In questionnable weather conditions, Percy was off to Waikaraka Park. It was my first trip there for the season, amazing considering I've visited Cromwell, Woodford Glen and Te Marua already! As the drivers came out for the Grand Parade I couldn't help but think it might have been easier to get the fans to do a lap through the pits - there weren't too many in attendance! Percy left his pen in the car and didn't buy a programme so results may be scratchy.

Ladies and Gentleman, this was quite possibly the best track in the history of Percy's NZ Speedway. Right from the Superstock hot laps the top peeled off beautifully to the outside whilst the track remained as flat as a glass table. The moisture level was just right to keep it smooth without rutting up. The amount of water the track took during the evening from the inclement weather was considerable, but it didn't seem to matter. The track was undefeatable! 10/10

Handicap racing for these guys. How embarrassing to have a class come to a speedway track that can run a format that produces entertainment for the fans. We could learn something from these guys. The concept of the racing was to put a chick half a lap ahead of the guys and have them chase her. Kinda like how we used to play kiss and tell in the Primary School playground. (Not a game Percy excelled at). Fans were also forced to sit through a match race on the bike track.

The racing was marred by an incident. Going into turn three a competitor made a late lunge up the inside. The competitor being overtaken didn't anticipate the move. The resulting contact sent them careering towards the concrete. The competitor abandoned ship but was flung across the dirt like a Sidecar swinger. The ambulance was required and that was the last we saw of the ATV's. For what it's worth I am totally against this class running at SNZ meetings. The chance of a major accident is too high.

27 youth Ministocks took to the track. The grids had me confused as they didn't appear handicapped but the same cars started around the same spots. The first red was on lap one of an entertaining first race as the 6a entry rode up the wall an rolled onto it's side. 99a was the leader but would eventually succumb after a spirited run. 11a Ben Ellis consistently moved forward and did enough to take the win after a melee in Cemetary Bend saw another red light stoppage. Race two saw the 94a entry to fore and in race three it was a deserving win for the always thereabouts car of 7a Peter Hunnibell. The visitors from Huntly and Stratford were off the pace despite the cream of the Auckland Ministock crop racing at Palmerston North the weekend.

A field of 15 entrants was dominated by the antics of 67a Nik Krisnic. After a settling down period in the opening heat, 69a Dave Seymour tried to enter turn one on the outside of the 67a. Bad idea - Seymour ended up the wall with the crash crew bizarrely completing the roll onto the side! From there Krisnic hit anything that moved including 117a Rose Halfpenny and 4a Brian Campbell until the 67a retired. There was a bit hit late in the race, I believe it was 27a on 51a Steve Murphy. Murphy lost a rear tyre which sat on the track for the remainder of the race as Murphy graded the track.

Race two was down in numbers and down on action. Race leader 95a Gary Lonergan looked to have things in the bag until he came across a slow car. Lonergan decided the best way to deal with the threat was to drive into the back of the lapped car. This allowed the field to catch up and it was 59a Richard Pearce who grabbed the win. As always the Stockcars were one of the highlights.

I think we ended up with 34 Superstocks who were divided into two groups for the North Island Championship. Hot Laps were afforded to all drivers with most taking up the opportunity to dial their cars in. Most of the drivers were tight and I imagine numerous setup changes would have resulted.

Race one saw a suprise early leader as 94a Deon Ansty got away. Behind him there was plenty of bumper work going in, particularly from 351a Paul Vazey. 99r Mark Decke ran down Ansty to take the lead but would eventually cut a right-rear and fall well down the order. Vazey took over at the front until 515r Stan Hickey came through to take a great win. Hickey had started dead last. 72p Simon Joblin was a notable omission from the pointy end of the field. He was caught up whilst trying to effect a spin and ended up well down the order.

Race two was a little more indicative of the potential group qualifiers. 5g Joe Faram stretched his lead throughout the race to take the win from Decke, 135r Scott Hewson, Joblin, Vazey, 31p Andy McCabe and Hickey. Hickey looked content with finishing after his storming performance in the opening heat. It was a good job Vazey recorded two good finishes as he was an early DNF in the third heat. Faram went down a lap but was equal top on points going into the race so it really didn't matter. Hickey led all the way from Joblin. 135r Scott Hewson survived the race after that looked a doubtful proposition with five to go as smoke was coming from the bonnet. Deon Ansty caught fire on a red light but was able to continue after the crash crew intervened.

Ollie Browne Memorial winner 66r Steve Hampton wasted little time in showing the pace that propelled him to victory in that event. Hampton was in a class of his own in the opening heat. 8p Scott Miers started off the rear and was making forward progress until contact with the front straight wall saw him shred a tyre. Miers finished several laps down. Race two saw 1nz Malcolm Ngatai take the win in a much improved performance. Ngatai was disappointing in the opening heat but looked a different driver in the second heat. Hampton was thereabouts again. 414a Warwick Ansty was also showing consistency and a good turn of speed.

23h Lance Ashton won the final heat which will be remembered for one of the most spectacular blow ups in a long time. 77r Regan Carter went up in a huge way with thick smoke causing problems for drivers and spectators alike. Miers had his only decent performance of the night. The attack of the "V" was evident in this group with several of the Wanganui contingent filling the minor placings with regularity.

Red lights continue to be an issue for the officials. In the Ministocks they come on quickly but in most instances during the racing we saw drivers safety compromised by red lights coming on later than they should have. Other than that the officials were rarely called into action. The track preparation ensured no grass cutting and the drivers drove within the spirit of the sport. One incident may have caught the officials eye. With the leader coming up behind him, 44r Jason Redinger went to the infield, let the leader by and then pulled back onto the track. Seeking sanctuary? There was also the tyre in the Stockcar race wich was sitting right in the middle of turn four for four laps before the race was completed. I will also suggest that noise monitoring was not a feature of the officiating tonight. 6/10

There was enough tonight to suggest the Abrahams promotion team might have some idea as to what they are doing. Abrahams was running around early in the meeting with urgency, the efficiency was very good and the main event took priority and was completed. The infield looks like a speedway infield and the crash crew has seen a recruitment drive. Infield marshalls have flags and the place actually looks like a speedway track. Now if only they could stop stuffing around competitors and attract visitors regularly...