This meeting was widely trumpeted as the first real McCoy IRC event offering all manner of attractions and publicity that our early “adopted meeting” rounds were not able to present. Julian Hardy had put his heart and soul, to say nothing of the budget Manawatu committed, to make an example of what the IRC as a combined force could achieve. And then it rained, and rained and rained some more. Well the good news is, in spite of financially it being a wash out, the ambience of the meeting did at least give race classes something to feel good about and the compliments via e mail exchange have been refreshingly positive.

For Pro7’s the meeting went well. Driving standards essentially exemplary and the results nail biting to say the least.

Qualifying for the biggest Plus group to date really set the pussy among the possums with 4 of the top 6 DQ’d for yellow flag infringements. Thus, Bruce Gay had done a fine job of setting the fastest time only to join Dean McMillan, Myles Fothergill and Marty Hicks way down the back. I have to say, there was shock horror but really the rules were broken and the penalty valid. With that out of the way Chris Hanley became Pole setter from Matt Lockwood with James Parker on G4 in a car that appeared now to behave.
Pro7’s had a familiar appearance to the front row but the second row was really a surprise. Ian McDonald must revel in water sports as he popped off a 1.32 to claim G3 ahead of the now recognised hot kid on the block Brad Lathrope but it was the Wanganui pair of Phil Blythe and Bob Smith who claimed P1 and 2 respectively.

Race One at the unusually late 4.46pm start (well this is Twighlight Thunder in the Dark) was relatively uneventful save for an impressive drive by Terry Loving and Phil Kerr who both carved the field to finish 4th and 5th after starting 8th and 10th. Really the only disappointment would have been Ian McDonald being relegated to 10th after a magnificent Qualifying effort. Blythe reigned supreme from Smith, Lathrope and Loving
The Plus group however definitely had some unfinished business. No Official is going to rob points from these keen men and all 4 moved from the back 6 to the front 6 by race end with Bruce Gay making the biggest gain finishing 2nd to Matt Lockwood who recorded a flawless drive to see off Chris Hanley who succumbed to the damp track.

The evening BBQ was again a near 100% attendance and officiating as Club Captain, Nigel Hanley awarded the previous round achievers with their certificates. The Track provided “band in the park” then played to an audience of variously 80 –120 bods who seemed to appreciate the entertainment that was just part of the weekends attractions.

Sunday appeared to offer up more wet weather so lap times were destined to remain slower than usual but spirits were high and points were still there for the taking.
Pro7’s second stanza saw Ian McDonald consummate his cunning plan from race one, by finishing 10th he earned pole for race two and that was an improvement on his 3rd in qualifying. Beside him was Graeme Hill who in spite of suffering the loss of his Dad the evening before was determined to honour his mentors call to race and race well. Then back in 11th and 12th spots saw Blythe and Smith who were going to thread the needle to get to the front after 6 short laps. Indeed it was so with some entertaining driving along the way. Terry Loving was to justify his tag as the classes fastest Grand Father finishing 3rd with his nemesis Lathrope just ½ a second behind. Graeme Hill recorded his best recent result with a fine 5th that would have made his Dad real proud. Ian McDonald slid back to 9th by race end just one place up on Son Greg who was having a forgettable weekend.

Pro7 Plus with their new enlarged numbers provided the commentary team with enough excitement to keep them babbling like demented schoolboys.
James Parker who started at the back of the grid performed an amazing drive to come right through to finish 5th something he would have felt really good about since the debut of the new car has not been entirely smooth.
But it was Dean McMillan, Matt Lockwood and Bruce Gay who were the focus of observers as they went about carving the field to get clear air from which to sort their own contest for the flag. Entertaining, nail biting, just damn enthralling, who cares how to describe it, it was just good to watch the true definition of one make racing and these guys showed that drivers are the difference. By race end it was 76 from 7 from 39. McMillan had done the job, Lockwood had kept him honest and Bruce Gay (just doesn’t read right without the Christian name) had thrown everything at the front two and in doing so again attracted commentary accolades for his prowess in the wet. Who cares about the result, this boy is a crowd pleaser.

On to the finale and guess what? It’s fine and dry.
Race three is the grid formed from merit, highest points scorers to the front descending.
Pole for the plus cars therefore belonged to Lockwood from McMillan, now that’s funny, there is a well known building company by that name down here, perhaps there’s a sponsorship opportunity waiting. Row 2 saw Hicks and Gay (see what I mean, no first name) followed by Fothergill and Hanley. A battle was about to commence.
Pro7’s had a familiar look with Blythe on pole Smithy alongside then Lathrope and Loving from a vastly improved Matt Brader and Kerr.

Racing is when two or more people seek to gain an advantage over the other, game on.
Well in Pro7 Plus it was Lockwood who acquiesced (that means “lost out” basically but it’s a word I wanted to use for a long time) to McMillan. Bruce Gay had car trouble and dropped off the game to finish 6th thus effectively trading places with Chris Hanley who elevated himself to 3rd. So the top three were McMillan/Lockwood/Hanley giving McMillan the round win.

Pro7’s similarly had a tight contest with Kerr desperate to get back to the sharp end now he has become used to podium finishes.
Kerr has become quite an enigma since gone is the familia (well that’s how Mazda spell it) “off under pressure” of recent years. Now it seems he thrives on the challenge and rises to the occasion. From where I sit this race truly defined the new age Phil Kerr. The guy who the closest to pit crew he brings to the track is his Crew cab Mazda truck, gets an extraordinary amount of pre race meeting maintenance completed between races. Manages to be the life of the party having helped anyone else from any class that has bother during race weekend and can now put together race winning (or nearly) without getting all hot and bothered. Surely this is the definition of Pro7 racing, DIY in the true sense of the word. Anyway I digress and the text was supposed to read from 6th to 2nd in a quality field, that was the star drive of the weekend and from a guy who missed his alarm and arrived at the track just in time to qualify.

A good race to end the weekend saw Blythe win from Kerr. Loving again featuring near the pointy end from Smith. Merv Casey would have gone home a happy chappy after finishing 7th in the last outing of the weekend.

Pukekohe becomes the next encounter and for some will be the defining meeting of the season.

The editor apologises for the delay in this report. Happily it’s been a really busy fortnight of late visitor numbers arriving from off shore, just another indicator that the economy is easing. Whew about time.



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