Motor Sport
Ten of the South Island’s best motor racing classes are on the programme at
Teretonga Park in Invercargill this weekend.
The headline act is the OSCA Super Saloons with reigning champion Cameron
Jones of Palmerston North in his turbo charged Mazda RX7 leading an
impressive field. He will face tough opposition from Steve Ross of Dunedin in his
Jaguar TraNZam. When they last met at Teretonga Park it was Ross who
prevailed, winning two of the four races and taking the round victory by just one
point from Jones.
The Pre 78 Classic Saloons feature Mark McGuinness of Wellington in his Alfa
Romeo GTV and a trio of Dunedin drivers in Triumph cars – Barry Dorking in a
Dolomite, Paul Coghill in a Vitesse and Gavin Jackson in a Triumph 2500 plus a
range of other cars from a Ford Capri to a Fiat 850.
Seb Manson of Auckland leads the South Island Formula Ford Championship
south and will face stiff opposition from both Dylan Petch and Caleb Byars of
Rolleston, while former champion Jack Noble-Adams is also in the field. Rookie
Izaak Fletcher of Tai Tapu near Christchurch has made an impressive start as a
rookie in the championship. Jacob Begg of Winton, a great nephew of George
Begg, is currently second in Class 2.
The Noel McIntyre Drainage Club Saloons will feature top local drivers Jordan
Michels in his Marc Mustang against Liam MacDonald in his Falcon while
brothers Dion and Kyle Dawson in a Saker SVS and Nissan Skyline respectively
will be quick.
Jared Pyke of Rangiora was one of the best last time the Pro 8 Saloons came to
Teretonga Park while local drivers Bradley and Jeremy Dawson plus Jeremy
Skeggs line up as well.
Garry Price of Cromwell in his Chevy Nova SS was the round winner in the last
appearance of Pre 65 Saloons while Corey Ross of Rolleston in a Mustang and
local driver John Smolenski in his XP Falcon are also very competitive.
The 2K Cup South Island visits for the first time as a championship round and
they bring south a tremendous field of thirty-two cars led by Greg Barclay of
Woodend in his Toyota MR2.
SS Cup is another class with a large field of twenty-two cars with a wide variety
of marques among them.
Justin Neill of Christchurch leads the Mini 7 South Series as it arrives at this, their
third round of the season, with Justin Ashwell of Lyttleton second and Daniel
Lamb of Kaiapoi third. Neill was the man to beat at Teretonga last season while
Adam Box of Rolleston and Lamb were also prominent.
The NZ Six Saloons will feature Cody Welch of Omakau and David Worgan of
Methven in Falcons and Mike McCarthy of Dunedin in a Commodore. Mick Ross
of Dunedin in a Commodore and Tony Herbert of Omakau in a Falcon will also
be ones to watch.
On track action starts from 9.30am on Saturday with qualifying from 10.55am.
There are nine races on Saturday from 2.00pm with every class on track at least
once. Sunday’s programme gets underway at 9.00am with twenty-three races
throughout the day.
Discounted presale weekend passes ($40 plus any applicable charges) are
available from Auto Centre, Tweed Street, Invercargill and E Hayes & Sons, Dee
Street, Invercargill while a weekend pass at the gate is $45. A Saturday only
pass at the gate is $25 and a Sunday only pass at the gate $30. Children 14 &
under if accompanied by an adult are free.