Sharland (44P) won the feature race, with Eustace in second place and Shaun Smith (53V) coming home in third in his brand new car.
The Stockcars got into action immediately, with 82V Dennis Black putting 82S Dale Michielsen up the wall in Turn 4.
After holding the Stratford car for a moment Black pulled away, and Michielsen's car rolled gently on to its side in front of the cheering crowd.
3NZ Haydin Barker took the win from 6V Dion Mooney and 15P Luke Miers. Miers took out the second heat, with 35S Josn Walsh and 15V Callum Sturzaker chasing hard.
99S William Hughes took out the feature race, with Mooney again in second and Barker third.
Mooney finally opened his season account in the Grand Slam, where the Stockcars and Superstocks mixed things up, beating home Eustace and Miers.
The first clean sweep of the season was recorded by brothers Aaron and Bryce Rose (34V) in the Sidecars.
The brothers powered away to win the first heat, but the second race provided the best finish of the night.
The next meeting on 3rd November will feature the West Coast Youth Ministocks, and another large and competitive field is expected.
Trailing the Gisborne combination of Regan Feek and Martaijn Domper (87G) into the final corner, the Roses got drive on the outside and made a thrilling pass right out by the concrete wall, taking the win right on the line.
The Youth Ministocks were split into two groups due to the number of cars, and heat wins were taken by 35S Alana Buckthought, 7P Louis Redshaw, 12P Seth Hodge and 88B Karlin Painter-Dudley.
The groups came together for the feature race, and after a tight tussle Redshaw took the win over Buckthought, with 55P Max Lowe coming home third.
The next meeting on 3rd November will feature the West Coast Youth Ministocks, and another large and competitive field is expected.
Adult Ministock wins were shared, with Hailey James (92V), Bradley Korff (86S) and Caleb Dymond (25S) taking a race apiece.
Likewise, there was even racing in the Production Saloons, with 434V Brent Hackett, 62V Jon Morrison and 23V Shayne Hughes each picking up a race win.
The Minisprints will return to Oceanview on Saturday, November 17 for the opening round of their Oval Superstars Tour, where 1NZ Christian Hermansen's Oceanview lap record is likely to come under threat.
Midgets made a return to Oceanview, and it was Stratford visitor Jimmy Greenough who powered away for the first race victory.
12V Brent Huijs, one of the four Team Huijs Racing cars on show took out Race 2, while the feature race was abandoned after three racing incidents decimated the field.
Lastly the Minisprints turned on some fast, clean racing, with Cameron Hurley (82V), Shane Dewar (3NZ) and Dylan Smith (53V) winning a race each.
The Minisprints will return to Oceanview on Saturday, November 17 for the opening round of their Oval Superstars Tour, where 1NZ Christian Hermansen's Oceanview lap record is likely to come under threat.
The big crowd was also entertained with a spectacular fireworks display courtesy of the Kairanga Lions Club.
See Also: Warm and sunny Labour Day weekend brings Whanganui outdoors
That capped off what was far and away the best opening meeting at Oceanview for many years, and sets the tone for a successful 2018-19 speedway season.
