Milestone Homes Top of the South Speedway got the new season underway with a couple of drivers setting the pace as the club builds towards the NZ Super Stock and GP T.Q. titles in the New Year. The warm Nelson night brought the race fans back as the new track lights shone brightly towards the latter part of the meeting, all grades running for their Trackman Trophies.
Brett Nicholls had his Super Stock back on the pace, a clean sweep with three wins, he left the field fighting for the crumbs as he his focus is clearly aimed at the title in January, Shane Harwood was dialling in his new engine ended in 3rd while the ever-present Alex Hill finishing runner-up, the rest of the field having their moments on pace but struggling for consistency.
The Youth Ministocks are bursting at the seams, the cars grouped for their races, a mixture of new and older drivers making it a challenge, Andre Musgrove winning the trophy, a 3-way tie for 2nd coming down to lap times, Leilah Jefcoate pipping Locky Martin by .2 sec with Easton Salter 4th
The Quarter Midgets were closely run, Auckland’s Lukas Smith taking out heat 2 and then the feature race with Greymouth’s Lakyn Thompson 2nd and local Taylor Martin 3rd in the first past the post final.
The Production Saloons enjoyed some close racing in an even field, Cromwell’s Steve Nichollas making a successful journey north to claim the top trophy, Motueka’s Eddy Frans in second and Vaughan Cornelius in 3rd.
The Stock cars fronted with a couple of new drivers, a few non finishers in the second heat opened the competition, newbie Harlon Brunt sneaking into 3rd place with Max Baker 2nd and Jack Rarity taking the overall points.
A couple of visiting drivers helped get four Sidecars on track, racing with just inches between cars, Canterbury’s Graham Partridge and Ben Morris taking the points with locals Rob and Harly Martin 2nd and visitors Stefan Burrows and Bruce Savage in 3rd.
The Streetstocks drivers had a mixed night, a few DNF’s meant being able to complete races counted, Cody McCarrison with DNF still did enough for third place, Harry Moffat-Schwass finished all three to claim 2nd overall while Perry Soper had strong pace and consistency to claim the top trophy, Cody named stirrer of the night.
The T.Q.’s have their big titles start late January, 1nz Jeremy Webb too good once again, the SNZ Competitor of the year in his new car getting the job done in the feature race, Alicia Hill took out the heat 2 win and was the best local home in the feature in 2nd after a good battle with Morgan Frost who finished 3rd.
The opening meeting saw little damage over the huge 25 race program, big fields and close racing setting the pace as the biggest season in the club’s history got underway with 8 new Trackman trophy champions and a very shy Kody Hogarth picking up the John Pomeroy trophy as the driver of the night.
