MEDIA RELEASE
29 APRIL 2007
BIG FINISH TO TERETONGA PARK SEASON
An excellent day of racing brought down the curtain on the 2006/2007 season of
motor racing at Teretonga Park today. The event, presented by Fulton Hogan, was
the final round of many different championships, bringing good fields and plenty
of action to the circuit.
Kerry Bartlett of Ashburton secured the Kumho Sport Saloon Series after his
major rival Mike Small of Timaru suffered engine problems in the first of their
three races. Bartlett went on to win the overall title, his class title and the
series handicap championship in what he described as a "good day at the office."
However while Bartlett took the silverware it was Timaru driver Neville Stowell
who won all three races and broke the lap record twice in his Nissan Skyline
GTR.
It was a day for the Holden Commodores in the Super Six Saloon races. Recently
crowned New Zealand Champion Blair Sutherland of Dunedin added the South
Island title to his accolades with two firsts and a third today. Lance Thompson
of Lawrence won the opening race in his Commodore and also took a second and
third. Christchurch driver Nathan Blomquist and Peter Hughes of Dunedin also
featured prominently in the three races. The final Super Six race ended when
Lawrence Anthony and Bill Bazley went off the track at the loop.
Steve Ross of Dunedin won two of the three Pre 65 Saloon races in his Ford
Mustang. Invercargill's Wayne Tuffley was second in the opening race in his Ford
Mustang while Nelson driver Cliff Brunning was the runner - up in the next in
his Chevy Nova. Tony Jeffs of Christchurch was third on both occasions before
winning the finale in his Ford Galaxie from Dunedin's Roy McDonald and Bob
Denson of Christchurch.
Andrew Cundall of Invercargill won both races in the Noel McIntyre Drainage
Clubmans Series. Cundall overcame pole winner Pierre Neame's Ford Capri in the
first race with Robert Ralston third in his Nissan Silvia. Neame retired with a
broken driveshaft later in the day leaving Gary Jenkins of Gore and Ralston to
fill second and third respectively in the next race.
Cundall also won his class in the engine capacity class race where the other
classes were won by Jenkins, Bradley Dawson and John McKenzie.
Munro Tall of Queenstown made a clean sweep of the Racing Car races in his
Reynard. Behind him James Hargest College student, Damon Leitch of Invercargill,
confirmed his potential with three second placings in his smaller engined Van
Diemen. Noel Atley was third on each occasion. The racing cars provided the best
fields assembled in their category for many years.
The curtain fell on the 2006/2007 season when Allan Pulley of Winton won the
Flying Farewell after a great dice with Ralston. Darcy Hewitt was third. Pulley
and Ralston made a spectacular charge to the flag on the final lap with Pulley
winning by .2 of a second.
On Saturday Christchurch pairing Angus McFarlane and Michael Bushell won the
annual 3 hour endurance race at the circuit. The race was full of action with
Scott and Lindsay O'Donnell leading until they were involved in an incident with
a slower car. McFarlane and Bushell then took over the lead but they were hunted
down by Matt and Dwayne Carter of Auckland in a Ford Falcon V8 Supercar. The
Carter's took the lead with twenty minutes to go only to strike problems.
McFarlane and Bushell regained the lead and led home from the O'Donnell Porsche
that had recovered to finish second four laps behind the winners. The Carter
Falcon limped home one lap further back to clinch the South Island Endurance
Series.
Class winners were McFarlane/Bushell, Dale and Alan Chapman, Dave
McLean/Ross Hurley plus Stuart and Arron Black.
Southland drivers Bradley and Jeremy Dawson finished 11th overall to win their
class in the three round series.
Lindsay Beer
Publicity Officer
Southland Sports Car Club
021 351 499