Speedway season set for explosive start

Former student Max Holloway's car has been rebuilt for the new season with big things expected for 81V.
Photo / Supplied

After a winter layoff, the speedway season is set to burst into life this weekend.

The Grand Opening meeting at Fast Lane Spares Oceanview Family Speedway takes place tomorrow night from 6pm, and the season will get off to an explosive start.

The Wanganui Stockcar and Speedway Club has a new naming rights sponsor, as Fast Lane Spares has come on board for the next five years.

Although the business is based in Palmerston North, it has a strong Whanganui connection through staffers Peter Sloman and Mike Palmer.

In addition, many Whanganui racers are Fast Lane Spares customers.

When racing gets underway this weekend, all classes will compete for double points.

There has been plenty of work going on in workshops and sheds around the region as speedway competitors race to get their vehicles ready for the new season.

The Superstock class, to be sponsored this season by Wanganui Toyota, is set to get a shot in the arm.

New cars for Shaun Smith and Dion Mooney, although the latter is a few meetings away, will boost the field, as will the return of Scott Duncan after a season off due to ill health.

Smith's Nissan-powered car was impressive in practice on Sunday.

Max Holloway's 81V car was hastily rebuilt by club members last week after his father Karl's sudden death.

Holloway showed great promise in his debut season in the car and will be another to watch this year.

WSSC president Daryl James has given up the Clerk of the Course role this season to campaign the 52V Superstock he purchased earlier this year.

And Palmerston North-based Superstock driver Sheridan O'Hara has contracted to the Wanganui club this season.

The previous Andy McCabe Nissan-powered car will race as 9V.

In the Stockcar class, Damon Baxter and Jason Wright are racing against time to finish new cars.

Mooney's two-time 2NZ car has been rebuilt over the winter, and will again be the car to beat.

Callum Sturzaker had an impressive debut season after graduating from Youth Ministocks, and Mason James was another to impress last season.

There are plenty of new faces in the Ministock and Production Saloon classes.

A standout at practice was Shayne Hughes' immaculate new Nissan Production Saloon.
In the Sidecars, brothers Aaron and Bryce Rose have teamed up on the machine which carried Bryce to 3NZ last season with John Hannan.

The presentation of this machine is immaculate.

Lastly, Midgets and Minisprints will complete the field for Sunday night.

The Huijs racing team Midgets will be joined by out-of-town competitors.

In the Minisprints, the opening round of their Oval Superstars Tour will be held at Oceanview on November 17, so visiting drivers can be expected to check the track out on Sunday night. 

Big things will be expected of Wanganui-contracted driver Dylan Smith, who was lightning-fast at practice.

Smith will make a dash to Whanganui on Sunday afternoon after a weekend competing in his Mazda RX7 at Manfield Park.

But that's not the only action tomorrow night.

When it's dark, the skies over Fast Lane Spares Oceanview Family Speedway will light up with fireworks.

To mark the start of the new season, the team from Kairanga Lions Club will put on one of their spectacular displays.

 

There's plenty of food and drink available on site, or bring a picnic tea to enjoy before the action kicks off at 6pm.

By Tony Stuart
Whanganui Chronicle 20/10/18