boundary past the Southern Loop, the coolest
corner (and scariest), the numbers would have been
the envy of many from more northern parts…
With classes ranging from the bikes of WWII all
the way to the latest models, there was great racing
56KIWI RIDER
throughout the classes, so everyone had an epic day.
One of the highlights had to be the Rees versus
Rees battle in the F1 class. Local ace, Jeremy
Holmes was close enough on his Superstock to
keep the Rees boys honest but when they were
side by side – no quarter was given. That they still
had their own numbers on the flanks, rather than
each other’s, it was a real crowd-pleaser. Mitch
got the nod in the first two outings after some
serious rubbing – just. The final race started with
Mitch having shifting issues off the line. Trailing
the field, he sorted things out and hunted down
all except Damo, Jeremy, and a rejuvenated Sam
Love, home on holiday from Norway with his lovely
lady, Renate (also racing) on a bike he borrowed
from Seth Devereux (A ZX-6R). A good effort, but
not good enough to take the overall from younger
bro’, Damo. Mitch held on for second, with Jeremy
in third and a super-stoked Sam Love home in
fourth – his first race in nearly a year after a nasty
crash while racing in Scandinavia. Back into it!
The best thing about the whole event, right
through the classes, was the races within races in
the big fields. With proceedings running a little
tardy after electronic issues, the crowd went
directly from Teretonga to the conveniently handy
Oreti Park Speedway – again in record numbers.
The speedway ran like clockwork – a massive
task with more spectators than square metres,
so a huge hats-off to the Oval-sliders for a quick-
fire evening that just couldn’t have been better
run. If you’ve never been to a top-flight speedway
meet, head down to the Burt Munro Challenge
next year and it will be a side-dish for road riders
and dirt riders alike that is well worth heading to.