NMCS Round 8 Review
NMCS PR, Stratford Speedway NZ, January 17, 2009 - One of the few positives that have emerged as a result of the usage restrictions at Western Springs is the increased utilisation of other speedways. And so it was the NMCS circus descended on Stratford Speedway in Taranaki’s heart land to race a series round. In action since 1964, the speedway, owned by the Taranaki Stock car Club was the first to instal electronic lap timing and scoring in 2000, and later that year won the prestigious Speedway of the Year award. A 30 car NMCS field, filled out by 9 local cars rocked up to the speedway to do battle, the only question, as always this season, if it isn’t gonna be Pickens to take the Pirtek Taranaki Classic, who will it be?
G1 Heat 1
Standring on pole alongside, McLeod, row two, the 51S of Daniel Jensen and Mc Cutcheon. That’s how they led away till lap2, when a major fracas bought out the yellow. First casualties of the night, Alach and Gick on the infield. Restart saw Standring lead away followed by McCleod and McCutcheon. Standring prevailed, Worboys made it to second from grid 10, McLeod hung on for 3rd, with Pickens in 4th.
G2 Heat 1
Front row saw the 14S of Steve Paul on pole, young Malone alongside. Back to 75S of Lydia Dickinson and 21S Carl Mering. The lap 2 hoodoo struck again with a major gridlock which eliminated half the 15 car field. Restart saw Dickinson lead away from Mosen and Beale. Lap 5 saw Mosen take the lead followed by Beale and Insley, these three then fought out the first three placings to the chequer, taken by Mosen, then Beale and Insley.
G1 Heat2
The rain stopped threatening and started to sprinkle as the heat pushed off. Insley and Brunt on the front row followed by Fabish and Green. Series dominator Pickens back on 8. Insley led away on what was now a wet track followed by Brunt and Fabish at a pace that belied the slick track. Pickens worked his way up through the pack in his signature move to the lead only to see Worboys hit the turn 3 wall on lap 9 bringing out the yellow. Pickens led the restart from Insley and Brunt and that’s how they finished.
G2 Heat 2
Pole sitter 31S Adam Prestney alongside 11S Ricky Paul, next row 27S Jimmy Greenhough and Beale. A repaired Alach started back on 11. Prestney led off and survived a brush with the turn 1 wall on lap 2. A charging Alach was already up to 5th by lap 4 and pressuring the 4th placed Cobb, who reacted with a spin in turn 3 bringing out the yellow. Restart saw Beale lead away from Paul and the 95S of Duane Hickman. A great drive saw Hickman hold off Alach for 3rd behind Paul and Beale.
Semi Main
Alach and McCutcheon shared the front row ahead of the 42S of Greg Jones and Buckley. Back in the pack, Oudney on 5 and Green on 6 followed by Clarkson. Alach led away followed by McCutcheon and Jones and was never headed, taking the chequer from Jones and Buckley.
Pirtek Taranaki Midget Car Classic
The 24 car feature pushed off on a track that had been dusty and loose all night. Beale sat on pole with Pickens on 2, next row Insley and Standring followed by the 11S of Ricky Paul and Mosen. Beale led away with Pickens welded to his push bar followed by Insley. By lap 3 Pickens had taken the lead followed by Insley and Beale. Greenhough bought out the yellow on lap 5 bunching back up a field already spread out. Restart, Pickens led from Insley and Beale followed by a duelling Mosen and Standring. Lap 9 saw a charging Standring and Beale tangle, bringing out the yellow, Standrings night ending on the infield. A scant 4 laps later saw another yellow as Worboys and Hickman tangled. Pickens and Insley led the restart from a going-forward McLeod. Lap 17 saw Alach, who started back of field in 18 and struggling with a car that looked difficult to drive hit the wall in turn 2 and finished inverted with a small fire, also involving Oudney and 14S Steve Paul, which bought out another yellow. 14 cars saw the restart led away by Pickens, McLeod, Mosen and Hickman only to see Mosen collect Dickinson going past the flag, bringing out yet another yellow. Pickens led away from Insley and McCleod, when another yellow halted proceedings as Buckley spun in turn 2, and then did it twice more on as many re starts. Pickens continued to lead from Insley and McLeod and held on to win despite possibly ominous header smoke and an inexplicable last lap tangle with Fabish which left the 54 as walking wounded with a bent front axle. Top four at the end, Pickens, Insley, McLeod and local driver Stratford driver Hickman.
NMCS PR, Stratford Speedway NZ, January 17, 2009 - One of the few positives that have emerged as a result of the usage restrictions at Western Springs is the increased utilisation of other speedways. And so it was the NMCS circus descended on Stratford Speedway in Taranaki’s heart land to race a series round. In action since 1964, the speedway, owned by the Taranaki Stock car Club was the first to instal electronic lap timing and scoring in 2000, and later that year won the prestigious Speedway of the Year award. A 30 car NMCS field, filled out by 9 local cars rocked up to the speedway to do battle, the only question, as always this season, if it isn’t gonna be Pickens to take the Pirtek Taranaki Classic, who will it be?
G1 Heat 1
Standring on pole alongside, McLeod, row two, the 51S of Daniel Jensen and Mc Cutcheon. That’s how they led away till lap2, when a major fracas bought out the yellow. First casualties of the night, Alach and Gick on the infield. Restart saw Standring lead away followed by McCleod and McCutcheon. Standring prevailed, Worboys made it to second from grid 10, McLeod hung on for 3rd, with Pickens in 4th.
G2 Heat 1
Front row saw the 14S of Steve Paul on pole, young Malone alongside. Back to 75S of Lydia Dickinson and 21S Carl Mering. The lap 2 hoodoo struck again with a major gridlock which eliminated half the 15 car field. Restart saw Dickinson lead away from Mosen and Beale. Lap 5 saw Mosen take the lead followed by Beale and Insley, these three then fought out the first three placings to the chequer, taken by Mosen, then Beale and Insley.
G1 Heat2
The rain stopped threatening and started to sprinkle as the heat pushed off. Insley and Brunt on the front row followed by Fabish and Green. Series dominator Pickens back on 8. Insley led away on what was now a wet track followed by Brunt and Fabish at a pace that belied the slick track. Pickens worked his way up through the pack in his signature move to the lead only to see Worboys hit the turn 3 wall on lap 9 bringing out the yellow. Pickens led the restart from Insley and Brunt and that’s how they finished.
G2 Heat 2
Pole sitter 31S Adam Prestney alongside 11S Ricky Paul, next row 27S Jimmy Greenhough and Beale. A repaired Alach started back on 11. Prestney led off and survived a brush with the turn 1 wall on lap 2. A charging Alach was already up to 5th by lap 4 and pressuring the 4th placed Cobb, who reacted with a spin in turn 3 bringing out the yellow. Restart saw Beale lead away from Paul and the 95S of Duane Hickman. A great drive saw Hickman hold off Alach for 3rd behind Paul and Beale.
Semi Main
Alach and McCutcheon shared the front row ahead of the 42S of Greg Jones and Buckley. Back in the pack, Oudney on 5 and Green on 6 followed by Clarkson. Alach led away followed by McCutcheon and Jones and was never headed, taking the chequer from Jones and Buckley.
Pirtek Taranaki Midget Car Classic
The 24 car feature pushed off on a track that had been dusty and loose all night. Beale sat on pole with Pickens on 2, next row Insley and Standring followed by the 11S of Ricky Paul and Mosen. Beale led away with Pickens welded to his push bar followed by Insley. By lap 3 Pickens had taken the lead followed by Insley and Beale. Greenhough bought out the yellow on lap 5 bunching back up a field already spread out. Restart, Pickens led from Insley and Beale followed by a duelling Mosen and Standring. Lap 9 saw a charging Standring and Beale tangle, bringing out the yellow, Standrings night ending on the infield. A scant 4 laps later saw another yellow as Worboys and Hickman tangled. Pickens and Insley led the restart from a going-forward McLeod. Lap 17 saw Alach, who started back of field in 18 and struggling with a car that looked difficult to drive hit the wall in turn 2 and finished inverted with a small fire, also involving Oudney and 14S Steve Paul, which bought out another yellow. 14 cars saw the restart led away by Pickens, McLeod, Mosen and Hickman only to see Mosen collect Dickinson going past the flag, bringing out yet another yellow. Pickens led away from Insley and McCleod, when another yellow halted proceedings as Buckley spun in turn 2, and then did it twice more on as many re starts. Pickens continued to lead from Insley and McLeod and held on to win despite possibly ominous header smoke and an inexplicable last lap tangle with Fabish which left the 54 as walking wounded with a bent front axle. Top four at the end, Pickens, Insley, McLeod and local driver Stratford driver Hickman.
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James Selwyn Photos
Page 2 Photos - HERE