Final speedway night shaping up

Max Holloway gets airborne over the front wheel of Richard Watkins at Oceanview Speedway. The season climaxes tonight with the West Coast champs.
PHOTO / SB O'Hagan Photography

It's the end of the season at Fast Lane Spares Oceanview Family Speedway tomorrow evening, but don't expect the speedway fraternity to go quietly into the night.

Instead, there's an explosive nights action planned both on the track, and in the air above.

Topping the speedway bill is the West Coast Superstocks Championship, which had drawn a classy field.

Leading the challenge will be current 2NZ Peter Rees, one of the best drivers of his generation.

A five-time New Zealand Stockcar champion, Rees also won the Superstock title at Wellington four seasons ago.

Another former 1NZ in the field is Jared Wade, who won the title as a 20-year-old. After a break from racing, Wade has returned to the sport.

Joining them is Graeme Barr, who has been on the NZ Superstocks podium four times in a long career.

At the other end of the scale, a new generation is emerging in the sport.

Ethan Rees, son of Peter, and Rebecca Barr, daughter of Graeme, are both highly talented drivers in their own right.

Rees is a former 1NZ in the Stockcar class, whilst Barr made history in February when she became the first female to compete at the ENZED Superstock Teams Champs in Palmerston North.

Barr took second place in last season's West Coast Superstocks, and would love to go one better tomorrow.

Other drivers to watch in the field include World 240's champion Benji Sneddon, David Lowe, Darrell Wallace and rookie Will Hart.

Visiting drivers will face one of the strongest local contingents in recent years.

Veteran Kerry Podjursky is a two-time West Coast champion, while Shaun Smith, former WHS student Max Holloway and Carl Burns have all been in good form, and Scott Duncan will be hoping to end a run of mechanical issues.

Each of the 12-lap Superstock heats will also serve as a memorial race, in memory of the late Noel Kensington, George Podjursky and Craig Heibner respectively.

The West Coast Sidecars has attracted a field of 15 bikes.

Local brothers Aaron and Bryce Rose will face stern competition from the likes of Russell Stuart/Andrew Parker, Mark Whye/Jacob Cooper and Glen Murray/Ann Plummer.

A big field of Production Saloons will also be on hand for their West Coast title.

Brent Hackett won the Ray Purdy Memorial at the last meeting, but he will face a stiff challenge from defending West Coast champion Grant Loveridge, who now runs out of Rotorua.

Rounding out the programme are the Heiby Memorial Youth Ministocks, Stockcars and Adult Ministocks, before the racing will end with the Gourmet Express Demolition Derby.

And the night sky above Oceanview will then light up as the Kairanga Lions set off a spectacular volley of fireworks to add to the family fun.

The gates at Oceanview will open at 4pm.

Additional parking is being provided opposite the main entrance, and there will be plenty of hot food and drinks available onsite.

It's been a very successful season for the Wanganui Stockcar and Speedway Club. All that remains now is to end it with a bang.

Speedway
Tony Stuart
Whanganui Chronicle 6/4/19