Stratford Speedway roared with action | Taranaki Sport | Surfing, Rugby, Soccer, Football, Cricket in Taranaki

Racing roared into action from the word go at Stratford Speedway last weekend, with 13 visiting cars looking to beat Stratford at their own track.

The night was guaranteed to be exciting with the Michael Walker Memorial for the stockcars, the modified's King of the Mountain and the Taranaki champs for the street stocks and the adult ministocks.

With 15 streetstocks out on the track, including one Christchurch car and two cars from both Kihikihi and Rotorua,
Stratford's own streetstock legend, John Young (6s) had his hands full if he was to hold off the competition.

Rotorua's Trevor Demalmanche (16r) didn't come to Stratford to lose, winning the Taranaki street stock champs.

John won two of the three races, ending second equal with Kihikihi's Daniel Curran (12k). John proved too good for the visitor, claiming second place in the championship, through a run-off.

For first year stock car driver Tyler Walker (33s), the Michael Walker trophy meant more than a race win - it was a
meeting to honour his grandad's name. Tyler won the second race for the stock cars, putting him in contention for the trophy and his chances looked good starting off out front for the third and final race. Mark Woods was hot on his rear bumper and wasn't taking a second place finish. On the last corner for the race, Mark managed to tap Tyler sideways, to take the chequered flag, finishing ninth over all. Kylee was the champion on the night, with
85 points and Todd wasn't far behind on 84. Tyler managed to finish third on points.

It's not a rare sight to see a two-car run- off for points but to have a three-car run-off had people up on their feet.

Richard ``Bunter'' Pierce (67s), John Jackson (1nz) and Mark Dixon (4s) were tied on points for the king of the mountain championship.

Jackson managed to spin him self out on the first run off so it was decided to re-start.

Bunter brought his A game on Saturday night flying around the track.

``I didn't expect it at all but I got a good jump at the start. I knew if I didn't get the jump, it was all over.''

John Jackson and Mark Dixon finished second and third on points, respectively.

The Patterson brothers, Alex (83s) and Kurt (18s), took turns at winning the first two adult ministock races. Alex's car was handling well and his speed said it all, resulting in a Taranaki championship for the 17-year-old.

``It's neat knowing that I can keep up with the big guys and get my name on the cup,'' he says.

``I didn't really think I was going to win but the last race was close and I just got enough points to win overall. It was an awesome night.''

Palmerston North driver, Karl McGill (93p), stood in the way of a top three Stratford podium placing second ahead of Neil Vince (15s).

The Stratford Stormers were away at the Huntly teams invasion where they won against Rotorua and Gisborne, with two losses against Auckland and the Hawke's Bay.

Stratford midget driver Duane Hickman placed first in on of the Western Springs heats and placed 14th in the 25 lap feature race.

Stockcars: Race 1; 1. 69s T. Zehnder 2. 229s K. Symes 3. 517s M. Woods. Race 2; 1. 33s T. Walker 2. 21s T. Duthie 3. 79s S. Hurliman. Race 3; 1. 517s M. Woods 2. 229s K. Symes 3. 21s T. Duthie.

Streetstocks: Race 1; 1. 16r T. Demalmanche 2. 51s R. Gorrie 3. 11r S. Demalmanche. Race 2; 1. 6s J. Young 2. 16r T. Demalmanche 3. 11r S. Demalmanche. Race 3; 1. 6s J. Young 2. 12k D. Curran 3. 8s

Modifieds: Race 1; 1. 67s R. Pierce 2. 226s B. Luscombe 3. 4s M. Dixon. Race 2; 1. 5s R. Furness 2. 1nz J. Jackson 3. 4s M. Dixon. Race 3; 1. 1nz J. Jackson 2. 55s P. Ward 3. 4s M. Dixon

Adult ministocks: Race 1; 1. 18s K. Patterson
2. 15s N. Vince 3. 14s D. Waite. Race 2; 1. 83s A.
Patterson 2. 74s K. Hussey 3. 69s M. Zehnder.
Race 3; 1. 69s M. Zehnder 2. 93p K. McGill 3. 37s
M. Phipps.

Superstocks: Race 1; 1. 282s P. Ogle 2. 947s R. Collingwood 3. 39s M. Willemsen. Race 2; 1. 947s R. Collingwood 2. 282s P. Ogle 3. 35s N. Nolly. Race 3; 1. 39s M. Willemsen 2. 947 R. Collingwood 3. 282 P. Ogle

Minisprints: Race 1; 1. 1NZ D. Maxell 2. 38h D. Kuriger 3. 57r B. Vaughan Race 2; 1.  1NZ D. Maxell 2. 31s B. Giles 3. 38h D. Kuriger. Race 3; 1. 1NZ D. Maxell 2. 38h D. Kuriger 3. 77s W. Hoffman