From Robertson Holden Speedway
The three American Sprintcar drivers turned on a fantastic display to fill the podium at the Robertson Holden International Speedway on New Years Day. Racing legend Sammy Swindell was a popular winner on his first visit to the Arena Manawatu oval, overtaking compatriot Ricky Logan twice during the 30-lap feature.
International Sprintcar Series
7usa Sammy Swindell posted the fastest lap of the time trials – a blistering 13.0857, followed by the two best kiwi chances; 1nza Dean Brindle and 3nza Greg Pickerill roughly 0.3 seconds behind. 10usa Ricky Logan and 0usa Jonathon Allard qualified next on a tougher track, followed by 11p Ian Easton, 8a Ryan O’Connor, 6p Nelson Hartley and 66m Skinny Colson.
A series of entertaining two-car, two-lap knockout races were held between the top six to determine final grid positions for the A-Main. Allard beat Easton, Logan beat Allard, then Pickerill after a dubious start and Brindle fairly. Logan met his match in Swindell however, experience proving the difference between the two. Logan did do well to promote himself up the starting order to second after qualifying in fourth.
The B-Main was won by O’Connor from Hartley and Colson after starting in the same order. 15p Rob Garrat and 4p Bryan Menefy moved ahead of 21p Peter Huijs after his poor start.
Logan beat Swindell to the first corner of the A-Main, setting up an enthralling battle between these two. Logan’s car was occasionally belching smoke, although this eventually died down after a few tense laps. Swindell was stalking him like a predator, and eventually found a way round the outside of Logan after several laps of buildup. Logan fought back, sneaking up the inside of Swindell when he was inadvertantly blocked while lapping 28p Chris Uhlenberg. Further back in the pack Allard had overtaken Brindle for third, while Hartley and O’Connor had made their way past Easton.
Swindell was all over Logan again, this time making a run up the inside. Their duelling allowed Allard to catch up late in the race, but there was not enough laps for him to mount a challenge. Swindell had taken a memorable victory over some tough competition having never seen the track before, which simply underlines his class. Logan and Allard completed the all-American podium, with Brindle continuing his good run here as first Kiwi home in fourth and Hartley an impressive fifth.
Steel & Thunder Stockcar Series
Some of the best Stockcar racing of the season was provided by the 35-car field, which included one visitor from Hawkes Bay, three from Wanganui and nine drivers from Wellington, including current 1nz Richard Gaskin.
The first heat on a wet track was bedlam, illustrated by the 18 finishers and 17 casualties. 86w Kent Hawkins was out early, losing a rear wheel when collected by 6v Dion Mooney after he was spun. After the stoppage Mooney piled 91w Kyle Lane heavily into the turn two concrete, putting paid to his night. 58v Paul Ellis performed a neat roll on 24w Justin Cunningham late in the race, which was won by 3nzp Peter Rees after nudging 34p Rob Mason wide on the last lap.
Heat two saw Rees in the hitting mood, lining up a heavy blow into the wall for Cunningham using Ellis as a battering ram. Ellis then received his own version from Rees a lap later, crunched into the turn three concrete. 25p Tony East planted Mason skillfully on his lid during the ninth lap of the race. Bevan Humphrey scampered away to victory in Rees’ second car, recording its maiden win.
Rees led the final heat from start to almost finish, with 67p Alec Wilson on his tail for the duration. A flat right rear tyre on the final corner handed the win to Wilson, who had been applying immense pressure. 99p Ron Tye was stirring all night, notably blocking 581p Jordan Dare on a number of occasions, and causing the spin of 11w Darren Gray as part of a major melee in the final race. Hawkins tried a big right turn on him during the final lap but it was a glancing blow, and Tye had the last laugh when he nailed Hawkins in reply as he was recovering.
RESULTS
Sprintcars
Time Trials
7usa Sammy Swindell – 13.0857
1nza Dean Brindle – 13.3230
3nza Greg Pickerill – 13.4521
10usa Ricky Logan – 13.4843
0usa Jonathon Allard – 13.6069
11p Ian Easton – 13.6900
8a Ryan O’Connor – 13.7295
6p Nelson Hartley – 13.7445
66m Skinny Colson – 13.7527
21p Peter Huijs – 13.7960
15p Rob Garratt – 14.0321
28p Chris Uhlenberg – 14.1523
24w Martin Halcrow – 14.1824
4p Bryan Menefy – 14.3649
9p Wade Savage – 14.5115
5p Nick Pedley – 14.6550
13p Keith Burmeister – 14.9943
39p Brendan Lucas – 15.3749
C-Main: 4p, 24w, 5p, 9p, 13p – Fastest Lap: 24w – 14.0058
B-Main: 8a, 6p, 66m, 15p, 4p, 21p – Fastest Lap: 8a – 13.6939
A-Main: 7usa, 10usa, 0usa, 1nza, 6p, 8a – Fastest Lap: 7usa – 14.0488
Stockcars
Heat One: 3nzp Peter Rees, 34p Rob Mason, 75p Gavin Taniwha, 581p Jordan Dare, 11w Darren Gray, 6v Dion Mooney – Fastest Lap: 97p – 19.5494
Heat Two: 11p Bevan Humphrey, 9p Gareth Edwards, 1nzw Richard Gaskin, 581p, 49p Bevan Shannon, 11w – Fastest Lap: 81p – 20.1654
Heat Three: 67p Alec Wilson, 3nzp, 622w Carl Vanderwiel, 97p Graeme Ward, 11w, 5p Brett Hyslop – Fastest Lap: 5p – 20.5332
Sidecars
Group One – Race One: 11p Mark Whyte & Gordon Campbell, 45p Phil McNabb & Simon McNabb, 25p David Shepherd & Bryce Rose
Group Two – Race One: 3nzp Derek Ramsay & Tony Hislop, 35v Mick Paul & Paul Blinkhorne, 34v John Pitt & Jason Wallis
Adult Ministocks
Race One: 33p Justin Farrington, 99p Taylor Lampp, 22p Simon Smith, 65p Sheridan O’Hara, 9p Brett Whiting, 75p Daniel Gubb – Fastest Lap: 99p – 21.9400
Race Two: 91p Kurt Whiting, 66p Hamish McLeod, 33p Josh Prentice, 6p Ricky Garth, 58v Bryce Hackett, 68p Christian Hermansen – Fastest Lap: 33p – 22.6036
Feature: 9p, 68p, 22p, 39v Dean Gibbons, 75p, 91p – Fastest Lap: 91p – 22.9121