11-05-2003
Std Stock Teams Challenge
Kihikihi Speedway
by macgor
Despite a damp mid morning leading up to the 1pm start of
this meeting a very good sized crowd turned up to farewell the Waikato
2002 - 2003 speedway season .
Feature attraction was the std stock teams challenge
between Auckland , Huntly , Kihikihi and Rotorua which was not only good
watching but produced a surprise overall success for the Kihikihi Crusaders
team .
The first teams race of the day was between Auckland
and Rotorua , both strong teams and a match that would have been
hard to predict the outcome for . As it turned out Rotorua seemed to be
running without a plan of attack leaving the Aucklanders to control the
play . A good win to Auckland
The second teams race was Huntly against the local
Kihikihi team and I reckon everyone expected the Huntly hard men to crucify
the Crusaders . Nobody reckoned on 86k Phil Gleeson , his performance
was outstanding in plucking opposition leaders from the race leaving 14k
Norm Thompsett to run home for the win . There were more than just
a few watchers a wee bit stunned at this result and I wondered whether
I had just seen the worm begin to turn .
The third teams race was to decide 3rd and 4th
and was between Huntly and Rotorua . The Rotorua Rascals got their race
plan activated assisted by much gesturing from leader 86r Bill Keijzer
as he urged his team mates to protect him from the Huntly opposition .
The Final teams race pitted Kihikihi against the
favoured Auckland Alleycats and the thought of Kihikihi prevailing in this
one was incomprehensible . I mean the local lads had done real well to
get to the final but the might of the guns from the big smoke would surely
overwhelm them . Trouble is that man Gleeson wasn't about to roll over
and play dead and kept getting in the way of the fast cars and attracting
their attention while a couple of his teams mate run most of the distance
in first and second place . Hit man for the Auckland team 44a Andrew
Weir was eliminated early in the piece by 14k Norm Thompsett . As
the laps wound down Auckland piled on the pressure but the chequered
fell on 84k Graeme Fisher . Kihikihi put in such a magnificent effort
that they thoroughly deserved the win . Yes the worm did turn on this day
.
Support classes were Ltd Saloons , combined
midget / minisprints , streetstocks , ministocks and production saloons
. Overall a good afternoon of action to finish the season topped off with
a derby that I couldn't wait around for .
Support Class
action on page two
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