Loveridge rules again at Meeanee
Hawke's Bay stockcar driver Brett Loveridge won his second title within a week at Meeanee last night.
Seven days after winning the Hawke's Bay championship, Loveridge, captured the Kuru Cup. One of 29 starters in the O'Briens Aluminium & Maintenance-sponsored event, Loveridge, won the cup by two points from clubmate Thomas Rumble and another host track driver, Daniel Melling, was a further four points back in third place.
Loveridge finished second in heat one, won heat two from grid 29 and finished 10th in heat three after taking a hit from clubmate Kairyn O'Brien.
"I knew I had a few points. I just had to keep my foot down and hope for the best," Loveridge said afterwards
"It was good to have a bit of attention which left me with a flat left rear tyre," Loveridge said referring to the hit from O'Brien.
Loveridge last won the cup in the 2013-14 season when he won every championship event he entered. When asked if he was hoping for similar success this season Loveridge replied:
"I don't want to jinx it. But my preparation has been good this season ... I'm doing things properly."
For the second consecutive year a visitor took out the 24-car TWS Baker Group Superstock Masters Championship for drivers over 40. Mount Maunganui's Kerry Remnant (pictured below left) beat Palmerston North's defending champion Peter Bengston (pictured below right) with two successful hit and run manoeuvres in the four-lap run off for the title.
Palmerston North's Simon Joblin beat Rotorua's Paul Vazey in a run off for third. Bengston, Huntly's Shay Hambling and Stratford's Wayne Moss all had heat wins.
Some spectacular racing was seen in the 14-car mixed saloon class. Steven Martin did well to pip the Hawke's Bay-based Palmerston North-contracted Josh Smith in heat one. Martin's brother Kevin won heat two and Hawke's Bay's Steve Flynn became the first of the super saloon drivers, who were handicapped at the start. to collect a win with his victory in the final heat.
Fourteen drivers fronted in the TQ class. Gisborne's Dylan MacGregor produced a 15.53s lap time on the way to victory in heat one.
Hawke's Bay's Duane Todd pipped MacGregor by 0.095s in heat two and MacGregor took out heat three.
Hawke's Bay's Bailey Smith deserved the driver of the night award in the 25-strong ministock class after winning all three heats. The previous meeting's driver of the night, Hawke's Bay's Kara Flynn, ended up on her lid in the final heat.
Seven sidecar crews had a race each before the track became unsuitable for them. Heat one was taken out by the Palmerston North pair of rider Mike Zachan and swinger Ben Franklin. Aucklanders Peter Adams and Jason Hira were second and the Gisborne pair of Toby and Dylan Lardelli were third.
Heat two was won by the host track pair of Craig Boaler and Ann Plummer. Their clubmates Justin Lincoln and George Olsen were second and the Gisborne pair of Clive Ireland and Matt Atkins third.
During the meeting Hawke's Bay Hawkeyes superstock team manager/driver Mike McLachlan announced his team to take on the Wellington Wildcats in the capital this Saturday. It is Clayton Hagen, Kairyn O'Brien, Quinn Ryan, Mike McLachlan and Matt Demanser.
