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Midget Racing News From Around the World
Urban Force Racing Recaps 2007 Season;
Pickens Exit From Team Explained
The Urban Force Race Team, the team Kiwi Midget driver Michael Pickens raced for earlier this year have recently wrapped up their seasons racing.
The teams latest Press Release gives a run down of their racing season including some unflattering remarks about Pickens.
FULL STORY
Pickens Exit From Team Explained
The Urban Force Race Team, the team Kiwi Midget driver Michael Pickens raced for earlier this year have recently wrapped up their seasons racing.
The teams latest Press Release gives a run down of their racing season including some unflattering remarks about Pickens.
FULL STORY
32 Kiwi Drivers Join AMRDC
The Western Springs 2007/08 racing season is just weeks away, already 32 Kiwi midget drivers have signed up with the Auckland Midget Racing Drivers Club, the vast majority of the 32 are expected to be racing on a regular bases at the Springs during the 2007/08 season.
FULL LIST OF DRIVERS
The Western Springs 2007/08 racing season is just weeks away, already 32 Kiwi midget drivers have signed up with the Auckland Midget Racing Drivers Club, the vast majority of the 32 are expected to be racing on a regular bases at the Springs during the 2007/08 season.
FULL LIST OF DRIVERS
Kiwi News
Seems that Nevil Basalaj has other things on his mind besides midget racing.
Recently Nevil debuted his new Jimco off road car at the Taupo 1000, could this mean a new racing direction for Basalaj, If so, his Auckland fans might not get to see much of him racing at the Springs this season.
Basalaj recently purchased a Spike midget from the USA that he hopes to race at Ruapuna Speedway during the 2007/08 season, although is will depend on him securing sponsorship dollars to do so.
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Auckland midget driver Wayne Green recently purchased one of the Ed Pink Engines Seamount Racing put up for sale. With the Pink now firmly bolted into his Breka chassis, replacing the Gaerte he ran last year, the new combination should see Wayne running towards the front of the field this season.
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Steven Currie, NZ #2, as yet hasn’t signed to race at the Springs this season. CAT, Curries sponsor from last year withdrew at the end of last season leaving Currie without a major sponsor, meaning he is unlikely to race this season.
Seems that Nevil Basalaj has other things on his mind besides midget racing.
Recently Nevil debuted his new Jimco off road car at the Taupo 1000, could this mean a new racing direction for Basalaj, If so, his Auckland fans might not get to see much of him racing at the Springs this season.
Basalaj recently purchased a Spike midget from the USA that he hopes to race at Ruapuna Speedway during the 2007/08 season, although is will depend on him securing sponsorship dollars to do so.
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Auckland midget driver Wayne Green recently purchased one of the Ed Pink Engines Seamount Racing put up for sale. With the Pink now firmly bolted into his Breka chassis, replacing the Gaerte he ran last year, the new combination should see Wayne running towards the front of the field this season.
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Steven Currie, NZ #2, as yet hasn’t signed to race at the Springs this season. CAT, Curries sponsor from last year withdrew at the end of last season leaving Currie without a major sponsor, meaning he is unlikely to race this season.
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WOOTTEN CLAIMS KARCHER SCHOLARSHIP PRIZE
Congratulations to Kiwi youngster Alastair Wootten who has picked a $10,000 Sponsorship prize from Karcher (NZ) Ltd at the Elite Academy of Motorsport that was held recently held in Dunedin.
Alastair is the son of Lynette and Harold Wootten, former owners of the merchandise arm at Western Springs Speedway. Harold is a former midget driver at the Springs and has been a real asset to the sport, being mentor to many young local drivers, and with his involvement with Valvoline NZ Ltd Harold has supported many NZ race teams with Sponsorships.
Understanding that there is more to the racing game than just the driver sitting his backside in a race car, the Wootten’s, with their huge family support of Alastair have instilled in him the importance of the PR side of ‘the game’, looking after his Sponsors being paramount.
FULL STORY
Congratulations to Kiwi youngster Alastair Wootten who has picked a $10,000 Sponsorship prize from Karcher (NZ) Ltd at the Elite Academy of Motorsport that was held recently held in Dunedin.
Alastair is the son of Lynette and Harold Wootten, former owners of the merchandise arm at Western Springs Speedway. Harold is a former midget driver at the Springs and has been a real asset to the sport, being mentor to many young local drivers, and with his involvement with Valvoline NZ Ltd Harold has supported many NZ race teams with Sponsorships.
Understanding that there is more to the racing game than just the driver sitting his backside in a race car, the Wootten’s, with their huge family support of Alastair have instilled in him the importance of the PR side of ‘the game’, looking after his Sponsors being paramount.
FULL STORY
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Lance Beale will this year step into an Aggressor rather than the Breka he has campaigned over the past few years. The HLR sponsored car will be powered by the Ed Pink from last year.
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Young TQ driver Chris Gwilliam will do double duty this season. As well as again driving his TQ, Chris will pilot the #6 Toyota F2 midget.
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The Don Kay Little Rippers team have on-sold the 2002 Breka Chassis they campaigned last season, replacing it with a 2007 Breka. The team will concentrate on doing all their summer racing at Western Springs do don’t expect to see the Kay team campaign the #54 Ed Pink Powered car at any out of the Auckland shows that the Auckland Midget Drivers Club are organising.
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Dave Gick is the proud new owner of the ex Don Kay #54 Breka chassis and he has fitted the Fontana engine he campaigned last season to the #44 car, Gicks 2007/08 sponsors include Logick Print, Mainline Constuction, Pakuranga Plasterers and Kitney Karpainters.
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The recently sold Seamount #4 car is now in Queensland Australia. Purchased by Brendan Palmer, his Dad, Billy, and his brother David, Brendan, a former TQ driver will campaign the Ed Pink car in Queensland during the 2007/08 season.
Lance Beale will this year step into an Aggressor rather than the Breka he has campaigned over the past few years. The HLR sponsored car will be powered by the Ed Pink from last year.
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Young TQ driver Chris Gwilliam will do double duty this season. As well as again driving his TQ, Chris will pilot the #6 Toyota F2 midget.
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The Don Kay Little Rippers team have on-sold the 2002 Breka Chassis they campaigned last season, replacing it with a 2007 Breka. The team will concentrate on doing all their summer racing at Western Springs do don’t expect to see the Kay team campaign the #54 Ed Pink Powered car at any out of the Auckland shows that the Auckland Midget Drivers Club are organising.
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Dave Gick is the proud new owner of the ex Don Kay #54 Breka chassis and he has fitted the Fontana engine he campaigned last season to the #44 car, Gicks 2007/08 sponsors include Logick Print, Mainline Constuction, Pakuranga Plasterers and Kitney Karpainters.
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The recently sold Seamount #4 car is now in Queensland Australia. Purchased by Brendan Palmer, his Dad, Billy, and his brother David, Brendan, a former TQ driver will campaign the Ed Pink car in Queensland during the 2007/08 season.
Pickens Dodges the Carnage
By Chuck Lynch
Hickory, (NC) October 20, 2007 -New Zealand Midget driver Michael Pickens finished in 3rd place in the ASALMS Division Feature race at Hickory (NC) Speedway tonight in what can best be described as one of the most unusual races in Late Model history.
On the .363 semi-banked oval asphalt track, Pickens, with a lap time of 15.192 qualified 16th quick of the 30 drivers on hand for the 125 lap event.
Possibly because of no less than 22 of the 30 starters being rookie drivers, the nights feature race turned into a lottery after a record ASALMS 18 caution flags were displayed, the race taking almost 2 ½ hours to run.
For Pickens it was just a mater of hanging in there after 8 of the drivers starting in front of him exited the race after becoming involved in race track incidents, leaving only 11 of the 30 starters to complete all 125 laps.
Top 10:
1 - 08 Beau Slocumb - $3000
2 - 09 John Wes Townley - $1000
3 - 6 Michael Pickens - $900
4 - 54 Josh Lane - $800
5 - 62 Travis Wilson -$700
6 - 93 Rob Partelo - $650
7 - 711 Max Gresham - $600
8 - 41 Brandon Johnson - $590
9 - 19 Shane Riffel - $580
10 - 23 Jimmy Weller - $575
By Chuck Lynch
Hickory, (NC) October 20, 2007 -New Zealand Midget driver Michael Pickens finished in 3rd place in the ASALMS Division Feature race at Hickory (NC) Speedway tonight in what can best be described as one of the most unusual races in Late Model history.
On the .363 semi-banked oval asphalt track, Pickens, with a lap time of 15.192 qualified 16th quick of the 30 drivers on hand for the 125 lap event.
Possibly because of no less than 22 of the 30 starters being rookie drivers, the nights feature race turned into a lottery after a record ASALMS 18 caution flags were displayed, the race taking almost 2 ½ hours to run.
For Pickens it was just a mater of hanging in there after 8 of the drivers starting in front of him exited the race after becoming involved in race track incidents, leaving only 11 of the 30 starters to complete all 125 laps.
Top 10:
1 - 08 Beau Slocumb - $3000
2 - 09 John Wes Townley - $1000
3 - 6 Michael Pickens - $900
4 - 54 Josh Lane - $800
5 - 62 Travis Wilson -$700
6 - 93 Rob Partelo - $650
7 - 711 Max Gresham - $600
8 - 41 Brandon Johnson - $590
9 - 19 Shane Riffel - $580
10 - 23 Jimmy Weller - $575
| FINISH | START | CAR # | DRIVER | LAPS | PRIZE $ | AGE | |
| 1 | 4 | 08 | Beau Slocumb | 125 | Running | $3000 | 22 |
| 2 | 10 | 09 | John Wes Townly | 125 | Running | $1000 | 17 |
| 3 | 1 | 6 | Michael Pickens-R | 125 | Running | $900 | 24 |
| 4 | 2 | 170 | Jeff Choquette-R | 125 | Running | $800 | 20 |
| 5 | 3 | 41 | Brandon Johnson-R | 125 | Running | $700 | 20 |
| 6 | 6 | 47 | Chris Fontaine-R | 125 | Running | $650 | 24 |
| 7 | 11 | 14 | Brent Seeley-R | 125 | Running | $600 | 18 |
| 8 | 7 | 62 | Travis Wilson | 125 | Running | $590 | 24 |
| 9 | 13 | 86 | Jimmy Lang-R | 125 | Running | $580 | 19 |
| 10 | 16 | 70 | Jeremy Gerster-R | 125 | Running | $575 | 34 |
| 11 | 9 | 5 | Cody Smith-R | 125 | Running | $550 | 18 |
| 12 | 14 | 02 | John Bolen-R | 123 | Running | $545 | 21 |
| 13 | 15 | 04 | Jerrod Foley | 121 | Running | $530 | 15 |
| 14 | 17 | 46 | Nick Glaze-R | 107 | Running | $525 | 17 |
| 15 | 5 | 8 | Michael Seeright-R | 78 | Accident | $525 | 29 |
| 16 | 8 | 3 | Brian Blum-R | 20 | Mechanical | $525 | 17 |
| 17 | 12 | 61 | Bob Varney | 20 | Accident | $525 | 33 |
| 18 | 19 | 78 | Dustin Knowles-R | 5 | Handling | $525 | 19 |
| 19 | 18 | 0 | Kevin Ingram-R | 3 | Handling | $525 | 41 |
Pickens 3rd at Alabama
By Chuck Lynch
Birmingham, Alabama, October 28, 2007 - New Zealand driver Michael Pickens finished 3rd in the Alabama 125 ASALM Southern Series race at the Birmingham, Alabama tonight.
The 24yr old Kiwi driver qualified 7th quick and gained the pole starting position by way of fast qualifier Travis Wilson drawing the 7 marble, determining how many of the top qualifiers would be inverted to start the 125 lap race.
Although only 24yrs old, Pickens was the 5th oldest driver of the 19 to make up the field, no less than 15 of them being rookie drivers.
Going into the race, the final of the 2007 ASALM Southern Division Championship, three drivers, Jeff Choquette, Beau Slocumb and Brandon Johnson, were in contention for the 2007 Championship title.
Pickens lead the first 102 laps until Solcumb took the lead from him on lap 103 on the .0.625 mile Semi-Banked Paved Oval. Soon after, 17yr old Townley got by Pickens, while Choquette was content to follow the Kiwi home in 4th place to secure enough points to take out the 2007 ASALM Southern Division Championship.
By Chuck Lynch
Birmingham, Alabama, October 28, 2007 - New Zealand driver Michael Pickens finished 3rd in the Alabama 125 ASALM Southern Series race at the Birmingham, Alabama tonight.
The 24yr old Kiwi driver qualified 7th quick and gained the pole starting position by way of fast qualifier Travis Wilson drawing the 7 marble, determining how many of the top qualifiers would be inverted to start the 125 lap race.
Although only 24yrs old, Pickens was the 5th oldest driver of the 19 to make up the field, no less than 15 of them being rookie drivers.
Going into the race, the final of the 2007 ASALM Southern Division Championship, three drivers, Jeff Choquette, Beau Slocumb and Brandon Johnson, were in contention for the 2007 Championship title.
Pickens lead the first 102 laps until Solcumb took the lead from him on lap 103 on the .0.625 mile Semi-Banked Paved Oval. Soon after, 17yr old Townley got by Pickens, while Choquette was content to follow the Kiwi home in 4th place to secure enough points to take out the 2007 ASALM Southern Division Championship.
R = Rookie