Speedway: Huge fields at speedway event

Jarrod MacBeth

Photo: The large field of Superstocks push into turn one at the start of a race in Stratford. Photo by Matt Julian/Contact High Photography

The large field of Superstocks push into turn one at the start of the race.

Organisers had a tough task squeezing over 150 competitors into the pits at Five Star Liquor Stratford Speedway on Saturday but the effort was worth it as the big fields created an epic night of racing that concluded with the first Demolition Derby of the season.

Modifieds raced for their Plant & Fabrication services Taranaki champs with local speedster Braith Kalin holding off hard charging veteran racer Newton Gordge in race one to take the win before Auckland driver Jamie Fox won race two. 

Current New Zealand number two Carl Hinton won race three but it was an in form Cody Hata, who won the North Island Championship at Stratford in mid-December that was the most consistent driver in the eleven car field and he again stood on the top step of the podium, winning the Taranaki Champs after recording two third places and a second in the three races. 

Gordge was second and Kalin third. The class also raced for the highly regarded Ginge Hayward Memorial which runs over one race and sees the field inverted from the finishing order of the Taranaki Champs. Wellington competitor Jacob Free led the race from start to finish.

The biggest field of Saloons to date this season - sixteen cars, raced for the King of the Mountain Champs. Competitors raced two heats, which were won by Wayne Hall and Noel Bewley (Wellinton) to set the grids for the one race final. 

Thomas Korff, who was racing for the first time this season was the highest points scorer from qualifying and elected to start from grid two, initially leading the field away and securing a good lead until he was passed mid-race by Bradley Korff. T.Korff however kept the lead in sight and was able to make a pass to snatch the lead back when B.Korff made a mistake when passing lapped competitors.

A decent field of twenty one Superstocks also raced for their King of the Mountain Champs. 

After qualifying races that saw Tyler Walker and Palmerston North driver Jack Miers dominating the racing with a win and second place apiece, the pair raced at the front of the field for the enduring twenty lap final, Walker eventually succumbing to a slowly deflating rear tyre and Miers checking out for the win at the front of the field. Logan Sharpe was second and Blayke Adamson third.

Over forty Stockcars were on hand to contest the Heritage Shield that saw drivers split into qualifying groups for two races before the top thirty proceeded to the final. Qualifying races were won by Ethan Erkes, Nathan Alexander, Caleb Coxhead and Tyler Walker. 

In the final Walker led for seven laps before getting caught up with a bunch of lapped cars that had crashed across the track which allowed Coxhead through to the lead that he would not relinquish and take first place. Wlaker made his way back to second while Haydn Barker finished third.

Youth Ministocks raced for their City of New Plymouth Classic. After recording two wins and a seventh place, Blake Luscombe came out on top by a six point margin over his nearest rival. Hutch Cleaver was second and Wellington girl racer Sophie Bewley third.

F2 Midgets from Auckland and Tauranga made the trek to run on the Stratford oval and the eleven car field put on a display of open wheel racing. Races were won by Dion Kendall, James Earl (2).

The night ended with the car crunching Demolition Derby which was won by Matt Lavelle driving a Ford Telstar station wagon. Daniel Reed and Matt Hill were judged to be the best stirrers and Dylan Taputoro was awarded the prize for the best presented car.

The next event at Stratford Speedway is on Saturday January 11th and will feature the King of the Mountain Super Saloon Champs, Minisprint Best Pairs, Allan Hancock and Michael Walker Stockcar Memorials, Taranaki Adult Ministock Champs and a carnage filled Holiday Derby that will see drivers towing caravans and boats attempting to navigate their way around the track whilst destroying each other in the process.