Fabish king at Kihikihi track

‘1-WAY TRIP’: NZ Midget Championship titleholder Carl Worboys flips out of contention at Kihikihi Speedway on Sunday. 122061AD

By Colin Thorsen

The champagne flowed freely after hometown favourite Tony Fabish won the New Zealand Midget Championships at McDonald’s Kihikihi Speedway on Sunday.

Memories immediately came flooding back of the first of Fabish’s two national midget titles, also at Kihikihi in 1996.

“I’m absolutely stoked. I could be a bit late for work tomorrow, but I guess that’s OK being the boss,” quipped the 47-year-old Te Awamutu panelbeating business owner. “I thought I might be a chance for a top 10 placing, but certainly didn’t expect to win.”

Several of Fabish’s mates, including Kihikihi Speedway Club life member, Cactus Corboy, thought otherwise.

“I told him I wouldn’t talk to him again if he didn’t win,” Corboy says.

Grant Wilks, co-owner of the Pop ‘N’ Good car 95 with Fabish and a member of his crew, said Fabish’s victory was richly deserved.

“He’s been driving outstandingly all year, forcing his way into the New Zealand team for the test series against the Aussies and Americans, and he was third in the national series held at Western Springs.”

Fabish won an actionpacked 25 lap final from Shaun Insley, with 17-yearold Kihikihi contracted driver Michael Brunt causing a boilover finishing third in his first year in a midget.

It was a day of bizarre happenings. Five-times national champion Michael Kendall was dogged by mechanical problems all day and was unable to start in the final after not finishing two heats.

Despite starting off grid 10, behind the likes of last year’s champ Carl Worboys (grid 1), Bryce Townsend (grid 2) and Graham Standring (grid 3), Fabish said he knew the car was perfectly set up for the race.

“I kept telling myself to be patient when passing the cars. I thought there would be accidents up front with so much heat on.”

He was right - Worboys was an early casualty, flipping spectacularly out of contention on pit straight. The race had only just re-started after a pile-up involving Worboys and young Aucklander Brad Mosen on Rodeo Bend. Worboys was the hard luck story of the meeting, having started off pole after placing fourth in heat one, from grid 20, and first in heat two from pole position.

With Worboys gone, Standring made the lead, only for carburettor problems to end his chances. All the time, Fabish was working his way to the front, with the parochial home crowd getting behind him. He saw off a serious challenge from Bryce Townsend, then took control of the race, winning comfortably - despite having his lead whittled away twice by yellow flags. It was a wonderful end to a day that did not start so auspiciously for him.

He showed his class finishing third in heat one after starting off the fifth row, but had the hair raising experience of no brakes for the last five of 15 laps after the brake rotor broke off. Fabish and his crew of Grant Wilks, David Corboy, Gavin Corboy and Joseph Farrow worked their butts off replacing the entire rear end in 15 minutes.

NZ MIDGET Championship title winner at Kihikihi Speedway on Sunday, Tony Fabish with wife Kimberley, son Mitchell and products from the sponsor of the winning car, Pop ‘N’ Good. 122061BD

“We’re pretty practised in that (job). We all know what we’re doing,” Wilks said.

Fabish was quick to thank his crew for the role they had played in his victory.

“They were awesome, I asked for the car to be set up tight for the final, after a DNF in heat 2 when I spun out and it was so tight it was tough to drive - just what the doctor ordered.”

Among the first of hordes of fans who rushed to congratulate the new champ were Fabish’s wife, Kimberley and son Mitchell.

“It’s the thrill of a lifetime, my throat’s sore from yelling,” Mrs Fabish said.