Sunday’s action at Teretonga Park, Invercargill was an excellent finale to a great season at the circuit.
The Noel McIntyre Drainage Clubmans Saloons provided plenty of action at the meeting, presented by Downer.
Brian Scott of Dunedin in his supercharged Corvette won the opening race from early leader Liam MacDonald of Invercargill (Falcon) and Jamie Conroy of Invercargill (Commodore), having his first start in an NZ Touring Car. Scott led the second race but lost speed due to mechanical problems leaving MacDonald and Conroy to a great battle won by MacDonald with Colin Dawson of Invercargill third. Conroy made a great pass at one stage only for the red flag to be shown, stopping the race and reverting the order to that of the previous lap. The class race was won by Scott with MacDonald grabbing second from Conroy on the final lap. Scott took the 2501cc & over class honours, Dave McLean of Gore the 1601-2500cc class, Andrew Muir of Gore the 1300-1601cc class and Todd Blackmun of Invercargill, the 0-1300cc class.
In the Flying Farewell Scott again prevailed from Conroy while Inky Tulloch of Gore was third in his Honda Integra.
Scott also won the final race of the day, the A1 Auto Services 1 Hour Race after a good battle at the front with Grant Molloy of Invercargill in a Ford Falcon. The duo swapped the lead several times with Molloy leading after the compulsory pitstops before Scott swooped to win from Molloy and James Mitchell of Dunedin (Honda Integra). The race was stopped early after Tulloch hit the tyre wall, at the loop. Earlier in the day Adam Cullen of Dunedin had tipped his Nissan Skyline GTR on it’s side at the loop on the second lap of the first race while soon after Chris de Koning of Alexandra and David Robertson of Invercargill came to grief at a similar spot.
Dunedin driver Paul Clarke in a Ford Mustang won the opening Pre 65 Saloon Car race from Wayne Patrick of Christchurch (XP Falcon) and John Smolenski of Invercargill in another Falcon. Wayne Tuffley of Invercargill (Mustang) was prominent early before spinning into the infield before charging back to sixth place. Tuffley won the second race, a handicap event, from Keith MacDonald of Dunedin in Chevrolet Nova. Tuffley suffered problems on the startline of the final race which was won by Corey Ross of Christchurch in a Mustang from Smolenski and Russell Byfield of Christchurch (Anglia). The lap record took a pounding as Clarke lowered it twice, leaving it at 1 minute 07.075 seconds.
Current New Zealand Champion Justin Ashwell of Rolleston won the first two races in the Trophy class of the NZ Six Saloons in his AU Falcon, the first from Russell Keeler of Gore and the second from Alvin Frew of Waikouaiti before stalling on the grid in the final race. He charged back through the field but could not catch Keeler who took the win. Wayne Christie of Christchurch in a Falcon won the Cup Class for the older cars in the first race before Murray Jack of Alexandra took victory in his Commodore in the next two.
Jordan Michels of Invercargill was the fastest qualifier in the Sports & Racing Car Class but his Formula Renault did not get off the line in the first race while second fastest qualifier Trevor Earley was also a non starter. That left young Joseph Oliver to win from Dave Harris and Greg Millane. Michels returned to win the next three races, one victory coming after a drive through the field after more startline problems. Oliver was second on each occasion while Millane gained speed throughout the races on his debut and ended the day with a good third place.
Comments