Sensational saloon racing, the skills of the youngsters in the youth ministocks, a first speedway win for Sammy Durston and a visit by Santa were highlights of Saturday night speedway.

Gisborne Speedway Club put on a 31-race Christmas programme of excitement and class that thrilled a good-sized crowd.

A field of 10 saloons turned on a brilliant display in the JAG Painters Best Pairs, taken out by Sean Robertson (16G) and Mount Maunganui's Trent Amrein (42M).

They amassed 166 points between them, and were followed by Ethan Cook (76G) and Auckland's Ted Ingram (16A) on 162, with Hamish Moore (85G) and Auckland's David Ingram (116A) third on 140 points.

The Gisborne cars were on the pace all night and the visitors chimed in to make it a power-packed, precision-driving contest.

The big fields of young drivers in the ToolShed Youth Ministock 100 signalled an exciting future for speedway.

Corbyn Wilson (44G) showed his potential with a well-deserved second placing overall in the junior division, for 12-to-14-year-olds. Koby Gooch (59G) was impressive too, finishing fifth overall.

Hawke's Bay's Tom Steel (21B) won that division.

The visiting drivers — and they were from all over the North Island — dominated the senior field, for 15-to-16 years.

The streetstock race placings were shared around, but the one that stood out was the first victory for Sammy Durston (177G) in her years in youth ministocks.

Durston, 20, also picked up a second placing and put real pressure on well-performed race winner Cody Gooch.

Her father Brent said the win and second placing were real confidence boosts for his daughter.

Durston (77G) was consistent again with a first, a second and a third, and Gooch (6G) took out the other win.

Ben McArthur (128G) showed how well he has adjusted to the extra pace and power of a superstock in his first season behind the wheel of one, with two wins.

Sam Hughes (77G) was Mr Consistent with four second placings.

The stockcars turned it on again with Bryce Simpson (98G) always handy to the action up front, with a second and two thirds.

Dylan and Ryan MacGregor shared the spoils in the TQ midgets, with Dylan on 17G taking two wins and a second, and his cousin Ryan (74B) recording a win, a second and a third. Rob Gomm (24G) finished with a second and two thirds.

The chequered flags in the production saloons were carted around by Blake Dear (37G), twice, and Anton McKay (17G). They shared the second placings between them.

Callum Innes and his driver Russell Stuart (22G) raced with determination to win three from three in the sidecars against the Clive Ireland/Malakai Pitcher combination (56G).

Santa was a welcome sight as he wandered around the Eastland Group Raceway meeting young and old as his helpers handed out sweets.

It was an excellent programme and the fans would have gone home happy, having seen some outstanding racing across all classes.

Club secretary Aaron Lum said the meeting went well.

“It's always a challenge to put such big fields of youth ministocks through their programme, but it worked well and we had some great racing from the youngsters.

“It was also exciting to see such good-sized fields of stock cars and superstocks, and the saloons were exceptional.

“Overall, the track held up really well and ran smooth for most of the meeting.”

The next meeting at the track will be on January 7. It will feature the New Zealand Sidecar Grand Prix.

Article added: Wednesday 21 December 2022

Written by Murray Robertson for The Gisborne Herald. 

Photo taken by Cookies Motorsport Photography.