By Daniel Neville

After a false start last week, the 2021/22 season at TWS Paradise Valley Speedway got underway on Friday November the 12^th with a full 22 race programme. The Sportsweb Photography Club Night featured 6 classes and some good racing from all despite the threatening weather and of course the inevitable covid restrictions.

Stockcars opened the season with a field of 31 which was run with a 4 race format and each driver partaking in 3 of those. It was a great opening night for the Stockcars with a bit of push and shove to keep things interesting. Keegan Orr got off to a good start leading race one early but after 2 laps pulled infield. 96r Courtney Young was in from then but was overtaken by eventual winner 544k Dion Henderson who cleared out from the pack. Race two was just as good and saw 45r Sean Wepa get his first win of the season. Race 3 saw a blast from the past as 27r Douglas Stanaway back after a number of years away and immediately back in the winners circle. The fourth and final hit out for the Stockcars had a win for 96r Courtney Young and even survived a trip along the wall as the black and white flag fell.

The Youth Ministocks were once again split into their 2 age groups with the “older” division first up. A relatively smooth race one went to the 555r driven by Josh Holland with 93r Flynn Fraser never far behind. Race 2 went to 88r Cohen Wright with 97r Connor Jones finishing first in their final outing of the night.

The younger group had 3 races with a good amount of rookie drivers amongst them. All drivers raced well with 89r Matthew Membery collecting the first win. Race 2 was on a slightly slippery track as pesky showers of rain just wouldn’t go away. They handled it well though with 335r Carson Rolfe making a late move forward and was awarded the race win. The third and final race saw a much easier win for Rolfe as he got the lead early and was ahead by 8 seconds at the end.

Superstocks were next out with a nice field of 20 starters. An exceptional drive from current 3nz Mitch Vickery in his new car with a great drive also from second place 638r Robbie Morris who kept Vickery honest for the whole race. Race 2 went to Rotorua returning driver 198r Mark Costello who has spent the last few seasons registered to Baypark Speedway. This race was notable for 10r Alan McRobbie’s swipe at race one winner Vickery but he only succeeded in putting himself into the concrete wall. Race 3 saw another win for the 3nz of Vickery who was pushed all the way by 81r Damian Orr.

Six Shooters were back once again with 8 of the best on track to get things started. Race one was a Westbury benefit with 71r Boyd Westbury leading home 17r Luke Westbury. Race 2 also went to the 71r of Westbury as some spots of rain began to fall. Race 3 saw the first rollover of the season as the 12m of Grant Pedder turned turtle after contact with the 7m of Roydon White. At the end of it all 17r Luke Westbury took the win to close out the night for the class.

Next on track were the Producion Saloons who also got 3 races wins going the way of 32r Bailie Johnson in race one with 27r James Cunningham too good for the rest taking out races 2 and 3 in fine style.

A new class to Paradise Valley was next up in the form of Three Quarter Midgets with just the 3 starters for the first meeting. It was former Youth Ministock driver in car 22r Terence Dorrell who led the way leaving Gisborne visitor 24g Robert Gomm and local 17r Hamish Swindlehurst to battle for the rest of the placings.

The next meeting at TWS Paradise Valley Speedway is scheduled for Saturday November 27^th and it will be the Morrow Builders Superstock Triples and the  Eightplusonemedia Stockcar Triples with support racing provided by Streetstocks and Vintage Stockcars as well as Superstock and Stockcar consolations. Racing set to go at 7pm.

FULL MEETING RESULTS - In PDF Format.