Auckland Team: 6a (Ward), 11a (Ellis), 28a (Mytton), and 73a (Marx)

The first turn saw 73a and 28a taken into the wall with 6a and 11a off down the back straight running 1st and 2nd.
Starting lap 2 11a locked wheels with an Eagles blocker 76c (Osbourne), letting 28a through to take 2nd place.
73a got started again and no sooner had he moved, that 75c (Ngatai) took him straight back into the wall in front of the grandstand.
On lap 4 6a (Ward) was still in the lead, but a prowling Osbourne was ready for some more action and at the end of the front straight he ploughed the 6a car into the pit wall. But Ward managed to evade a stranding on the wall and carried on hurtling down the back straight. At this point 73a had managed to restart but only made the infield before stopping again. At the other end of the track 11a had finally been pushed out of the way by 2 Christchurch cars that he had managed to keep at bay for an entire lap. Unfortunately after getting by Ellis those 2 cars took on Ward and ploughed him into the pit wall and that was where he was to stay. The 73a car was going again and tried to hold the 2 Christchurch cars in the wall, but both of them pushed past Ward and continued on.
Ellis then found himself with 3 Glen Eagles circulating around him. He managed to slow them a bit, but the 11a car was showing the signs of strain and was left behind.
Mytton (28a) however was still cleverly circulating at pace and not far behind the leader, but he was caught coming out of the pit bend and taken into the wall and this caused front suspension damaged. That was the Allstar’s runner out of action and the team had no one near the front. So 73a (Marx) tried in vain to stick the race leader into the wall, but with the Eagles soaring the 73a was left behind.
So with the 28a not able to run, 6a stopped by the wall, 11a and 73a down a number of laps they had no choice but to stop the leading eagle. However with the good blocking efforts of the rest of the Eagle’s team they managed to see their leader through to the race win.

Back in the pits Graeme Ward had to be removed from his car due to injuries. He took a pounding in his Std Stock, and gave a huge effort in a team from a different club. This is the sort of attitude from a competitor we should all be looking up to.
So the Team Manager Warwick Ansty got suited up and climbed into the 6a car for the race for 3rd and 4th place between Auckland and Baypark.

Sunday 3rd and 4th Place Final Auckland Allstars vs. Baypark Busters

Auckland Team: 6a (Ansty), 11a (Ellis), 28a (Mytton), and 73a (Marx)

From the green flag the 19m car assumed the lead with 73a (Marx) following closely behind. But with a slick hard track, 73a spun and stalled coming onto the front straight. This put Baypark 1st and 2nd, followed closely by 6a (Ansty) and 28a (Mytton). 11a (Ellis) was still locking wheels with 181m (Meszaros), onto the back straight again lap 2 and 28a past 6a, who then switched to a blocking role and let the 28a car run.
Now with the leader 19m just starting his 3rd lap, 11a (Ellis) was taking into the wall and the end of the back straight while trying to prove cover for 73a (Marx) who was back running, still on the lead lap and catching up quickly. Down the front straight and 28a (Mytton) spun himself onto the grass while having a go at 38m. This now meant 73a (Marx) was in the lead for Auckland, powered past 38m on the exit of the pit bend, and was now running 2nd overall. The 38m car went in chase of 73a (Marx), but couldn’t keep pace so slowed down….there’s always another lap.
The 11a (Ellis) and 28a (Mytton) were now at the end of the front straight with all 4 Baypark cars bearing down on them, and in a fine show of driving, the race leader 19m shot through them all. 73a (Marx) was now only ½ a lap down and catching quickly, with the help of 6a (Ansty), he managed to power past the 92m with just clipping the wall out of the pit turn. A lap later the 92m was still in chase of 73a (Marx), and just behind 6a (Ansty) got the better of 38m and stuck him in the wall at the exit of pit turn. At the end of the back straight 11a (Ellis) managed to hold up 92m, which gave the 73a car a reprieve from the chasing. The next lap coming onto the front straight and 73a (Marx) kept up his speed and got around a waiting 38m. Down the front straight with the 38m in chase, they caught up to 11a (Ellis) and 92m. Once again 73a (Marx) went for the outside but got stuck in the wall by a pouncing 92m. This didn’t seem like a big hit, but because of the angle of impact it smashed the diff links again, and broke the engine mount bolts, and just further down the straight 11a (Ellis) was turned sideways by 38m.
With these 2 cars stuck the 28a (Mytton) starting building up speed, but was out numbered by 4 Baypark cars.

Baypark took a good win, leaving the Allstars in 4th place overall.

Back in the pits there wasn’t any point in repairing the 73a car, so the suspension was locked in place by chains and dragged into the truck by our large winch.

Leaving Palmerston North at around 5 it was a long and slow trip back to Auckland. We stopped at Taupo for some dinner, we returned home around midnight after a long weekend.

It was a hard weekend and to all those who received injuries hopefully you are all on the repair and get well soon. Remember it’s not just those drivers who went to hospital who have been injured. I’m sure all of those drivers at some point felt a sore spot.

Hopefully my reports of the races aren’t too bad. There was so much going on it was pretty hard to know where to watch!

Catch ya...MadPhil