It was only a month ago Southland Youth Saloon driver Nathan Rhind had never even won a race, but four short weeks later he has had maiden race wins at Beachlands Speedway in Dunedin, and a race win at Riverside Speedway in Invercargill.Following his race wins Rhind won the Otago Youth Saloon Title in Dunedin and on Saturday secured the Southland Youth Saloon Championship in spectacular fashion.
Darcy Hewitt and Michael Jackson get up close and personal in Modified Sprints. Photo: Corbyn ShuttleworthGoing into the final both Rhind and Luke Molloy had won a race each leaving them tied on first and the championship would be decided depending on who could beat who, Molloy got the jump at the start and raced off to a handy lead, Rhind pushed hard with Anastezea Ladbrook pressuring the front runners also.
Craig Phillips finds plenty of bite in Super Saloons. Photo: Corbyn ShuttleworthWith a handful of laps to run it looked as if Molloy had the championship in his grasp when the car speared off to the outside of the track causing considerable front end damage and ending his hopes.Rhind took the lead on the restart and claimed his maiden Southland Titile with Ladbrook second and Molloy banking enough points for third.
Nathan Rhind victorious in Youth Saloons. Photo: Corbyn ShuttleworthIn the Dominator Doors Southland South Pacific Production Saloon Challenge it was Cromwell’s Whetu Tawa who took home the silverware after an epic battle with siblings Asha and Tam Clements, the three cars were racing wheel to wheel for the majority of the final before Tawa took an advantage late race to edge out Asha Clements for second and Tam Clements third. The prize for most passes was shared by Tony Jones and Dylan Mountney.
Dean Miller claimed the Brett Cooper Memorial. Photo: Corbyn ShuttleworthStreetstock Pairs racing was a highlight with ample biff and barge to entertain the big crowd on hand, going into the final the team of Mark Henderson and Megan Henderson held a slender one point lead over Peter Knight and Caleb Kirk but Megan Henderson suffered steering damage in the final after putting in some massive shots which left the door open for Knight and Kirk who claimed the title from the Henderson pairing, while Chris Kergozou and Shae McKenzie third.
Whetu Tawa fights off Tam Clements in Production Saloons. Corbyn ShuttleworthThe final class to run a title in the weekend was Modified Sprints who competed for the Brett Cooper Memorial, Dean Miller, Koby Morrison and Jase McMullin all claimed race victories in the heats but in the final it was Michael Jackson who got off to a flyer but Miller managed to chase Jackson down with just a few laps to run.Jackson put up a fight but had nothing left to defend, relinquishing the lead to Miller who won the Brett Cooper Trophy for the first time ahead of Jackson with McMullin third.