Fireworks on, off track

A CROWD of almost 3000 watched a stunning fireworks display and the start of the Gisborne Speedway season on Saturday night.
Guy Fawkes celebrations drew many newcomers to Eastland Group Raceway — with streetstock drivers doing their best to win over those experiencing their first taste of speedway racing.
Jonny Morley carried the first chequered flag of the new season, recording a good win in the opening ministock class.
Dana Kingsbeer was next across the line, ahead of a fast-finishing Aaron Kirk.
Jake Baynes led from start to finish in race two. Griffin Law held out Sage Hartley for a well-deserved second place.
The young competitors impressed with their fast, clean, approach to opening night racing.
This ministock season is again looking like a evenly-fought contest.
Bouyed by the New Zealand champs being held in Gisborne early in the New Year, Gisborne streetstock numbers have swelled during the off season to the point where — with the help of a handful of visiting Hawke’s Bay competitors — 26 cars lined up for the first race of the season.
The first casualty was former 3NZ Travis Gooch, who blew his diff off the start line.
Fellow Gisborne racer Frank Hartley had no such problems, racing safely to the front of the rampaging pack and fast establishing a healthy lead.
Hartley won by over half a lap from Sean Gooch, who edged out an impressive Ian McGrory for second.
Race two was even more hectic than the first, with a majority of the crowd struggling to know where to look such was the action.
Last season’s club points winner Ben McArthur avoided the carnage to claim the win.
The much anticipated debut of stockcar driver Sam Hughes in his new Rees tank was shortlived.
The Gisborne Gladiators team’s new weapon succumbed to steering issues early in the night.
Hughes was not alone in experiencing opening night gremlins. Joel Gardner was hit by oil pressure problems while Nick Hutton battled all night with a fuel pressure fault.
Brett Lloyd showed plenty of pace in the first race to take the chequered flag but did not have things his own way in the second race.
While battling for position with Toby Pickering, Lloyd was flicked into the front straight wall — the impact popping a rear tyre.
Jason Jones won this race, following his second placing earlier in the night.
Pickering put the foot to the pedal on his way to victory in the feature win.
Ralph Scott enjoyed a successful night by winning the opening two heats of the saloon class, with Daniel Cook claiming the third.