It was looking dodgy earlier in the week as, yet another season was about to end early with rain, but the weather got better throughout the week and Easter Sunday provided the perfect conditions for the final fling of the season, the track producing some epic racing throughout the night. A bit of bite but smooth for the smaller tyres, slide jobs in multiple grades as drivers relished the racing surface.

The pits were chocka again, the extension of the fencing at the start of the season, a wise move indeed, a steady line of food connoisseurs at the Hundy’s burger shack for their season ending snack. There was Birthday cake for breakfast in Blenheim, Peter Bengsten celebrating his 50th birthday with a freshly baked cake by Ariana McIntyre before shooting over the hill (which being 50 makes you as well) for Sunday racing in Nelson

The red band gumboot still as popular as ever as the choice of footwear, the Productions lined up alongside their elitest cousins the Super Saloons, the row at an auction would range from a couple of thousand dollars to around quarter of a million dollars, although Dave Leitch reckons his car is still priceless. 

The troupes of junior drivers running round networking, their phones often the centre of attention, with many others are scouting for posters and stickers. The row of Streetstock drivers looking as battered and beaten up as their race cars, the rolling of the eyes from Ryan Musgrove as Cody McCarrison jumps into Kayla Musgrove’s Youth Ministock to see if he would fit, the notion for him to race adult Ministocks in Greymouth next week, the first thing mentioned from McCarrison was “there’s no mirrors to know when to block”.

The replacement Mylaps tech was giving a stern working out after the announcer’s results computer failed to fire up, not quite the age of our Cook strait ferries but proving as unreliable, it finally got going on race 22, after almost being thrown out an unopened window.

It was sort of father’s night in the Super Stocks a few of the old guard behind the wheel over the weekend, Kerry Hill, Brendan Higgins and Mr BMTT Brian piloting the 48n, last time a crew member was behind the wheel, they bought a car and went racing the following season. Justin Hearne was due to race the 83n machine but was running with a set of steel legs after being in a confined space for several days, so he missed out on being in another confined space, the cockpit of a Super Stock.

The combined Easter series with Eastern States proving successful and Stressful, 3 busy days of racing for many cars, the 30 plus Ministocks at both tracks showing future strength for both clubs as Ian Burson eluded to in his speech at prize giving, a happier meeting for daughter Aimee “Ace” Burson with her new Ace engine, while the 21n Super Stock had an early finish after bending a roll cage bar in a collision with F45 team mate Alicia Hill.

The Youth Ministocks continued their epic battles, Eli Gare left parked up before racing commenced, NZ rep Locky Martin lost points after a flat tyre left him sitting on the infield, It was Tate Carpenter and Kade Taylor who were the lead challengers for the series, Kade getting a ten-point margin in the final wash-up over Tate Carpenter, Scarlett Gray has been in a “purple” patch over recent weeks, her efforts rewarded with 3rd overall, the smooth track conditions making for some epic racing with few incidents.

The Quarter Midgets were a Bailey Bensemann farewell benefit, he along with Lakyn Thompson were in their last meeting in the grade, both moving up half a midget to T.Q.’s next year. Bailey winning all three races on the night and back-to-back feature wins, the numbers boosted with Lily and Jack Reid making the trip up from Christchurch, Lakyn was 2nd with club champion Blake Stilwell 3rd.

The Production Saloons rounded out their home season with another close battle, Youngster Eastern Salter made big waves against the older drivers, who along with Morgan Wells and Matt Chapman, have reduced the average driver age by about 50 years, the new drivers have boosted the competition with some epic racing throughout the season. The Easter series went the way of David Allen with Brett Allen 2nd, regular traveller Nelson club captain Richard Ross was 3rd, Salter took home the Easter title from Shaun Heath 2nd and David Allen in 3rd.

The T.Q.’s have had a core group of competitors who have battled away week in, week out, they ran their own series with the support of a few hardened sponsors and welcoming clubs, the competitors chasing the NZ titles have had a tough season with ferry issues and rainouts up north making for an absolute nightmare, but when available they have boosted the numbers and made for some epic racing. 

Youngster Lachy Brett getting the edge this season with the 2nz on the car, while reliability has been the issue for 16 yr-old Kohen Thompson, chasing $2 switches and loose wires, it hasn’t been the best year for Jeremy Webb but like the Crusaders sometimes a bad year just resets the dial. It was the old Jeremy Webb this weekend, untouchable on the night, he ran away with the feature, Brett left playing in the dust with Kynan Bezett 3rd, the NZ championship in Greymouth will be a familiar track for most next year.

The Streetstocks have probably had the busiest season ever, the NZ title on their home track, a tri-series to warm up with, then meeting after meeting since the New Year, team’s events, South Islands and the rescheduled GP has given many drivers little sleep over recent weeks. The Slippery one Simon Bland claimed his 4th GP title amongst the carnage in Blenheim but was quickly undone by a flat tyre in the opening race in Nelson. 

It was a quieter night on Sunday as cars were showing plenty of battle scars, there was nothing straight on the 911 of Andre Musgrove’s wagon, even dad had a swipe on the night. But it was the battle hardened that came through, 1nz Paul Leslie getting the goodies for the Easter champs with Cody McCarrison 2nd and Ryan Musgrove 3rd. The Ian Musgrove trophy was run over night one in Blenheim and Sunday in Nelson, the trophy presented by wife Lyn and Granddaughter Kayla Musgrove, it was aptly won by son-in-law Cody McCarrison with Ian’s son Ryan 2nd and family friend Mike Jones from Christchurch 3rd. 

A few scrap metal bins about to be overflowing with bent panels and steelwork that is beyond repair. Jason Fox claiming stirrer of the night a day after his Birthday.

A few Super Stocks had driver changes for the final meeting in Nelson, Kerry Hill and Brendan Higgins winding back the years for another drive in their son’s car. Luke Higgins busy gorging himself in the corporate tower shaking his head while dad ran wide into the turn 2 corner, the return of Dale McKenzie boosting numbers again while other tracks numbers are going backwards, a healthy field of cars for Easter Night. 

BMTT Brian was piloting Brett Nicholls 48n machine. The meeting run best pairs and Easter series, Ian Burson was out after heat 1, left to play in the Super saloon for the rest of the night, Ben Taylor ran out of luck in heat 3 with broken gear but provided the hit of the night, putting Callum Russ up the wall before gently tipping over upon release. The series battle was won by Blake Hearne with Brendan Higgins 2nd and Dale McKenzie 3rd, it was the same result with the pairings they were joined by partners Ben Taylor, Jason Moir and Callum Russ respectively.

The Super Saloons were boosted by a couple Gisborne Saloon visitors, Rodney McIndoe and Glenn Paris along with Blenheim’s Daryl Martin and Corey McQuillan. Jack Burson made his debut in the newly purchased 6c Dennis Bolt machine, he was to start the final heat alongside Father Ian, a moment treasured by the family looking on. Birthday boy Peter Bengsten had his “Longhorn” Super Saloon down from Napier for the weekend, he took a liking to the Nelson track, winning the club championship from Shane McIntyre with Ian Burson 3rd, the Easter series went the way of McQuillan from Trevor Elliott and Jack Burson. 

The Super Saloons have a couple of major meetings over the next 3 years, Peter returning up north might be mentioning how good the track was over the weekend, the way the Super Saloon grade is heading there might not be much room left with a full field of Supers on the tighter Nelson track, but it will be great to get another title after a gap of 15 years.

The Stock cars ran a blind triples night while running their Easter series, the Blenheim resident cars filling the podium, Troy Cleveland getting the chocolates over Jack Rarity and Melissa Giffort, Troy also had Jack in his triples with Braden Lawton, they took out the triples event by a whopping 71 points. Jesse Anderson getting rolled before landing on his lid in heat 2, Matt Rollo another who was slammed against the wall out of turn 2 ending his night. 

Dylan Hall making a return in the 6n Taylor stock car, Riley Eathorne made a nuisance of himself on several occasions, a huge season for the 3nz with backing up NZ and GP events with some teams racing in Rotorua.

It was the last time on the Nelson track for the retiring Melissa Giffort, a regular visitor over many years, she has been the benchmark for female stock car drivers in the South Island. After thousands of miles around the country in the “Monster Bus” she has earned the respect from many of the drivers she has raced against. I have been at many of the meetings that Melissa has raced at, one of the most rememberable was being on the Bus when we attempted to take it thru the Gore Macca’s drive-thru after they refused to serve us because we weren’t in a car, the PC nutters with a look of panic behind the counter as we started up towards the menu board. Better judgement saw us back out with the local coppers just down the road and already tired after a huge day at Riverside, we feasted on yummy cheese rolls waiting at the Taylor farm in the early hours when we got back.

Laurie Moir was presented with Presidents cup award, the water truck driver putting in thousands of laps over the years, and doing extra duty with club president away playing caveman in his annual Stewart Island sabbatical, the track in perfect order for the final meeting of the year, the clubrooms were overflowing at prizegiving once again, fast becoming a must-attend to watch the banter amongst the speeches.  

The work with the Junior members continues to be the envy of many clubs, the driver cards once again proving popular, many long nights by all involved often going overlooked throughout the season, the messaging going well past bedtime trying to sort last minute queries.

The club have been lucky with the weather over the season, the NZ Streetstock title received rave reviews and are looking forward to hosting the NZ Midget title next year. The speed of the turnaround of races has been highlighted by many visiting drivers, a real strength of the clerk of the course and infield staff. There will be plenty to do in the off-season, but sorting out trophies for prize giving, will see a few reaching for some Panadol as they to put the jigsaw puzzle of awards night together.

Another year done and dusted, almost hibernation time, hopefully fuel and ferries have sorted themselves out before a new season beckons, and for the Warriors it’s finally their year or I might have to block Raiden Hearne over the winter season…

Jody Scott

BM Photography 

Article added: Monday 06 April 2026