Traditionally Demolition Derbies at Meeanee Speedway have been fun events for all ages. This tradition continued at Saturday night's CSR Engineering-sponsored third meeting of the Hawke's Bay Speedway Club's 2023/'24 season. More than 30 drivers competed in the Suvic-sponsored Derby. After almost 30 minutes of action-packed entertainment title honours were shared by 61-year-old Marty Anderson and 21-year-old Lucas Auckram. Brooke Singer took home the Stirrer's Award and in her first season out of the Ministock class Olivia Tester took home the prize for the Best Presented car. Leigh Elwood won the Street Race for the Derby Drivers. While all of the prize winners were Hawke's Bay-based drivers the event attracted entrants from Auckland, Wanganui and Palmerston North. Derby organiser and veteran driver Tony Darroch was thrilled with event even though his body was still feeling the effects on Sunday afternoon. "I don't know if Ben was responsible for some of the hits I took or not," Darroch quipped referring to his son and fellow entrant Ben Darroch. A Caravan Derby will be staged at the February 24 meeting and already 12 drivers are confirmed.

With the Maulers being away in Christchurch Stockcar numbers were a bit light for this meeting. It was good to see a couple of out of town cars in 67g Jason Lovell and 5K Dion Henderson here to race. I was certainly looking forward to seeing how the new 19b of Caleb Ireland was going to go. Well we didn’t have to wait long. Race 1 was just a straight non contact race with the high horsepower to the fore. The race win going to the 19b of Ireland followed by 5k Henderson with the improving 10b Ethan Dorward coming home third. Race 2 was almost a copy of race 1 with speed being the dominant factor. Once again 19b taking the victory from Henderson with 55b Asha Penn coming in third. Race 3 saw the 19b take a treble of wins in an outstanding debut with the 55b taking second from the 7b of Bradley Penn home third. Not a lot of action from the Stockcars but still a great night's racing.

One interesting point I noticed was the lap time comparison between 19b 18.906 compared with the 52b of Kairyn O’Brien doing a 18.102.

Meanwhile 88B Memphis Trengrove claimed Driver of the Night honours in the Ministock class. Race One in this class was taken out by the in-form 21B Tom Steel who won this award last month. Trengrove was second and 77B Macy Penn third. Trengrove won Race Two, 10B Kierren Flower was second and Penn third. Steel again captured the chequered flag in Race Three which saw 11B Tom Blair and 12B Cade Dorward finish second and third respectively. Steel again completed three wins from as many races with his victory in Race Four. Seth Ireland in 42B was second and Penn third.

Reports from the Production Saloons, TQs and Streetstocks weren't available for this Meeting Review.

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Article added: Tuesday 26 December 2023