Collinson on top of V8 Utes at Manfeild (Day 1)

At Manfeild’s OctoberFAST, Glen Collinson was not only quickest in Qualifying, he then went on to win the first race in Round One of the PTS Logistics V8 Utes series.

Earlier in the day, Qualifying finished with an all-Ford 1-2-3 as Glen Collinson was fastest in his Falcon FG ute. New to the series, Peter Bennett was instantly at home in a V8 Ute, lapping just behind Glen early in the session in his ex-Brad Kroef Ford Falcon FG ute. But it was another Ford FG racer, Blair Gribble-Bowring, who eventually posted a scorching lap to claim second fastest.

The Holdens had to settle for the minor placings, Alex Fougere being the fastest of the GMs in fourth fastest, followed by Manawatu local Geoff Spencer in fifth. Paul Fougere was next, Stu Monteith who’d had a diff replacement earlier in the day was up to speed from the get go, with Bruce McRae settling in nicely after a season away from the driver’s seat.

The afternoon’s Race One grid positions had been settled by a marble draw. Fast Fords Glen Collinson & Peter Bennett drew the back row of the grid, with second fastest Blair Gribble Bowring ending up fourth on the grid. The fastest Holden, Alex Fougere, was right up front, meaning Race One was destined to be a fast and fiery overtaking fest.

When the lights went out, Alex Fougere leapt away to retain the lead, while Glen Collinson propelled the Fix Auto Collision Ford FG from seventh to second within the first two corners. Blair Gribble-Bowring didn’t have to move far to snatch third. For newcomer Peter Bennett starting on the back row, life wasn’t to be so easy. Showing impressive pace, he was up to fifth by the end of Lap One, tucking in behind Geoff Spencer.

Up front, former champion Glen Collinson soon found a way past Alex Fougere to claim the lead, but Alex wasn’t about to let him get away easily with Blair Gribble-Bowing hanging on in third. Equally tenacious was Geoff Spencer, who knows every twist and turn of Manfeild being his local circuit, blocking Peter Bennett for fourth. 

It was the first race in a V8 ute for Peter Bennett in the striking yellow/black Terra Cat-backed Ford FG who raced cat and mouse with Geoff Spencer. Lap after lap, Peter and Geoff battled never more than ute-length apart, until on Lap 8 Geoff missed a gear and Peter claimed the place. A few corners later, Peter missed a gear, Geoff re-claimed fourth place and kept it until the end.

Meanwhile Glen Collinson hung onto the lead, but a creditable performance from Alex Fougere – in only his first outing in the CORE Holden ute – finished a mere 1.6 seconds behind the former champion. Blair Gribble-Bowring finished less than six seconds behind Alex. Exciting racing.

For the PTS Logistics V8 Utes, Sunday’s racing begins with a reverse-grid Race Two mid-morning, then Race Three will decide the round winner Sunday afternoon.