SPEEDWAY IS BACK IN THE VALLEY!
By Daniel Neville
After what seems like the longest off season ever, racing at Rotorua’s TWS Paradise Valley Speedway for the 2022/23 season on Friday November 4th with the always popular Fireworks Spectacular this year sponsored by A & R Contracting.
Full fields across 4 classes and of course the added attraction of pyrotechnics was more than enough to draw a bumper crowd and I’m sure they enjoyed every minute of it. Superstocks, Stockcars, Ministocks and Streetstocks made up the programme for the Friday night meeting and the on track action didn’t disappoint.
The future of speedway Ministocks had the honour of going first with the traditional juniors and seniors running in separate groups. The seniors gridded up first with the 66r of Quintin Body leading early. It wasn’t long though before 23r Flynn Ashton took over but he had a tight battle with 88r Cohen Wright who made the pass on the last lap for a well deserved win. Race two saw another win for Wright with 11r Jack Cunningham taking the win in the third race of the night.
The juniors were up next with a few drivers on debut. Race one was a tidy affair with 56r Cameron Pattison leading from the opening laps all the way to a great opening night win. Race two saw another win for Pattison who led home 138r Zach Munroe from 64r Riley McKeown.
Stockcars were on track next with group one aiming to qualify for the feature. 26k Mitch Vickery led the pack away from grid 2 hotly pursued by 68r Keith Spanhake 513r Callum Flavell and while the rest used their bumpers to good effect, that was the finishing order with Vickery taking the flag. Heat two was another Vickery benefit as he bullied his way to the front from a mid pack start with Spanhake second from 733r Riley McDonald.
Group One Points
Group two became a 2 car race at the front with 544k Dion Henderson and 94a Sam Wright swapping the lead numerous times before Henderson punted Wright in the the concrete and was unchallenged all the way to the flag. Wright came home second from 735r Keegan Orr, 351a Bryce Vazey and 27r Douglas Stanaway. Heat two started with a bang in turn one with Vazey launching himself at 88r Gareth Layne but only succeeded in parking astride his target. From the restart 98g Bryce Simpson led the pack away. Race one winner Henderson then ground to half after puncturing while Stanaway also lost all the air from his right rear. Simpson took the race win from Sam Wright with Keegan Orr in third.
Group Two Points
The Stockcar feature had Vickery on pole and as he’d done all night drove an exceptional race, cleverly picking his way through lap traffic to complete a perfect night in the class. Sam Wright was good too finishing second with Keegan Orr competing the top three.
A great field of Streetstocks lined up for the first of their three races. Former 3nz, now 46b, Brent Redington led from the start and skipped away for the win while his club mate 95b Tim Towler not far behind but unfortunately Tower was unable to finish after finding the wall but another Hawkes Bay car took his place in the form of 72b Darren Melling. Another visitor 11a Corry Terito was third with local driver 858r Shane Bracken fourth home. Race two saw the red light on early to remove an errant bonnet from the track and from then on it became a Rotorua v Auckland v Hawkes Bay teams race and the infield resembled a wreckers yard by the end. Only half of the original field finished and it was Redington again the victor. The third and final race went the way of 58r Mike King from Bracken with Redington capping off a great night in third.
Streetstock Points
The exciting rumble of the Superstocks were next with group one on track first. Heat one saw as frantic as ever with a handful of leaders over the opening laps before the veteran 351r Paul Vazey assumed control but he had mirrors full of 3nz Mitch Vickery who made his move on the penultimate lap to claim the race win from Vazey with the ever consistent 81r Damian Orr in third. Heat two was over in a flash with Damian Orr taking the win from Vickery and 19m Kerry Remnant third.
Group One Points
Group two was next with more foot to the floor racing. Former World 240 champ 118r Bryce Steiner got the win after 99m Todd Hemingway and 46b Quinn Ryan tangled in front of him mid race. 89g Tyler James was second with 5m Blake Dystra a close third. Heat two was a straight out drag race with 422h Dylan Ashton the winner from 98r Calyn Clark with Hemingway third.
Group Two Points
The Superstock feature saw Vickery on pole for the second time in as many feature races but the 3nz’s night ended on the infield as Damian Orr battled hard and got the win after Hemingway was in front for much of the race but was balked by 94r Dale Stewart late in the piece allowing Orr through. Quinn Ryan come home second with Hemingway recovering for third.
The next meeting at TWS Paradise Valley Speedway is on Friday November 11th and it’s the Central Auto Dismantlers Club Night featuring Superstocks, Stockcars, Production Saloons, TQ’s, Six Shooters and Ministocks with racing set to go at 7pm
Club Points - This is for Superstocks, Stockcars & Streetstocks Only.
Meeting Photos Available at - www.sportsweb.co.nz