Speedway: Big crowd and fireworks in Stratford

Jarrod Macbeth

Photo: Nic Smith (18) feeds Palmerston North driver Nathane Rees his front bumper during Stockcar racing. Photo by Cookies Photography. 

Stratford Speedway was packed to the brim on Saturday night for the Hinton Contracting Fireworks Spectacular and Speedway event. Excellent weather conditions helping to draw a crowd that made an electric atmosphere throughout the evening.

Before the spectators were left in awe with the 10 minute fireworks display that saw close to $10,000 worth of fireworks go up in sparks and smoke, there was plenty of speedway racing to get through.

Minisprints, racing at their third event on the trot, were racing for their City of New Plymouth Classic event with a field of eleven cars. Races were won by current New Zealand Champion Karl Uhlenberg, Cameron Hurley and Duane Hickman but it was Uhlenberg who was victorious overall after he added two third places to his race one win. Duane Hickman was second and Cameron Hurley third.

Superstocks also raced for their City of New Plymouth Classic. New driver to Stratford this season, Tyler James won the event after recording a win and two third places over the three races for the title. Two points behind him in second place was Carl Shearer, who has made a return to racing this season. Carl won the first race, placed second in race two and was sixth in race three. Blair Uhlenberg was third overall.

The Modified class was boosted in numbers with three visiting drivers from Wellington. Jason Kalin regained his composure after a fourth place finish in race one to win the next two races and the Modified King of the Mountain title by a two point margin from Newton Gordge while Ricky Paul was third overall.

A good sized field of 24 Stockcars raced for their King of the Mountain Champs. Nathan Alexander ran away with the win in race one from a grid one start, Caleb Coxhead won race two for the title and Codey Wilton won race three. Wilton’s form over the three races where he also had a second and fourth place finish saw him nab the top step of the podium ahead of Coxhead and Alexander. After the first two races were a little tame, the club offered up $500 for the best stirrer in race three. This was duly claimed by Isabella Perrett who took Kerry Stove to the wall at the race start before taking pot shots at other competitors.

Streetstocks and Adult Ministocks also raced on the night with Ron Washer winning two of the Streetstock races while Rotorua driver Blair Castleton won the other. Adult Ministock races were won by Brayden Shaw (2) and Kurt Gardner.

The next event at Five Star Liquor Stratford Speedway is Saturday November 9th and will feature the Michielsen’s Transport Taranaki Stockcar Champs.