Stratford Speedway 2008-09 Season Finale
By Eric Beardmore, Stratford NZ. March 29, 2009 - Final night at Stratford Speedway was somewhat of an anti climax for the Midgets as 3 top cars succumbed to mechanical gremlins leaving 8 cars to contest two of the three races. Ricky Paul, Duane Hickman and Lydia Dickinson watched most of the racing from the Stands!
The evening was cool, and track moist and smooth for race one. Duane Hickman got to the lead early with Mark Willans close behind but a collapsed piston saw the Breka Ford parked on lap 7, which left Lydia Dickinson to take advantage of a wrong passing decision by Mark Willans to take the lead and the race. Greg Jones finished a close third.
Race two and Dickinsons Esslinger suffered valve failure on the warm up lap. Jones roared away and headed Steve Paul to the line while Neil Willans spent the race battling son Mark and still headed him at checkered flag time for third place.
Jones was unstoppable in race three and drove to a fine win from Neil Willans who was having his most successful night of the season with the consistent Fontana of Steve Paul powering to third.
Racing at Stratford Speedway has now finished for the 08/09 season with the last major run for our team to be at Harrisville on Easter Sunday, a meeting for which all Midget competitors are still welcome to enter.
Watch for details of the NZ Midget Champs to be held at Stratford in early March 2010.
By Eric Beardmore, Stratford NZ. March 29, 2009 - Final night at Stratford Speedway was somewhat of an anti climax for the Midgets as 3 top cars succumbed to mechanical gremlins leaving 8 cars to contest two of the three races. Ricky Paul, Duane Hickman and Lydia Dickinson watched most of the racing from the Stands!
The evening was cool, and track moist and smooth for race one. Duane Hickman got to the lead early with Mark Willans close behind but a collapsed piston saw the Breka Ford parked on lap 7, which left Lydia Dickinson to take advantage of a wrong passing decision by Mark Willans to take the lead and the race. Greg Jones finished a close third.
Race two and Dickinsons Esslinger suffered valve failure on the warm up lap. Jones roared away and headed Steve Paul to the line while Neil Willans spent the race battling son Mark and still headed him at checkered flag time for third place.
Jones was unstoppable in race three and drove to a fine win from Neil Willans who was having his most successful night of the season with the consistent Fontana of Steve Paul powering to third.
Racing at Stratford Speedway has now finished for the 08/09 season with the last major run for our team to be at Harrisville on Easter Sunday, a meeting for which all Midget competitors are still welcome to enter.
Watch for details of the NZ Midget Champs to be held at Stratford in early March 2010.