OSCA Super Saloons are the big attraction at the Southland Sports Car Club’s pre-Christmas motor race meeting presented by Downer this weekend.
They are just one of eight classes on the programme in what is traditionally one of the most varied line ups at any meeting during the season. They will be joined by the South Island Formula 1600 Championship, the SS Cup, Pre 65 Saloons, NZ Six Saloons, Pro 7 South, Mini 7 South plus the Noel McIntyre Drainage Clubmans Saloons.
For many, the OSCA Super Saloons will be the drawcard with the clash of several big, fast, earth shattering V8’s against some extremely rapid machinery with alternative power plants. Local driver Liam MacDonald will be the fore as always in his Falcon but will face stern opposition from Dunedin driver Steve Ross in his Jaguar XK. Winton driver Pierre Neame will be prominent in his Ford Mustang while former Teretonga 1 Hour Endurance race winner Chris Henderson of Dunedin has his new LS powered Toyota GT86 ready to run. Doug Munro is another local driver in a Commodore in a field chock full of superb machinery.
The South Island Formula 1600 Championship features plenty of talent with James Penrose (Van Diemen Stealth) unbeaten to date and leading fellow Cantabrians Jack Noble-Adams, the defending champion in a similar car, and Zac Christensen in a Ray GR20 as the series arrives at Teretonga Park. Southland is well represented on the grid with Ethan Anderson sitting fourth overall and third in Class 2 while rookie Alex Crosbie is seventh in Class 2. Veteran Noel Atley and rookie Harry Wilson lie first and second respectively in Class 3 with Dave McKenzie fifth in the class. Southland Sports Car Club members from further afield, James Dicey (Cromwell), John Stevenson (Queenstown) and Graham Dickie (Dunedin) also line up in the field.
Wayne Tuffley in his Ford Mustang and Ford XP Falcon drivers John Smolenski, David Robertson and Super Truck racer Garry Price contest the Pre 65 Saloon races while cousin’s Bradley and Jeremy Dawson plus Dayle Kirby fly the Southland flag in the SS Cup which features a big field of varied machinery. Wayne Elliott is the sole Southland entry in the Pro 7 field.
Kyle Dawson of Invercargill and Dunedin driver Arron Black (BMW E46) will be amongst the quickest in the Noel McIntyre Drainage Clubmans Saloons. Leon Hallett of Mosgiel brings his Ford Galaxie south after tipping his Capri on its side at the last Teretonga race meeting while Anthony Ralston makes a farewell appearance in his impressive Nissan Bluebird before relocating to Northland.
The on-track action starts at 10.00am on Saturday with testing and qualifying. Racing commences at 2.10pm while Sunday sees a full programme of racing from 9.00am.
Pre-sale weekend passes are on sale from Auto Centre in Tweed Street, Invercargill and E Hayes & Sons in Invercargill at a cost of $20 each. Weekend passes sold at the gate are $25. Day passes are available at the gate, Saturday only at a cost of $15 and a Sunday only pass $20. Children 14 & under are free if accompanied by an adult.