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 .more

KNIGHT AND McKILLEN WIN TERETONGA ENDURO

 Andy Knight of Christchurch and Shane McKillen of Auckland won the final round of the 2008 Asko Appliances South Island Endurance Series at Teretonga Park in Invercargill today. The duo led all the way in the 3-Hour race, eventually crossing the line in their VnC Cocktails Porsche GT3 997 four laps clear of the opposition. Michael Morton and Jody Vincent were second in their Triple XXX Motorsport Porsche GT3 while Tony Williams and Andrew Higgins were third in another Porsche. The winners in the previous two years, Angus McFarlane and Michael Bushell, were forced out when a wheel came off their car during qualifying this morning ..more

Results

EXCITING CONCLUSIONS TO MOTOR RACING FINALS AT TERETONGA 

 There were some exciting conclusions as New Zealand's premier motor racing championships were decided at this weekend's Hydraulink 200 Finale at Teretonga Park in Invercargill. Nelson driver John McIntyre won the New Zealand V8s Championship after winning the final race of the series this afternoon. McIntyre had brought a healthy lead to Teretonga but failed to finish Saturday's opening race after he blew an engine. That misfortune cut his lead to fifty-five points and gave Auckland driver Angus Fogg a glimmer of hope...more

 CHAMPIONSHIP FINALE UNDERWAY AT TERETONGA 

A good crowd enjoyed the opening day of the Hydraulink 200 Finale at Teretonga Park near Invercargill today. The event features the final rounds of many of New Zealand's major national motor racing championships. Today featured qualifying plus the first round of races for the various classes. Defending champion and series leader John McIntyre of Nelson failed to finish the opening race of the weekend in the New Zealand V8s Championship when his engine blew early in the race. His closest rivals, Kayne Scott of Hamilton and Aucklander Angus Fogg, finished first and third respectively to allow Fogg to close to within fifty-five points of McIntyre..more

CAN-AMS STAR AND LAP RECORDS FALL AT CLASSIC SPEEDFEST  

The CAN-AM Sports Cars were the stars and several lap records fell at the Leitch Motorsport/Southland Times Classic SpeedFest at Teretonga this weekend. The CAN-AM cars, sponsored by Ray White Real Estate, were a huge drawcard in the pits while on the track they were breathtaking. In a hugely popular move they even provided an extra race to end the programme. In a nice touch event sponsor Barry Leitch was invited to take the wheel of Jay Esterer's McLaren M6B for the final appearance of the big-banger sports cars and obliged the crowd by winning the race. Leitch described the experience as "incredible." ...more

LAP RECORDS TAKE A POUNDING AT CLASSIC SPEEDFEST 

Several lap records were broken as the first day of the Leitch Motorsport/Southland Times Classic SpeedFest unfolded at Teretonga Park in Invercargill today.A good crowd was present in pleasant conditions on what was a relatively incident-free day. Canadian Jay Esterer won the first race for the spectacular Ray White Real Estate CAN-AM Sports Cars, one of the major drawcards at the event. Esterer set a fastest time of 56.04 seconds on his way to victory and after the race was fulsome in his praise of the southern circuit, describing it's flowing design as "the equal or better of Laguna Seca" in California. Unfortunately two of his CAN-AM colleagues did not fare as well today, American Brian Blain putting his 8.3 litre Lola off the track early on leaving his crew with a lot of work to repair the car while the Rawlson CRII of Canadian Ian Wood broke a stub axle...more

TERETONGA PARK SHINES IN 50TH ANNIVERSARY FINALE  

An excellent day of motor racing in hot, sunny conditions was the perfect way for the curtain to fall on the 50th Anniversary year at Teretonga Park in Invercargill today. The event, presented by Fulton Hogan, featured plenty of good, close racing as many of the South Island's leading motor race categories battled out rounds in their respective championships. Invercargill driver Colin Dawson, the reigning New Zealand and South Island OSCA Champion arrived at Teretonga leading this year's OSCA Championship. However by the end of the day it was another Southlander, Lawrence Knowler of Invercargill, who had taken over the championship lead. Dawson won the first race in his 6 litre Mazda RX7 after a good battle with Knowler ahead of third placegetter Blenheim driver Chris Hatton in a Chev Camaro. In the second race, a handicap event, Knowler brought his Chev Camaro through to win ahead of Hatton and Laine Ettwell of Christchurch in a Pontiac GTO. Dawson could only manage fourth and then did not make the start of the final race due to a suspected diff problem. That race was won by Etwell from Timaru's Raymond Hart in a Nissan Skyline and Knowler. Knowler's results allied to Dawson's demise left Knowler in the championship lead....more

50th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS A HUGE SUCCESS

It was a celebration befitting the proud history of Teretonga Park as the circuit on the outskirts of Invercargill became the first in New Zealand to mark fifty years of motor racing this weekend.     

The events began at Teretonga Park on Friday evening with a get together for those attending the celebrations. There, many memories of Teretonga Park's remarkable history were relived. During the evening a book entitled "Going Round In Circles" compiled by club historian Keith Douglas was launched. The book complements two earlier books to bring the documented history of the track up to date. A DVD created by Joelle Osborn named "Lapping It Up" featuring 50 years of great images from the circuit was also launched at the function...more

BLAST FROM THE PAST MARKS FIFTY YEARS IN STYLE 

The first motor racing circuit in New Zealand to celebrate it's 50th Anniversary did so in style today. Teretonga Park, on the outskirts of Invercargill, held it's first race meeting in  November 1957 and today "Blast From The Past" presented by Fulton Hogan was held as part of a weekend of celebration to mark the occasion.  The race meeting was restricted to cars and/or drivers who had previously competed at one of the two hundred and forty-five meetings held since 1957 prior to today's event at the circuit. One driver, Doug Macdonald of Marahau near Motueka, was the only driver on track today who had raced on Teretonga's opening race day back on 30 November 1957. Macdonald raced his 1960 Alfa Romeo replica after appearing fifty years ago in an MGTD at the historic first meeting on the circuit. After today's event he said, "I loved it. The track is such a huge improvement since I raced here. It is a total credit to the Southland Sports Car Club and the people doing the organising. It is a whole lot safer for spectators and competitors. I just wish I was twenty or thirty years younger so I could keep going a bit longer." ..more   

30 SEPTEMBER 2007 MICHELS WINS FOR HIS MATE  

The annual 1 Hour Endurance Race at Teretonga Park has featured some exciting finishes over the years and the 2007 event did not disappoint when it took place at Teretonga Park today. The race was part of the opening meeting of the 2007/2008 season ..more

26 SEPTEMBER 2007 V8 UTE AND V8 SALOONS FEATURE AT TERETONGA PARK OPENER 

 A unique racing machine plus two New Zealand V8 Championship cars, one in the hands of a young Southland woman, will be amongst the entries when the opening meeting of the 2007/2008 motor racing season takes place at Teretonga Park near Invercargill on Sunday. The event, presented by Fulton Hogan, features the A1 Auto Services 1 Hour Endurance Race, the annual Southland versus Otago Sports Car Club Challenge, the Noel McIntyre Drainage Clubmans Series for saloons and single seaters plus motorcycle racing. The format will give spectators the opportunity to enjoy both two wheel and four wheel racing on the same day. ..more

ROSS PROVISIONAL WINNER IN RALLY OF SOUTHLAND 

 Kaikoura driver Regan Ross was the winner when the provisional results of the Ascot Park Hotel Rally Of Southland were released this evening. Ross and co-driver Nigel Ross took their Mitsubishi Lancer EVO 8 to victory by a margin of 2 minutes 06 seconds in an eventful rally. Nelson driver Greg Teece was placed second provisionally in his Mitsubishi EVO 6.5 with Brightwater driver Kieran Hall third in an EVO 5..more

ASCOT PARK HOTEL RALLY OF SOUTHLAND 

 The Ascot Park Hotel Rally Of Southland suffered a delay today after an accident at the end of Special Stage 2 at Dunsdale. The incident involved a collision between the car of second seed, Brad Harris and the event's zero cars plus a rally marshalls vehicle. The incident occurred shortly after the finish of the stage. Emergency services were quickly on hand and the Southland Sports Car Club are pleased that there were no serious injuries.

STRONG CONTINGENT OF SOUTHLANDERS LINING UP FOR LOCAL EVENT
A strong contingent of Southland rally drivers will line up on Saturday to take part in their home event, the Ascot Park Hotel Rally Of Southland. Highest seeded local driver is Mark McMillan of Invercargill who will start at number nine.  McMillan almost won this event two years ago but he is is making his first appearance of the season in a Subaru Legacy in what is a low key year for the talented Southlander. Just outside the top ten is McMillan's brother, Shaun McMiIlan, the first Southlander home last year in his  Subaru Impreza. In 2006 Gore driver Andrew Graves won this event as a co-driver..more

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 more

MCFARLANE AND BUSHELL TRIUMPH AGAIN AT TERETONGA PARK   

Angus McFarlane and Michael Bushell won the race but Matt and Dwayne Carter took the championship when the final round of the South Island Endurance Series was held at Teretonga Park near Invercargill today.

The three hour race was very entertaining with plenty of action before McFarlane and Bushell emerged to win the event for the second year running. In the process they covered 164 laps in their Porsche GT3 to lead home Scott and Lindsay O'Donnell in their similar car by four laps. Matt and Dwayne Carter of Auckland brought their Ford Falcon V8 Supercar home in third, five laps behind the winners. In doing so they clinched the South lsland Endurance Series after winning the previous two rounds earlier in the month ..more