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Kings Grass Autocross Returns

The Southland Sports Car Club in association with Evolution Motorsport, i-Hire Invercargill and the King family return to the King family farm at 136 King Road, Rakahouka this weekend to hold the Kings Grass Autocross 2021.

Following the huge success of last year the club heads back to Rakahouka for another fantastic day of non-championship grass roots motorsport in a paddock kindly made available by Nigel & Liz King and family. Located just 15 minutes from Invercargill the event is a Clubsport basic event that requires cars to have a current WOF or meet Schedule A of the Motorsport Manual.

Helmets and 100% cotton overalls are mandatory (helmets and overalls are available on request prior to the event) and cars will be subject to scrutineering. No SUV, farm trucks or 4wd utes are allowed, neither are mud, snow, 4wd, tractor, sand dune, ATV tyres or bulldozer tracks.

Drivers from 12 years and over are allowed with parental consent and entry fee is just $25 (cash only – no EFTPOS available). The Evolution Motorsport Nissan Sentra is available for competitors to use for just $20.

Thanks to Evolution Motorsport and Mighty Meats competitors will receive a free lunchtime BBQ and the event is very definitely family friendly for competitors.

The event will be signposted from the Lorneville/Dacre highway.

Last year a fantastic entry of fifty-seven competitors contested the event.

Following this event the club will hold the final round of the 2020/2021 Evolution Motorsport Clubsport Championship at Teretonga Park on Sunday 7 March.

For information on the Kings Grass Autocross, use of the Evolution Motorsport Nissan Sentra or Clubsport events in general, contact the Southland Sports Car Club ClubSport co-ordinator, Malcolm Mitchell at 021 666 956.

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Bluff Garden Show 2021 Results

Class One: Cut flowers
1st Marilyn Clark
2nd Myrna Wylie
3rd Gaylyn Potter

Class Two: Roses
1st Lesley Wairau
2nd Marilyn Clark
3rd Chrissy Pollock

Class 3: Floral Art
1st Carolyn Edwards
2nd Barbara Metzger
3td Tracie Delonga

Class 4: Baking
1st Carolyn Edwards
2nd Chrissy Pollock
3rd Chrissy Pollock

Class 5: Vegetables
1st Marilyn Clark
2nd Geoff Young
3rd Barbara Metzger

Class 6: Large Veges
1st Syd Ball
2nd Chrissy Pollock
3rd Dianna Young

Class 7: Handcrafts
1st Carol Ferguson
2nd Cairo Ferguson
3rd Trevor Young

Class 8: Container plants
1st Chrissy Pollock
2nd Carolyn Edwards
3rd Cheryl Tilson

Childrens under 16: Baking
1 st Zara Ryan
2 nd Ariana Bragg

People’s Choice: Carolyn Edwards
Organisers Choice: Carol Ferguson

Cups:
Best Lily Lara Stevens
Best Vegetable Marilyn Clark
Best Bloom: Marilyn Clark

Raffle Results:
REAL JOURNEYS TRAVEL TO STEWART ISLAND: Wendy Fraser
BLUE COD: Maira Boyle
GARDEN TOOLS: Lara Stevens
GARDEN GOODS – ADULTS & CHILD: Michelle Rogers-Hoff
BINOCULARS: Russell Trow
KAYE’S BAKERY: Maira Boyle
GARDEN ORNAMENT: Carolyn Edwards
HAIR PRODUCTS: Lee Fester

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Classic Racing Enthralls Crowd at Teretonga Park

Two days of classic motor racing captivated the large crowd at Teretonga Park in Invercargill this weekend as the Mobil 1 Classic SpeedFest took place at the circuit.

The Archibalds Historic Touring Car Class provided enthralling racing throughout with Scott O’Donnell of Invercargill winning two of the four races in his Ford Mondeo ST while former two-time World Cup Touring Car Champion Paul Radisich took one in his 1994 World Cup winning Mondeo and Nigel Arkell of Waimauku the other when he triumphed in the opening clash in his Honda Accord after Brett Stevens of Motueka ran into problems and retired his Ford Sierra.

The Professionals Real Estate Classic Saloon races were hotly contested with drivers from Dunedin prevailing on each occasion, Steve Ross of Dunedin in the iconic PDL Mustang 1 winning two and Allan Dippie (MGB GT V8) one with Stuart Black winning the final race for the class in his Porsche 944T.

Guy Stewart of Christchurch won the first three Downer Sports & GT races in his Porsche 911 IROC before Debbie Chapman of Christchurch in a Fiat X19 Abarth Replica won the finale after a good battle with husband Dennis in an identical car.

Roy MacDonald of Dunedin won the first two races in the Historic & Classic Pre 78 Class in his Ford Mustang, before category co-ordinator Wayne Perkins of Queenstown won the third in a Vauxhall Viva GT and Leon Hallett of Dunedin the last in his Ford Galaxie.

Paul Coghill of Dunedin heading for a clean sweep in the Vintage Racing Car Class in his Jaguar Special at the Mobil 1 Classic SpeedFest at Teretonga Park in Invercargill this weekend, Photo: Ron Veint

The Vintage Racing Car Class saw Dunedin driver Paul Coghill make a clean sweep of the weekend with four from four in his Jaguar Special with Eric Swinbourn and Mark Barrett of Christchurch providing him with his stiffest opposition.

Invercargill’s Barry Leitch in a Ralt RT4 and Christchurch driver John Williams in a Crossle FF 2000 shared the spoils across the Southland Tyre Centre Formula Libre races, taking two wins apiece while Aucklander Noel Woodford won three of the four i Hire Invercargill Formula Junior races in his 1961 Gemini Mk3A, his sequence only broken in the final race when he did not start, leaving victory for John Rapley of Otaki in a Brabham BT2.

The Noel McIntyre Drainage Club Saloons were also on the programme alongside the classic vehicles with local driver Liam MacDonald winning all four races despite taking a helicopter flight to Cromwell to race a Sprint Car on Saturday night before returning to the circuit for Sunday’s racing.

The final race meeting of the season at Teretonga Park is Southern Thunder over the weekend of 20/21 March featuring NZ Super Trucks and Mainland Muscle Cars and plenty more.

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Surf Market + Swap Meet

The Southland Boardriders Association have introduced a great new initiative to their activities with a Surf Market and Swap Meet scheduled to take place at Tree’s, Colac Bay this Saturday, 27 February.

The Market and Swap meet will take place in conjunction with the annual Southland Scholastic Surf Competition scheduled for that day. The Scholastic’s competition is an annual event for all school aged kids but for the first time this year it will be complemented by the Swap Meet and sale of second-hand surf gear.

Anyone looking to sell any old or new surfboards, wetsuits or other surf products can bring them along to the Sale Tent at the venue between 8.00am and 10.00am on the day. The sale itself will commence at 10.00am giving the public a great opportunity to buy or swap gear.

Southland Boys High School are the reigning Scholastic Champions but Thornbury School were a very close second last year. Seasoned observers are picking young female surfers Keita Thomas, Fern Teryl-Smith, Katie Oliver and Taria Woodward as the ones to watch this year.

The next major event on the surf calendar here in the south after the Scholastic Championships is the biggest competition of the year, the Colac Bay Classic scheduled for weekend of 13th and 14th of March.

The Southland Boardriders Association is a club of 140 members aged between 4 and 70-plus years old.

The club exists to encourage, promote and advance the sport of surfboard riding in Southland. It also supports and promotes environmental concerns and issues particularly around water quality and the coast environment and has a spirit of co-operation with any other group whose objectives are the same or similar to the clubs own.

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Superb Day of Classic Motor Racing at Teretonga Park

It was quite simply a superb day of classic motor racing at Teretonga Park in Invercargill today as the first day of the Mobil 1 Classic SpeedFest featured at the circuit.

The Archibalds Historic Touring Car Class headlined the action with a great grid of machinery, many with a rich history. They provided a great spectacle too in their only race of the day, with Brett Stevens of Motueka in a Ford Sierra leading until he slowed before retiring almost in sight of the flag leaving the victory to Nigel Arkell of Waimauku (Honda Accord) with local driver Scott O’Donnell second in a Ford Mondeo after a charge from the rear of the grid. Former two-time World Cup Touring Car Champion Paul Radisich was third in his 1994 World Cup winning Mondeo ahead of Arron Black of Dunedin in a BMW E30 and Bruce Miles of Christchurch (BMW 320i) who had spun out of second place near the end of the race.

One of the most popular cars at the event, the PDL Mustang 1, which delighted crowds in the 1970’s, was at it again in the Professionals Real Estate Classic Saloon class winning the first contest in the hands of Dunedin driver Steve Ross while fellow Otago driver, Allan Dippie, won the second race for the class in his MGB GT V8 with Ross setting the fastest lap in each race. Guy Stewart of Christchurch who finished second in both Classic Saloon races took his Porsche 911 IROC to victory in both Downer Sports & GT races.

Roy McDonald of Dunedin won the only race for the Historic & Classic Pre 78 Class today, leading home the Alfa Romeo’s of Lindsay O’Donnell (Christchurch) and Nick Cross (Queenstown).

The Vintage Racing Car Class saw Dunedin driver Paul Coghill secure two wins in his Jaguar Special while in Southland Tyre Centre Formula Libre race Southland’s Barry Leitch brought his immaculate Ralt RT4 home for a comfortable win while Aucklander Noel Woodford took his Gemini Mk3A to wins in both the I Hire Invercargill Formula Junior races today.

The Noel McIntyre Drainage Club Saloons were also on the programme alongside the classic vehicles with local driver Liam MacDonald qualifying fastest and then winning today’s race before taking a helicopter flight to Cromwell where he is due to race a speedway car tonight. He will return to Teretonga Park for tomorrow’s racing.

The action tomorrow commences at 9am with a full programme of twenty races scheduled. Tickets for tomorrow’s action are $25 each while children 14 and under are free if accompanied by an adult.

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A Walk Down Memory Lane at Teretonga Park

Classic motor racing comes to Teretonga Park in Invercargill this weekend with the annual Mobil 1 Classic SpeedFest set to feature at the circuit.

The Archibalds Historic Touring Car Class will feature a wonderful field of saloon cars and in a real coup for the event, former two-time World Cup Touring Car Champion, kiwi Paul Radisich, will be at the wheel of his 1994 FIA Touring Car World Cup winning Ford Mondeo. Radisich, who had a successful career in both single seater race cars and touring cars in Europe, the UK, USA, Australia and New Zealand, won back-to-back FIA World Touring Car Cups in a Rouse built Ford Mondeo in 1993 at Monza, Italy, and in 1994 at Donington Park, England. It was at a time when touring car racing was at it’s peak and some great names and great marques fought it out for dominance.

The class features a plethora of BMW Touring Cars, a Ford Sierra Cosworth, Alfa Romeo, Rover Vitesse, Jaguar XJS and two Holden Commodores, many of them with interesting history such as the BMW E36 318i driven by Matthew O’Donnell which is the car driven by Tony Longhurst when he and team mate Paul Morris came to blows during a race in Australia after a tangle. There are championship winning cars from various country’s and cars with real pedigree lining the grid.

A large field of Classic Saloons will line up in a separate class with Steve Ross of Dunedin piloting a famous kiwi race car, the PDL 1 Mustang, which at its peak was promoted as “electric blue and 180mph”. Ranged against Ross is another Mustang driven by Paul Coory of Mosgiel, a Camaro, an MGB GT V8, and several varieties of Porsche right through to an Austin Mini Clubman GT and a Ford MK3 Zephyr.

Paul Radisich in action at the 2020 Skope Classic in his Ford Mondeo at Mike Pero Motorsport Park, Christchurch, Photo: Euan Cameron

There are yet more saloon cars in the burgeoning Historic & Classic Pre 78 Class where you will find anything and everything from a Ford Galaxie to a Ford Anglia and everything in between.

The Sports & GT Class feature some New Zealand built classics such as Sid II, a McRae U2 and a Southland built Ford GT40 replica. On the other side of the coin the field also contains global marques such as TVR Tuscan, Porsche and MGB.

Formula Junior sends you back to the 1960’s with marques such as Lotus and Brabham and their sleek, cigar shapes while the Formula Libre grid features Barry Leitch in the beautiful Ralt RT4 and Carl Rabbidge in a Begg Formula Ford. The Vintage Racing Car class takes you even further back in time with Jaguar, Daimler, Mistral, Austin Healey and the Lycoming NZ Special.

The Rover Vitesse of Allan Dippie of Wanaka leads Christchurch driver Matthew O’Donnell (BMW 318) and Warren Dunn of Palmerston North (BMW M3) in the Archibalds Touring Car Class at the recent Skope Classic at Mike Pero Motorsport Park in Christchurch, Photo: Richard Opie

The Noel McIntyre Drainage Clubmans competitors are also on the bill with a large field of varied machinery.

A parade of vehicles organised by the Cobra Club of New Zealand who are visiting Invercargill will be held during the lunchbreak on the Saturday of the event.

Tickets are on sale now and are available from Auto Centre, Tweed Street, Invercargill and E Hayes & Sons, Dee Street, Invercargill plus Harrisons Supplies, Mersey Street, Gore.

A pre-sale weekend pass is just $30 while at the gate they will cost $40. Children under 14 are free if accompanied by an adult. The action will commence at 9am on both Saturday and Sunday.

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Dahlia Show Ready To Go

Dahlia’s are a much-admired flower and there will be plenty of them to enjoy at the South Island National Dahlia Show at the Southland Indoor Bowls Centre in Onslow Street Invercargill this weekend.

The show will feature between 500-600 vases of dahlias which equates to over 1000 blooms and the public can come and enjoy the quality of the exhibits for just a gold coin entry on Saturday 20 February between 12pm and 5pm and then on the following day, Sunday 21 February, from 9am until 4pm.

The show will also celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the Southland Dahlia Circle and in that time Southland exhibitors have consistently taken out top awards at South Island Nationals and the hope is they will do so again. Southland growers are ready for the first national Dahlia Show on home soil since 1985 with competition from as far away as Nelson and Blenheim.

In the Open Section, Otatara grower Judy Laurie often wins major awards and she credits Southland Dahlia Circle mainstays Walter and Kit Jack for a lot of her success. “We all benefit from their knowledge. It’s wonderful, it is why we all do so well. They bend over backwards to pass on what they know.” Laurie says it has been a challenging season for growing with some terrible weather at times hampering preparation for the show.

Steve and Christine Langley of Myross Bush have had their share of success over the years but Christine says “even after 10 or 12 years we are always learning.” “You never stop learning. We enjoy showing, everyone is so helpful. If you have a problem people will tell you what they know, there are no secrets. After our first show we were really hooked, the camaraderie is great. We can be really competitive but still have a good time with the other people.” Like so many others it was Walter and Kit Jack, who the Langley’s met through indoor bowls, that coaxed them into having a go. “We were just garden growers. Walter told us we had done well initially and that our flowers were good but over next few years we would need exhibition flowers. We got rid of all our existing flowers except the Pooh variety which was a favourite of our son.

Anne Brown of Fairfax got involved through a friend who was involved. ”I went along and helped with a show. She wanted help and suggested that I put in a flower. That was about sixteen years ago and I am still here but she has moved on to other things. I enjoy it. There are good people in the circle and they help with any questions.” While she has won ribbons and trophies the highlight for Brown is meeting different people. “I’m looking forward to the Nationals but this year the weather has not been conducive but what will be will be,” she says. “Winning is not everything.” Husband Colin comes along as he too enjoys the people side of it all but he doesn’t help with the flowers.”

Intermediate exhibitors Mairi and Geoff Revitt fit a busy schedule around their exhibiting. “The changeable weather has been a problem with the wind causing a lot of broken plants,” says Geoff. The Revitt’s say it is not too hard staking and pruning plants but when it comes to exhibiting it is a challenge to get ready due to their work commitments.

While many credit Walter and Kit Jack for their influence the couple are extremely modest about their own achievements, Walter merely saying they are “looking forward to the weekend.”

The weekend will also feature some easy to enter Special Classes for the home gardener with some great prizes to be won. There is plenty of assistance and advice on this which can be obtained by phoning Kit Jack – 03 217 3949.

There will also be a good number of garden related stalls for the public to peruse including Hostas from Timaru.

Entry to the show will be a gold coin donation while admission for children is free.

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Sunday Harness Racing at Winton

The Winton Harness Racing Club are hosting a nine race programme at Central Southland Raceway in Winton this Sunday.

The feature race is the Southern Standardbred Breeders Assn sponsored heat of the Southern Belle Series.

The first race is timed for 12.08pm and admission is free.

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Macca Lodge to Support NZ Kindergarten Stakes at Wyndham

Macca Lodge is the new sponsor of the NZ Kindergarten Stakes scheduled for Young Quinn Raceway in Wyndham on Wednesday 31st March.

The Wyndham Harness Racing Club had sought a new sponsor for the prestigious race which has a long and distinguished list of past winners that have gone on to become top line performers.

Macca Lodge, a stud based at Wendonside near Riversdale in Northern Southland, have stepped in and the Macca Lodge NZ Kindergarten Stakes will be the feature race on the programme in the first race meeting at the course in over twelve months.

Sheree McIntyre of Macca Lodge said, “we love to support harness racing in the South and part of our strategy is to support breeding which is vitally important and we will do anything we can to support it. This race is important for breeding in the South.”

President of the Wyndham Harness Racing Club, Russell Ferguson says, “it’s brilliant to have the McIntyre’s on board. There would hardly be a Breeder or Owner in Southland that has not had an association with Macca Lodge at some stage. A Group Three race, the Kindergarten Stakes is an iconic race on the two-year-old racing calendar and to have a local sponsor is a great result for the Club.”

The Milne Family from Edendale, who also have a very long association with the Club will again donate a trophy, to be presented to the winning connections.

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Riverton Trotting Club Celebrates 60 Years

The Riverton Trotting Club are throwing a wonderful party for the public of Southland when they celebrate 60 years of racing at their annual Cup Day meeting at Ascot Park Raceway in Invercargill on Saturday 13 February.

On course the day will see feature events including the 31st running of the $15,000 DT King’s Transport Ltd Riverton Cup, the Neville Cleaver Fishing Aparima Trot and the Bill Keast Memorial Gold Chip Trotting Final.

The day will also feature entertainment and activities for young and old alike.

The club is running a $1000 Pick Five competition at each of their three meetings this season and that continues on Saturday. This competition can only be entered on-course on the official entry form in the race book and the jackpot will generally be on the last five races. Only one entry will be accepted from each on-course patron (one name – one entry). To enter this be on course in plenty of time to submit your entry before the last five races. The entry barrel is located in the main foyer of the main grandstand on course. Full rules are in the race book on the day.

An Under The Helmet competition, reminiscent of It’s In The Bag, will give patrons the opportunity to come to the birdcage and select one of eight hats kindly supplied by Saddlery Warehouse. Each hat will feature a letter which together spell RIVERTON. Pick your letter, lift the hat and you will receive a prize of no less than a $100 betting voucher. Just drop your losing tote tickets in the barrel in the foyer to receive a chance to play. Other tickets drawn from the barrel can win punters rides on the EH Ball ITM Mobile Barrier throughout the day.

The Frisbee Fling will feature a demonstration by Disc Golf South and also an opportunity to have a go for distance and accuracy yourself. If you have a frisbee, bring your own along otherwise they will be provided. Once again, there are prizes for the best.

Kidz Kartz will race on the day and also organise a Have A Go Promotion while one lucky person will have an opportunity to Own Franco Santino in the D T Kings Transport Riverton Cup through a competition organised by More FM Southland on their facebook page. Win a day in the Presidents Room, an opportunity to talk with the trainer, have your picture taken with Franco Santino, enjoy a dual sulky ride, plus a $100 bet on “your horse” and a $100 Ascot Park Hotel meal voucher to round off a great day.

The Riverton Club also supports the nationwide Teal Campaign to raise funds for Ovarian Cancer Research and the Riverton Trotting Club will run a ‘Teal Wheel’, a wheel full of prizes, with tickets available at $5 each. The prizes will be drawn on the day by Southern Teal Ambassador Ellie Barron.

The big attraction for the children is the Tree Of Treats with some great prizes up for grabs.

While the public stand to do very well from the day, winning owners will receive a gift basket and a set of coasters to commemorate their wins while sponsors will receive easy bets to get their day off to a good start.

It is an action-packed day of great racing, entertainment and prizes. Get yourself on course from 12 noon on Saturday to be a part of it all.