MEDIA RELEASE
13 APRIL 2008
GOOD CROWD WITNESSES GOOD RACING IN GOOD WEATHER
A big crowd witnessed some good racing in superb autumn weather as the final motor race meeting of the 2007/2008 season took place at Teretonga Park in Invercargill today.
The event, presented by Fulton Hogan, saw the first Teretonga appearance of the ENZED V8 Utes Series powered by Allied Petroleum. The vehicles turned on a good display of racing in their three contests. Victory in the second round of their national series went to Christchurch driver Simon Beirne (Jnr Burner) of Christchurch. Beirne took his Team McDonalds Ford to a win, a second and a third place to win the round. Holden drivers Mathew Lockwood (Matty J) of Palmerston North and Caine Lobb (Ginger Ninja) of Christchurch took the other race wins. Aucklander Mack Peach (Bomba) was also close to the action in his Holden, gaining a second and a third place throughout the day.
Neville Stowell of Timaru wrapped up the Kumho Sport Saloon Series title when he won two of the three races for the category and lowered the lap record twice in the process. Stowell ended the day with a new mark of 1 minute 02.93 in his Nissan Skyline GTR. Another Timaru driver, Grant McKissock won the final race for the class, a handicap event, in his Mitsubishi EVO.
Australian visitor Mathew Lovell won two of the three Firestone Super Six Saloon races. Lovell, of Adelaide, drove a Falcon to his two victories while Dunedin driver Blair Sutherland upheld Holden honour in the other race. Commodore drivers Nathan Blomquist of Christchurch, Peter Hughes of Dunedin and Gary Sutherland of Alexandra took the other podium spots during the day. Lovell broke the lap record initially before Blair Sutherland shaved it twice, leaving it at 1 minute 10.05 seconds.
Winton driver Pierre Neame had a good day in his 5.8 litre Ford Capri, winning a Noel McIntyre Drainage Clubmans race, plus his Class Race and the Flying Farewell. Arron Black of Dunedin took the other Clubmans win while Dunedin drivers Warren Good (BMW 320), Stephen Cropper (Mazda Cosmo), and Southlanders Howard Kingsford-Smith (Nissan Primera), Matthew Ralston (Nissan Silvia) and Anthony Ralston (Nissan Silvia) were all prominent. In addition to Neame, Matthew Ralston, Jeremy Dawson in a Toyota Starlet and Ian McKenzie of Otautau in a Datsun Sunny won their respective class races.
The Kumho Pre 65 Saloon races were shared between Wayne Patrick of Christchurch in a Ford XP Falcon, Steve Ross of Dunedin in a Ford Mustang and Christchurch driver John Michelle in a Ford Cortina. Maurie Bone of Christchurch in an Anglia and Southlanders Wayne Tuffley and Greg Stewart, both in Ford Mustangs, were also among the placings.
Steve Ross also won two of the Racing Car events in his Lola F5000 and Munro Tall the other in his Reynard SF84. Ian Bisman of Christchurch in a Tatuus Renault, Damon Leitch of Invercargill in his Van Diemen RF92 and Don Nelson of Riverton in a Reynard also featured.
On Saturday Andy Knight of Christchurch and Shane McKillen of Auckland won the final round of the 2008 Asko Appliances South Island Endurance Series in their VnC Cocktails Porsche GT3 997. The duo took the flag at the end of the 3-Hour Race four laps clear of Auckland pairing Michael Morton and Jody Vincent in a similar car.
Lindsay Beer
Publicity Officer
Southland Sports Car Club
021 351 499