Speedway: Solid crowd thanks to slashed fees for last speedway meet

Jarrod MacBeth

Photo: Brodie James slams New Zealand Champion Brad Uhlenberg into the wall, with Uhlenberg subsequently rolling over at Stratford Speedways final event of the season on Saturday night. Photo by Christina Wells (Loaded Glass Photography)

With fuel prices biting and family excursions becoming expensive, organisers slashed all admission prices for The Water Hog sponsored final event of the season at Five Star Liquor Stratford Speedway.

Everyone able to attend for much less than usual including families with an admission charge of just $25 with the idea being that people could enjoy a night out for minimal cost.

Event organisers were nervous but were rewarded with a good crowd and the crowd were rewarded with excellent racing from all classes as drivers finished the season in style.

With six classes and all but one racing for trophies and a Demolition Derby there was action from start to finish.

Super Saloons raced for their R&S Dreaver Contractors Taranaki Championship with Kihikihi contracted racer Mitch Vickery taking overall honours after recording a first, third and second over the three races.

Joe Ingram was second overall and Thomas Korff third. Ingram went on to win the City of New Plymouth Classic for the class which was ran as a separate one race deal.

Saloons raced for the Plews Memorial with Bradley Korff once again dominating the field. The driver, who is currently ranked number three in New Zealand was tied on points with Thomas Korff after three races.

But T. Korff, who was running his car in both the Saloon and Super Saloon grades elected not to take part in a run off due to an over heating car and B. Korff was awarded the win. Craig Korff was third overall.

Shaun Hall dominated the racing in the Streetstock class to win the Paradise Berry Farm Taranaki Champs, winning two races and placing third in the other against a thirteen car field. Matt Hill finished off a good season and grabbed second place ahead of Jason Dunn.

The Repco Superstock class raced for the popular John & Gary Adamson Memorials. Paul Johnson, who hasn’t done a lot of racing this season, was in fine form and won the John Adamson Memorial by one point from Carl Shearer and Blayke Adamson who were tied for second with Shearer claiming the higher spot after recording a faster lap time.

The Gary Adamson Memorial is awarded to the best stirrer on the night which was Brodie James. James caused havoc all over the track including rolling both New Zealand Champion Brad Uhlenberg and Gary Johnson and was a very deserving winner of the award.

Minsprints raced for Best Pairs and after three races Cameron Hurley (who was racing his last event in the sport) and Erin Uhlenberg amassed enough points to win the pairs

by a two point gap ahead of Jonno Noonan and Craig Mason while Regan Ogle and Kieran Harrison were third.

Stockcars raced on the night also with wins going the way of Chloe Ingram, Tyler Walker and Ricky Paul while Caleb Coxhead was putting his bumper to good work and being a menace to other competitors.

The evenings entertainment finished with a Demolition Derby which was one by Chris Devereux who can normally be found racing a Streetstock around the Stratford oval.

Dave Smith won the prize for Best Presented Car and the two drivers judged to be the best stirrers were Cori Delves and Nathan Bright.

Speedway has now finished for the season. The new season will start in late October and among other events will feature the Repco New Zealand Superstock Championship.