The first day of racing at the Ascot Park Hotel Classic SpeedFest at Teretonga Park in Invercargill was a beauty, with good racing in every class on the programme.
Gary Johnstone of Christchurch won the eagerly awaited opening HVRA Class race in his Jaguar XJS from Leon Hallett of Mosgiel in his Ford Mustang with David Hunter of Dunedin in an MGB GT third in a large field of cars.
The first Pre 78 Classic Saloon race featured an all-Vauxhall Viva front row with Bruce Farley of Nelson on pole with Wayne Perkins of Alexandra alongside. Perkins led early before a red flag caused a delay. At the restart Perkins led from Farley but Farley retired soon after leaving Perkins to come home ahead of Mark McGuinness of Wellington in his Alfa Romeo GTV and Steve Pauling of Nelson (Ford Escort) with Scotty Johnstone of Darfield next in his Cortina after a good battle with Pauling.
The second race featured a handicap start and two of the cars off the front prospered to come home first and second, Blair Bishop of Dunedin taking the win in his Fiat 850 with David Berry of Oxford in a Ford Escort next and Pauling again third.
The Classic Saloons also had two races today and in the first Bob Hyslop of Tauranga in his Mazda RX7 got the jump over pole sitter Steve Ross of Dunedin in the PDL Mustang and led him all the way to the flag with Mike Baker of Picton in a Porsche 964 third.
The second race was a repeat of the first with Hyslop again leading all the way to win from Ross and Baker.
Mark Barrett of Rolleston in a Lotus 23B Replica took the honours in the Vintage Racing Car race leading home Paul Coory of Mosgiel in a CAE Sprint car with Barrett’s wife Tracey third in a Lotus 23C Replica.
Royce Bayer of Rangiora led all the way in the Formula Ford/Libre race to win from Jordan Michels of Invercargill, who came from down the grid after a penalty in qualifying, to place second with Marc Doran of Queenstown third in a Ray 86F.
One of the big supporting classes to the classic races this weekend is the Allied 24/7 Fuel Mainland Muscle Cars. Rhys Gould of Christchurch was on pole in his Mustang with Angus Fogg of Riverhead alongside in another Mustang and it was Fogg who blasted away at the start to lead all the way and take the win. Brayden Phillips of Christchurch ran second in his Mustang only to suffer a puncture near the end, allowing Gould back into second place at the finish with Mike Wallace of Dunedin third in his Chev Monza.
The Mini 7 South race finished under safety car with Bailey Paterson of Ohoka leading the train of cars across the line with Justin Neill of Christchurch second and fellow Christchurch driver Daniel Lamb third.
Dion Dawson of Invercargill won the Noel McIntyre Drainage Club Saloon race in his Saker SVS. Dawson built a huge lead only to have it taken away by a safety car period. It was just a short sprint to the flag when racing resumed and Dawson again ran away to cross the line ahead of his brother Kyle in a Nissan Skyline with Bob Hyslop third.
The MX5 Heritage Cup is running within the Club Saloon races this weekend and their battle was won by Dean Evans of Hamilton from Matthew Smith of Christchurch and Everard Petrie of Rolleston.
Racing continues tomorrow with twenty-two action packed races on the programme with the first at 9.15am. A ticket at the gate is just $30 while children 14 & under are free as long as they are accompanied by an adult.
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