Speedway deserves a break

RAIN, RAIN GO AWAY!: NZ Midget title contender Michael Brunt (left), Kihikihi Speedway president Roger Wells (centre) and Ministock Stampede entrants, twins Stuart and Brendan Wells (right) hoping for a fine weekend. 117061AD

By Colin Thorsen

McDonald’s Kihikihi Speedway is making its fourth attempt to stage the New Zealand Midget Championship this weekend and hoping for a break with the weather.

The previous three attempts, beginning on March 25, have all been washed out.

President Roger Wells says there will be a huge sense of relief if the weekend’s favourable weather forecast comes to fruition.

“Last time we said ‘third time lucky’ but that didn’t work out so we’re crossing more than just our fingers and toes this time. It seems the weekends we don’t run the weather’s OK, but it packs up on race day.”

The Speedway Club elected not to run over Easter, when the weather was beautiful, because the Mitavite Horse Trials was on in Kihikihi.

“We like to work in with other local organisations.”

The youngest driver to qualify in the top 20 for Sunday’s midget final, 17-year-old Michael Brunt, says he has been itching to have a crack at the big guns. He is in his first year out of minisprints after three seasons in ministocks.

Brunt junior is easily making the transition up to midgets, finishing an eye-catching ninth out of over 40 cars in the national series, run over 10 nights at Western Springs. He had his first drive, since the last cancellation at Kihikihi three weeks ago, at Waikaraka Park on Saturday night.

“The car wasn’t going great, having some spark problem, but we’ll have it sorted come Sunday.”

Most of the Aucklanders running at Kihikihi this weekend were on show. Current national champion Carl Worboys and three-times former NZ1 Graham Standring were flying, according to Brunt. Brunt’s father Craig will line up alongside him in Sunday’s NZ midget finals after qualifying with two fourths.

“Craig hasn’t raced much this year but he has a liking for his club track,” says young Brunt.

Worboys has drawn grid 20 in the first heat and will be off the front in heat two. Points from both heats will be accumulated to determine grid positions for the final race.

Michael Pickens will not be contesting the final, despite qualifying. The Seamount team member has overseas commitments.

The increasingly popular Ministock Stampede will also hopefully get to be run at its fourth attempt.

The Wells twins, Stuart and Brendan, of Te Awamutu have been waiting on tenterhooks to ‘get into’ their rivals in the 40-strong field entered. Stuart is hoping it is a case of third time lucky after failing to qualify for the final for the past two years. Brendan rolled last year after having a did not finish the previous year.

Newly-wed Steve Williams will be turning out for Huntly against the Mount and Kihikihi in the Saloon Challenge. His ‘caddy’ Tiger Woods is not coming.

There will also be supporting classes of stockcars and minisprints. Racing starts 1pm on Sunday.