By Daryl Shuttleworth

 

Labour Weekend in Cromwell means the start of the Speedway season, and if the action that unfolded on Saturday night is any indication as to what to expect this race season, the fans are in for a treat throughout 2023/24.

The local club hosted the opening round of the Civil Construction Southern Sprintcar Series as well as the Central Otago Championship across seven different grades.

Drivers from Christchurch south were entered and being a long weekend a number of out of town race fans were trackside, making up a fairly sizable crowd in what can only be described as one of the most picturesque tracks on the planet.

The Southern Sprintcar Series is contested over six rounds, two rounds each in Cromwell, Dunedin and Invercargill. Last seasons champion Adam Evans of Cromwell was entered and eager to get himself off to the best start possible, but would certainly have his work cut out for him with a classy field.

Race winners in the Sprintcar heats were Cromwell's Mathew Anderson, Christchurch's Calen Baughan and Josh Buchanan also of Cromwell.

Two drivers who were entered for the Central Otago Champs and not the series were Invercargill's Jacob McIntyre and former national champion Jamie Duff of Christchurch, they would start from the rear of the field in the heat races but had scored enough points to be up towards the point end for the twenty five lap feature.

The feature race would go the distance without a stoppage, very much a rarity in Sprintcar racing. Baughan led the race early before McIntyre made a move that looked as if he would take the overall win. Duff however had other ideas and pulling in McIntyre making a play for the lead with three laps to run to claim the Central Otago Championship, McIntyre second with Baughan home in third spot.

The final placings from the feature for the Southern Sprintcar series saw Baughan claim the win with Evans home in second and Steve Duff of Christchurch third.

Heat winners in Six Shooters were Harrison Brown of Invercargill who won two of the three races, while Tony Symons claimed race two. Final results in the Central Otago Championship were Brown first, Symons second with Cromwell driver Emma Gordon third.

Youth Ministocks had a number of new drivers out on track for the very first time, and a credit to them all, driving well beyond their experience, putting on a brilliant display of good hard, clean racing. One driver stood out all night and dominated winning all three races, Cromwell driver Joshua McIntyre. The perfect result across all the heats gave McIntyre the overall win in the Central Otago Championship with his Cromwell clubmates Cooper Arkell second and Paige McNally third.

There was plenty of action and controversy in Production Saloons, both the first two heats were nice tidy affairs but a group of about six cars competing for the top three spots was always going to be interesting, and resulted in long periods for some drivers in the officials room at the end of the race. Cromwell's James Woods won the first two heats and looked certain to win the third until mechanical failure put him out of the race handing the win to clubmate Sam McKenzie.

McKenzie would also take the Central Otago Championship ahead of clubmate James Woods and Invercargill's Blake Murdoch in third place.

Stockcars are always a crowd favorite and they did not disappoint at the opening meeting. Cromwell's Brodie McDonald won the first two heats with ease but would have a target on his back for the third race. McDonald did well to stay out of harm's way finishing mid pack with the win going to Cromwell driver Casey McEwan.

The mid field placing gave McDonald enough points to win the Central Otago Championship ahead of McEwan and Trazan Ryland Annabell of Dunedin third.

Graham Williamson of Invercargill was the standout performer in Saloons, Williamson took the opening race with second in the next two. Cromwell's Phil Burgess and Barry Taylor were winners in the remaining two races. Williamsons consistency would give him the overall championship with Burgess second and Stu Millar of Dunedin third.

The final grade to race was Super Saloons and just a field of four cars made it possibly the toughest grade to watch on the night. Hopefully more cars will start to come out of the woodwork before January where the club will host the showcase of the New Zealand Super Saloon calendar, the New Zealand Championship.

Dunedin's Ricky Boulton would win two of the three races run, with local driver Ray Stewart winning the other. Boulton would claim the overall Central Otago Championship ahead of Stewart with Dunedin's Alister Lister third.

Article added: Sunday 22 October 2023