Even with major traffic delays impeding movement around Nelson over the weekend, a bumper crowd packed the Milestone Homes Top of the south Speedway to witness another epic fireworks display, along with a kid’s bike race and fundraising for the Child Cancer Foundation, the 14n Martin racing night was an absolute “Blast”.

A slick show meant racing was done in time to let the fireworks off just after 9 pm, an expectant crowd relishing a few thrills and spills before the main event, Taylor Martin having a huge rollover in his Quarter Midget, the 9 year old’s only concern was damaging the race car, he was all keen to get back out for his next race, Mom however was a little less relaxed than her future “Foo Fighters” drummer in waiting.

The bigger cousins the T.Q.’s finally got their rollover tally underway, Jack Rawson going belly up in his final heat.

It was a sudden stop for last meetings trackman trophy winner Dylan Clark snapping a rear axle, the car taking a big jump in the air, although the car was an easy fix, a couple of drops being towed in left the driver a little the worse for wear, Sunday sitting on a pillow could be the order of the day.

The street stocks saw a couple of cars blown engines, while flat tyres ruined a few driver’s nights, there was a wee bit of niggle in the stock cars, nothing too serious this early in the season, but it’s their feature meeting in a fortnight.

A win for Riley Eathorne in his new colors after engine issues last meeting. Geoff Watson tried to rekindle an old SVG trick, his production saloon driver's door popped open and was seen holding it shut for several laps before the referees spotted his hand slightly outside the car, it was an automatic retirement but was back out next race with a couple of cable ties fixing the problem.

The kids bike race was an entertaining break from the usual racing, kids' knee-high to a grasshopper to a few high schoolers were suitably handicapped around the track to ensure a close finish, the first two across the line separated by a wheel length, the wee tykes decided a victory lap was in order, over 70 bikes got a couple of laps of the clay track, Macc who was the club guest on behalf of the CCF got to wave the Checkered Flag to end the bike race.

The CCF Youth winners on the night were Jack Brownlees in the Quarter Midgets, with Locky Martin 2nd and Bailey Bensemann 3rd, the Youth Ministock win went to Callum Russ with Luke Higgins 2nd and Kalen Keith from Christchurch 3rd.

The Mystery best pairs Production saloon race went to Vaughan Cornelius and Geoff Watson from the two David’s Leitch and Allen 2nd , with Krissy Woolf and Brett Allen 3rd.

Three new drivers made the meeting, Bella Stratford in Youth Ministocks with Rik Marsten and Bailey Evans in the Streetstocks, Jonathon Webb made his debut in a Super stock after previously racing in Production saloons, the 10 Super Stocks ticked the first of five meetings needed this year to secure the NZ title in two years' time.

Author: Jody Scott

You can check out last nights pictures at BM Photography

Full race results can be found on Speedhive and on our Facebook page.

Article added: Monday 21 November 2022