56p-57p Superstocks

01/01/2010 Well it’s the start of a new year and my plan to keep my website up to date has failed miserably. In brief I have been really happy with how the new car has gone and from time to time I show some real pace which keeps me excited to race every weekend. After my opening nights efforts to total the car I have had a few highlights, Finishing 2nd in the Feature on the night the tigers came and demolished the panthers stands out, after starting grid 12 I drove probably my best race against a top quality field to pick off one by one some of the countries best and quickest drivers and given another lap I think I might just of stolen a feature win from my mate from the bay Shane Mellsop.

The Manawatu Superstock champs was an event I had targeted for big things but never drove well all night struggling with both the track and the cars handling, although I finished 5th overall I would of rather drove better and finished lower down the field. Congrats to Wayne on his title I was hoping it would be the other all red car collecting the silverware lol

December 19th headed to HB for their Superstock champs, the track was good and didn’t cut up like it had done in the past. Drew grid 6 and got off the line well in heat one only to tangle andmount another car by the time I had got going again I was a distant last in the 23 car field. I Made up plenty of ground and ended finishing 10th. Race 2.fought hard from the back and finished 8th but lacked the pace of the all these million dollar rocketships. The 3rd race was a one race 15 lap final but prior to the race I experienced one of my most embarrassing moments in the sport so far. As I stood between turns 3 and 4 watching the stockcar feature, the leader blew a tyre mid corner sending a large clump of dirt flying into the crowd, I never saw it coming and it hit me square in the head knocking me off my feet and down the bank, next minute I have people gathered around me telling me not to move and calling for medics. Well I got up staggered around and then headed back to race the final but not before giving my crew the story which lead to much laughter and something im sure I will get stick for some time to come.

Started grid 9 in the final and although getting away well just never seemed to be able to string 2 good laps together and from memory finished 8th.

Boxing Day – Palmy. Wasn’t in a great state of mind to race after the Kaos of Boxing Day sales at work but had made some changes to the car so thought it was worth racing to see how the car handled. The night never reached any great heights with the car having fuel problems in race one and handling issues in race 2, And getting turned around in race 3 from the start. Was good to see both Joblins turn up and be on the pace straight away, there sure are some expensive and fast cars around now and unless you are willing to throw 100-200k+ at a car now its getting harder to be on the pace week in week out. Maybe the way the sport is heading there will be a Super Superstockclass where the guys who throw endless amounts of money at there cars will compete. Sure makes you take your hat off to guys like Pete Rees who continue to win titles against cars worth two to three times his.

Arnie is working hard out to get last years car back ready to race for one of the poms to pilot at the 240′s and I may drive it once or twice as, if picked to teams race for the mustangs I would prefer to drive it over this years new car.

This month is a full on one for us with the North Islands in HB tomorrow night, the World 240′s 15,16 Jan then the 248′s the following week followed by the NZ’s at Kihikihi. No word on the make up of the mustangs as yet but hopefully I might get another crack at teams champs. I will do my best to keep these updates happening and feel free to come and say hi anytime we are at a track near you.

dt