The second coming of the Lift N Shift Streetstock Tri-series ran its full cycle this year, a fine Friday in Greymouth gave the locals what they missed following the rainout last year, it set the tone what was to follow-on in Nelson, a night later, the series accumulating in Blenheim late Sunday afternoon, the pace on the track equally as hectic as it was in the pits, keeping the cars running in the 3-day tri-series schedule a huge task given the calibre of the racing. It was a speed-fest, having a full field on the track at once the icing on the cake, basically a championship race every heat, it added to the intensity of the Tri-series, perhaps groups might’ve dulled what was off the charts racing, capping it at 26 might be the key to future events rather than having a group format with 30, a taste of what might happen when the NZ title comes to Nelson in 2026. 

The entry list of drivers from around the Country added to the calibre of the series, the North Islanders returning the favour with the Southern cars travelling north around Easter time for a similar series up north, a well- constructed competition that hit the mark for the three host tracks of Greymouth, Nelson and Blenheim, It looks to have found a window that should gain more support in the years to come. 

The hot Tasman day meant keeping water in the track a tough job, a busy night’s racing had few quiet moments with all grades providing action and intensity in one form or another, keeping the dust off ice creams and hotdogs, a tough job especially with 19 Superstocks carving up the track.  The bonus with the late addition of stock cars after Invercargill canned the S.I. title due to rain, meant for a crazy and enjoyable heat 3, the checkered flag coming out after allocated 10 laps, but way too soon with all the chaos, that sadly stopped the entertainment. The roll of the season so far going to the furthest travelling driver Auckland’s Korry TeRito, the 11a car clipping the spun car of 99c Matt Baldwin and barrel rolling at least 4 times along the back straight, driver ok, the car, not so good. 

Streetstocks

The full field of Streetstocks was impressive, the calibre, championship quality, 1nz Allan Finch, ex 1nz Paul Leslie, ex GP champion Shane Bracken, a returning Benji Smaill and a heap of club teams racers, winning the series was never going to be a walk in the park. After the opening round in Greymouth 1nz Allan Finch from Dunedin held a 1-point lead on 65, 2nd was Benji Smaill on 64 and 3rd Phil McNamara with 62. Local driver 93n Jesse Rule having a roll over at the Greenstone Park track. 

Heat one went the way of a Rotorua 1-2, Shane Bracken taking the heat win from Phil McNamara with local Perry Soper in 3rd, 1nz Allan Finch once again having to chase the field after an opening lap spin, not for the first time this season he has had a tough opening heat, but he has been lucky to get plenty of racing in at other tracks with multiple rainouts at his home track, he held a 1-point lead after the Greymouth round sitting on 65 points, from Benji Smaill 64 and Phil McNamara on 62. 

Heat 2 went the way of Dunedin’s Ben Jenkins, a flat tyre in Greymouth in heat 3 was to prove costly in the final round-up of the Tri-series, following him home was Rotorua’s Al Howartson with Canterbury’s Corey Schumacher in 3rd, it was the huge roll-over of Korry TeRito that was the talk of the race, a loan car for the final round in Blenheim kindly accepted. Ryan Musgrove’s car getting a little hot with a wee fire while heading back into the pits.   

It was another win for Jenkins in heat 3, regular visitor 777c Kahu Epiha coming home in 2nd with Perry Soper grabbing another podium spot for 3rd, the series leader Allan Finch staying inside the top 10 to carry a 2 point lead heading to Blenheim, it wasn’t the case for the other top 2, Phil McNamara having a couple of DNF’s to stop his title aspirations, while Benji Smaill didn’t start heat 3, taking him out of the running, Mitch Lavender, Bracken and Shumacher moving into the top 5. 

The overall results from the Burson Logging Round 2 saw Jenkins take the trophy from Soper with Lavender in 3rd, Finch held a 2-point lead heading to Blenheim from Lavender and Bracken. 

The final overall results after round 3 in Blenheim saw the Dunedin trio of Finch, Lavender and Jenkins finish 1, 2, 3, respectively in the Lift N Shift Tri-series, the next meeting for most will be the the S.I. title in Dunedin on December 30th (no rain hopefully).  The series hugely successful on many levels, great tracks, great racing, good rivalry and total respect amongst all the drivers and crews involved. 

Super Stocks

The Super Stocks fronted with 19 cars, 3 were visitors with nearly all the Nelson registered cars fronting for the closed club champs, the racing was all about speed, not a lot of hitting too close out from the NZ title, a test for many, with Meeanee’s 72b of Bailey Warner the first North Islander visitor to get some testing done before the title. The pace was on from the start, veterans Brett Nicholls and Shane Harwood started the repeat of last year’s battle, both sharing a win and 2nd in the opening heats, with a 7 point buffer, it was who finished in front that would take the title, Harwood had a few grids further up from Nicholls in the final heat but the 48n machine has been the car to catch and a 2nd behind Alex Hill in the final heat securing the title after the double-white flag clanger from last year. Harwood runner-up with the win by Hill pipping Roydon Winstanley by a lone point for 3rd overall. The use of the front bumper from the quicker drivers to push their way through the field will be a key ingredient in to trying to make the championship finals in January. 

Productions

The Pam Nixon Memorial trophy was hotly contested in the Production saloons, although a small field, the racing didn’t lack the intensity with the final placings in heat 3 deciding the outcome, Vaughan Cornelious a point behind Kaylim McNabb heading into the final heat, Cornelious was able to finish behind Eddy Frans for 2nd, while a  4th place for McNabb switched the overall results, Frans being tied with McNabb after the final heat, claimed 2nd overall with a faster lap time. Krissy Wolf racing in her late mother Pam’s car finished in 5th place. 

Quarter Midgets

There were a few tears in the Quarter Midget club championship, the referee’s relegating drivers in what has become a highly intensive competition, Darcy Rasmussen taking the club championship in his new SMURF race car, Bailey Bensemann finishing in 2nd with Taylor Martin 3rd in the all-in feature race. Lakyn Thompson and Martin falling foul of the referees being relegated 2 race spots each in the final race. 

Three Quarter Midgets 

The Three Quarter Midgets ran a smaller field, Alicia Hill having a good night at the office, a heat 1 win and uncatchable in the feature, it was the battles behind the winner that kept the crowd on their toes, 15yr-old Kohen Thompson methodically hunting down the field from his rear starting position, it took a few laps to pass some of his elder competitors  but crossed the line in 2nd but he was relegated a couple of spots after the race. The drivers building-up towards the NZ title in Christchurch late January before the GP back here in Nelson the week later, it’s making for some great battles on the track. 

Youth Ministocks

Youth Ministocks just keep getting better and better, wins to Conley Webley and Locky Martin before Leilah Jefcoate grabbed the final 2 wins, edging the boys out by a couple of points overall, Webley joined by Andre Musgrove and Canterbury’s Jaxon Dacombe in a 3-way tie for 2nd. Ministock Mania one of the many big titles towards the back end of the season which will be hotly contested by the biggest class in Nelson. 

Stock cars 

The late call up for the stock cars still gathered a good field, bumpers getting regular use before they went nuts in the final heat, a rear DNF for Jack Rarity, better here, than down at his planned trip to Invercargill. Wade Sweeting back, picking up a hat-trick of wins after his unexpected SNZ holiday in Fiji, he even coped a solid hit in the final heat as the drivers were attacking at both ends of the track, great entertainment with all starters still finishing the race, their NZ championship in Wellington a week after the Super Stock title here. 

It was a wickedly hot day, keeping moisture in the track was a tough ask, but the racing was just as hot, there were battles in every grade, the clerk of the course pushing through the races like clockwork, the little things being done smarter to keep the races ticking over, the club staff busy getting procedures sorted before the NZ title. 

It’s been notable to see the red lights come on promptly when cars have stopped in dangerous positions, some great calls by the referees being made in the interests of driver safety, credit needs to be given when referees are consistently getting it right, and it seems to be something that has been worked on, as it has happened at all the tracks having attended so far this year. 

Bring on Santa, a derby, then its title time, it’s time for the club to do what it does best, put on one hell of a NZ title..

Written by Jody Scott

BM Photography 

Article added: Monday 16 December 2024