Moore Park hosts the NZ Short Track Sidecar Championship on Friday 27th February at 6pm. The field of entries is impressive.
17 confirmed units will be in Christchurch including the current NZ1, 2 and 3 combinations. Les Plummer and Kervin Dermanser from Napier would dearly love to make it a NZ double. They were runners up last year short track title. Hastings’s Russell Stuart and Andrew Parker would like to trade their no 2 for a NZ1 plate but then the current NZ3, Derek Ramsay and Tony Hislop from Palmerston North may upset them all.
The leading South Island contenders would have to be Lionel Green and Aaron Ray. They finished third in the recent South Island Champs and on their home track they would be disappointed if they don’t qualify for the finals. Auckland’s Noel McNamara and Glen Bagshaw, former Burt Munro Champions, are bound to keep the southerners honest while Palmerston North’s Andrew Buchanan has the only lady in the field, Phillipa Burns swinging.
Invercargill will be represented by the seasoned campaigner Fraser Gillespie and Dave Uitentuis who ride a more conventional classic machine. Daniel Harpur and Brad White also make the trip up. Nelson riders Neville Curran and Chris Sangster will be joined by a number of Christchurch combinations. Brent Tomkins and Arnie Marshall make a return to racing as does Karl Ostomy. A couple of the local dark horses could well be Clint Warwood and Paul Auton. First time riders this season they have been the pick of the local riders in action while Mark Hannaford and Jade Alsop have not been that far behind. The grouse sounding TL of Liam Stockman and Blair Lock have it all before them as they fire up for a shot at a top spot.
Full supporting program including the Solo Team Challenge will see over 50 races contested before they move onto Ruapuna for the second night of racing on Saturday at 7pm.
Admission prices has been standardised for the two meetings in a rare move between the Canterbury Motorcycle Speedway club and the Canterbury Speedway Association. Adults $12, Students and seniors $8 with children under 12 free. Family passes at $25
