Speedway veteran deserves title glory
Hawke's Bay saloon car driver Shane Laking reckons he deserves a championship title.
"I was second in the Wellington champs three weeks ago, second in Wellington last season and third the season before that. It would be good to get a first ... either in Wellington or here in the Bay and tomorrow night would be good," Laking said on the eve of tomorrow night's 13-car Hawke's Bay championship at Meeanee.
The driver of a 350 Chev-powered car will be tackling his 10th meeting this season. One with that sort of commitment definitely deserves a first Hawke's Bay championship in the class.
Although Laking, 51, is in his fifth season in the class he started his speedway racing career as an 18-year-old in the streetstock class. The Future Products Group fabricator has also raced in the stockcar, superstock and kiwilites classes.
"I've also been a clown with my brother-in-law Tony Darroch at a New Zealand Superstock Championship a few years back. That's one of the highlights of my time in speedway but with all the OSH rules these days clowns aren't allowed which is a bit of a shame," Laking explained.
He finished second to Palmerston North's Ashleigh Halcrow at the Wellington championship. Laking believes the bloke who finished third, Hawke's Bay-based Palmerston North-contracted Josh Smith, will be the one to beat tomorrow night.
Laking intends to stay in the saloon class for a while.
"I like the class it's easier on the body," he added.
Accumulated points over three heats will determine the overall winner. Other fancied locals include multiple winner of the title and defending champion Steven Martin and his brother Kevin.
Smith must be considered the hot favourite. Other visitors with handy reputations include Palmerston North's Halcrow sisters Ashleigh and Danielle and Palmy's Rachel Bradbury.
A 31-car stockcar dash for cash is tomorrow night's other feature event. Visitors in the class include Palmerston North's Hamish McLeod, Brian Taniwha and Kyle Rowe, Huntly's James Marshall, Wellintonian Bryce Jensen and Gisborne's Josh Prentice. However with in-form Hawke's Bay champion and Kuru Cup holder Brent Loveridge (pictured below) and fellow Meeanee Maulers Cameron Swift and Brandon Symes among the host track contingent it will be a surprise if the biggest share of the cash is taken out of town.
Support classes will be a 28-strong ministock field, 12-strong streetstock field, 15-strong production saloon field and 13-strong TQ field. Hawke's Bay's Bailey Smith and Kara Flynn should be among the podium finishers in the ministock class again.
Three visitors, Palmerston North's Michelle Bradbury and Daniel Adie and Wellingtonian Tim Parker are in the ministock class. Palmerston North's Peter Morrison is the only visitor in the streetstock class.
Six Whanganui drivers, Brent Hackett, Ray Jaggard, Shayne Hughes, Darryn Smith, Mike Lovell and John Vermeulen complete the visiting contingent in the production saloon class.
Hawke's Bay's multiple national champion Duane Todd and Tony Meechan should be regular top three finishers in the TQ class where Gisborne's Dylan and Ryan McGregor are the only visitors.
