By Daniel Neville

Everything was tripled at TWS Paradise Valley Speedway on Saturday November 25th with the fourth running of the triples event that has grown to include 3 classes after it started with just Superstocks back in 2020. The Streetstocks and Stockcars came on board and it’s become a season highlight each season for drivers and race fans alike. 

This year’s version was great with the threatening weather holding off (apart from the cold wind) and an exciting night of action unfolding in front of the moderate crowd that showed up. There was a lot of rain in Rotorua leading up to the weekend and during the afternoon on race day but full credit to Stan Hickey and his track preparation team for getting things sorted by 7pm so the meeting could go ahead. 

The triples were arranged by the drivers themselves with some awesome combinations making for some close and exciting racing. The Superstocks and Stockcars were split into 2 groups for 2 qualifying heats with the top 4 teams from each group progressing to the 15 lap final with the winner of that taking the top podium step of the podium. The Streetstocks were all in and racing for their finals grids.

The McRobbie Contracting sponsored Stockcar triples got meeting underway with group 1 and commanding win for 5k Dion Henderson first up who was into lap traffic by the time he got to the checkered flag. Second was 98g Bryce Simpson with 71g Ethan Bruce third. Heat 2 saw some fireworks between heat 1 winner Henderson and 142r Aaron Powell as the pair exchanged hits. A few other battles started too but at the end it was 735r Keegan Orr who took the win from 45r Sean Wepa with 92r Karl Garnett third.

Stockcar Group One Points 

Group 2 heat 1 in the Stockcars saw 144r Steven Pattle in control for most the way until an outside flat tyre forced him to retire and 513k Callum Flavell took over the lead. By the end though it was 189r Milla Theobald with win after she got past Flavell during the closing laps. Heat 2 was reasonably tame with 68r Keith Spanhake the winner from 52p Alex Maule with 28r Alex Jones third.

Stockcar Group Two Points

The Stockcar final was rough too with 124k Brogan Collins up the wall and Theobald copping a big hit whist contesting for the lead. The mayhem continued until the end with Callum Flavell getting home first to win it along with Alex Maule and 287v Bailey Chapman. Second was the triple of Keegan Orr, Bryce Simpson and Tony Coxhead with the all female team of Milla Theobald, Alex Jones and Jemma Holloway completing the podium in third.

Stockcar Final Points

The Hawker Trucks Superstock triples heat 1 for group 1 saw a battle erupt between 81r Damian Orr and 87g Brodie James which came to an end when the pair locked together by the pit gate and were directed infield under the red light. Out front though it was 99m Todd Hemingway who took the win from 95n Alex Hill with 10r Alan McRobbie third. Heat 2 went to 99m Dylan Towler in the frantic race that saw many on the grass at the end including heat 1 winner Hemingway. 99r Shanon Orr was dealt to by Brodie James which allowed his brother 89g Tyler James through to second ahead of Nelson visitor Hill who was third. 

Superstock Group One Points

Group 2 for the Superstocks started dramatically with 9r Brent Stewart getting stuck under 68r Jeremy Fleming with Stewart unable to free himself and both were out of the race. Another stoppage for the damaged car of 272m Seth McConchie also saw leader 335r Ken Hunter pull off the track. That left 638r Robbie Morris in the lead and he went on to win from 422b Dylan Ashton with 93h Marc Dunn third. Heat 2 went to 99k Blayke Adamson with locals 7r Michael Rumney and 198r Mark Costello who were second and third respectively. Adamson almost didn’t get there though with 29m Ryan Hunt having a last corner dive at the 99k but missed.

Superstock Group Two Points

The Superstock final was full on with Adamson catching fire after a coming together with 66m Mark Decke. It was 94r Dale Stewart in front though and had plenty of support from his team mates as the rest were dealing to each other. Stewart drove an intelligent race, avoiding any unnecessary contact and went flag to flag to successfully defend the title along with Alan McRobbie and Alex Hill. Second overall were 46b Quinn Ryan, 99b Jacob Buckrell and 16b Brett Loveridge with third place going to Dylan Towler, Todd Hemingway and Damian Orr. 

Superstock Final Points

The Driftkartz Streetstock triples heat 1 was run in the reverse direction and through the panel punching it was local favourite 858r Shane Bracken who drove from pole position to take the win from the rapid 4p car of Dean Dingwall with 72b Darren Melling third. Heat 2 was red light central with multiple stoppages for stranded cars and almost another for a big pile up late in the race as 12r Daniel Curran took the win from 9r Chris Shingleton with Melling third again. 

The final was an all in teams race with lots of carnage. There were several lead changes and cars littering the infield. Somehow though Daniel Curran managed to avoid the mayhem to win the race and the triples for him trio that included 67r Blake Castleton and 47r Kam Castleton. Second was the trio of 72b Melling, 46b Brent Redington and 7b Al Howatson with 58r Mike King, 59r Alan King and 6g Cody Gooch third overall.

Streetstock Points

The Stockcar consolation for those that didn’t reach the final went to 14r Troy Murray with just 8 cars in the race. The Superstock consolation saw McConchie on the pole line having a crack at whoever tried to pass but he couldn’t stop 23r Caleb Ashton from taking the flag.

The next meeting at TWS Paradise Valley Speedway in on Friday December 1st and it’s the Brandt Tractor BOP club night featuring Stockcars, Production Saloons, F2 Midgets, Six Shooters and Ministocks with racing starting at 7pm.

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