The Pits

Southern Speedway

Home of Geoff Loan 1NZ Street stock

 and

Mike Verdona 3NZ Super Saloon

Home

About

Contact

Vids

Latest Stories

Archive

Submit Story    

 

 Just a Yarn

EMAIL: thepits@xtra.co.nz


Quick News:


2/3/10 Ok ok, so its been a week or 2 since we have had an update on the site, but I promise you, the update is of a good size. Loads of work is happening around the site as I put a rather large effort into the newly created Triple S site. This site will be just as informative as The Pits, servicing through to the Sprint Cars out of Christchurch. There has been some great feedback already, and are looking forward to filling it with a load of content. Big thanks once again from the guys at Winton Flooring Xtra for their help in setting this up.

Now just quickly, this is not an ad, but more of a thank you for someone that did a huge favour for me over the weekend whilst I attended Island Park Speedways meeting. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Leanne Simon from Rumours of Eternity for helping out a very close and personal friend of mine. Now I'm not into voodoo hoodoo stuff, but whatever Leanne did for this young lady worked wonders. Here is a little of what Leanne does: Spiritual Guidance, house blessings, herbal remedies, clairvoyant / tarot readings also phone readings, email reading and in person.

Tank madness is about to hit The Pits as we are going to go in-depth with the man responsible for a couple of tanks that will feature at Riverside Speedway next year. Next week is tank week. Find out why!!! Check out the news that has come through on the other side of this page.

Over the last couple of months, my faith with the Street Stock grade has been tested. The once mighty Street Stock grade is not what it used to be, and I sometimes struggle to find any motivation to get excited about them. It is common knowledge how disappointed I was with the grade with the lack of turn out for the NZ Sprint Car Title. Who did the grade really punish. The club or the drivers that did show up? Its a joke, plain and simple. I remember when racing used to be about racing, not this politically motivated shit that's has dribbled out of peoples mouths over the last couple of seasons. Its only a few, but they have a very big voice in a very quiet grade. Once again I will get the "If you don't like it then get a car and take us on" comment when people read this, but its simple.... I'm the announcer you dumb ass... Look up and the chances are you might just figure that out. Instead of sitting in a wee room rocking backwards and forwards wandering what club, track or person you can fk off next, how about get in your car and give us critics something to write about.

But for now, we are back on to The Pits update which this week features the Streeties that raced at Riverside Speedway in the weekend. And I must admit they put on a bloody good show as well. The carnage at the end of the meeting was amazing, and there will be many an hour going in to getting them right. Here's what I had to say about the meeting... read more


 

16/02/10 Just an update to tease with the proposed Triple S web site. What is Triple S ... click here to find out.


13/02/10 Just a quick update to rework the Sprint Car Title update, as I had forgotten to do 5th place. My apologise to Jamie McDonald for completely missing him out.

I would also like to welcome a new sponsor on board in the form of the Winton Flooring Xtra team. Big ups to Chris Burns who will also be the main sponsor for the Winton Flooring Triple S S S web page. Southern Sprint car Scene is coming. Check back for the latest edition to The Pits web site. And also, cheers to Kerri from Winton Flooring for getting the stuff through for this site.


 

9/2/10 A good update comes to The Pits this time round, as the information pours through at the peek of the season. on the opposite page, you can see the info sent through about the NZ Side Chair Championships, which sadly I will be unable to attend as I head off to Dunedin to take in the Demolition Man Street Stocks. Its true, my heart belongs to the cars not the bikes. Talking of cars, this update will have the review of the NZ Sprint Car Title held in Cromwell over the weekend. If you interested, see what I had to say about this event by clicking here....

Don't forget to check out the latest news on the other side of this page...


 

62/10 After having a couple of issues with the lappy that holds this web site, I have finally got the problem sorted and are now able to update. Riverside Speedway did run at the weekend, and it appears that there is very little to say about this meeting, other than to highlight the fact that, once again, there was a clash with another track in this part of the country. This is the last 3 meetings that I have been to where there has been nothing really worth writing about. If anything, the only thing worth mentioning was the Productions in race 1, and the Streeties put on a half ok show.


26/1/10 Onwards and upwards for The Pits... There is to be another couple of things added to the web site over the next month...Already, the new Sprint Car page is well under way, and will be added in time for the NZ Sprint Car Title. Also, there is a new feature/profile page that was on The Pits some time ago that was popular but very hard to find the time to sit down and hunt the info. This will start with a full profile on the Winton Flooring Xtra sponsored car and driver of 61i Chris Burns. Burns has been nice enough to sit down and have a lengthy chat about his old days of racing, right through to the current time.... Also, a couple of years ago we had a full story that was written in regards to Joel Kergozou the ex 1nz and 3nz Street Stock driver. Having gone over this story I have decided that what is in that story is well worth being published. Its common knowledge that I have nothing to do with this character, and felt it appropriate to highlight some gathered information that will raise an eye brow or 2. If I could think back to that time, Kergozou never really had a chance to get his side of the story out, so this article was written as a neutral thing, and might just highlight a few things. There is some follow up work to do now, but hope to have that story out within the week.

Don't forget to check out the news as we build up to the NZ Sprint Car Title....

Check out the new Hall of Fame further down the page. This has been set up to recognise the drivers that have excelled in their chosen grade. If you think that someone should be on that list, send me an email with and and why.....

But for now, sit back and enjoy the update from Island Parks meeting held in the weekend by clicking here...


24/1/09 Just a very quick update to inform one and all of the fantastic effort of Geoff Loan. But cruise back tomorrow for a very interesting update about the racing in Dunedin on Saturday. What got The Pits writer and Island Park Speedway commentator all wound up.. Check back for the details....

19/1/10 There has been load of debate and questions as to the reason why there was no update from the Cromwell Xmas meet. The hardest thing about being a writer of a web site that has the reputation to tell it how it is really has to be looked at sometimes. The old saying goes.. if you have nothing nice to say, then say nothing at all. Sadly this is the case with the Xmas meet. If I had to say anything about the meet, it was simply the fact that it lacked atmosphere. On a personal level, I cannot relate to a particular person in the club that is giving it a reputation it could do without. This has to be the best facility track in the south but has more drama's than Shorty Street. The racing on the first night was just plain and simply boring as fk. The second night produced far better racing, more so because they raced all the Sprint Cars as one grade. I am not sure as to the reasons why they didn't do the War of the Wings the same way as they did last year. Non War of the Wings at the back.. And War of the Wings guys off the front. On an up note though.. I would love to extend a huge thanks to the ladies that are the lap scorers in Cromwell. They are by far the best in the business that help me out as an announcer, and just make my job so much nicer. You ladies ROCK!!! Sadly, these ladies (and sometimes guys) are the most under valued and yet the most important people at the track.

What's these photos about.. Story coming soon

Don't forget to check out the latest news on the other side of this page before heading to the latest update........

This update is to cover the first meeting of the new year for Riverside Speedway. See what we had to say by clicking here


10/01/10 Hi honey I'm home...Didn't I fkn tell you so. Mike Verdona delivered, and delivered good for the Riverside Club, and more importantly, for himself. After months of watching disappointing results, with the exception of a few meetings, and it was only ever mechanical failures,  Verdona headed to Huntly Speedway to take on the best in the business, and in the process, put his hand up to be one of the best in the business. Since his induction into Super Saloon racing, The Pits has watched with interest the unique, and very cool, driving style of Verdona, and knew that it wouldn't be long before we seen this man reach the top. On behalf of all the readers of this web site, and on behalf of the 3 southern tracks, it gives me great pleasure in congratulating you on your outstanding result. What a worthy result this is.. well fk done man.....

But that's not all.. read the latest news for others to have made huge achievements over the last couple of weeks as well.....

 


9/12/09 Its not to far away before the big fat jolly fella empties his sacks all over your lounge room floors, and a chance for a wee break from the hectic speedway season that we have been witness to so far. A huge update has been completed. This weekend gone, I was, once again, witness to some superb racing when attending the ELF Lubricants South Island Super Saloon Series at both Island Park Speedway on Friday 4th Dec and Central Motor Speedway on the Saturday 6th Dec. But once again, I had to make the choice as to where I would go, due to these clubs consistently running meetings on the same day. It appears that this will happen another 2 times this season, once at Cromwell and Invercargill, and then Dunedin and Invercargill. On one of those clashes, both clubs are even running the same champs for the same grade. WTF are you guys thinking!!! Its about time that this has a resolution. For this reason, this has inspired me to put a poll together to see what the general public and competitors think. It might be the case that I am wanking off, and people don't really give a rats ass, but if the majority speak, then I will approach each club as to what they will do about getting a resolution. Please vote by clicking below

 

Should the Southern Speedways stop running meetings that clash

Yes
No
I don't care
  

www.thepits.racing.org.nz

In this update, we feature some video footage of Steve Williams racing both the 57d car of Greg Morris's and the 84d car of Mark Taylor. To check out this video footage, Click Here. Also, the update for the Elf Super Cup.. read more

On behalf of The Pits web site, we wish each and everyone a very Merry Christmas and a fkn good New Year..  Take Care..........


512/09 Need to be on the ball this week again, with 3 meetings being run over 2 days. I was very pleased to be able to attend the meeting at Island Park Speedway in Dunedin on Friday as 18 of the best Super Saloon drivers arrived for the first ever Elf Super Cup. The downside today is that I had to make a decision about where to head as Cromwell Speedway and Riverside Speedway are both running. Sadly, both are offering good meets, but will myself head to Cromwell to take in round 2 of the Elf Cup South Island Super Saloon Series. But here goes what happened at the first round... read more


31/11/09 One things apparent so far this season and that is the quality of racing we are seeing in the 3 southern tracks. The best thing is...the best is yet to come. With the Supers heading to Dunedin for the New Zealand Grand Prix and the Sprint Car heading to Cromwell for the NZ Title, its safe to say that the speedway scene after Christmas will be top notch. Hell, you even have the Elf South Island Super Saloon Series which is heading to Dunedin on Friday, and then off to Cromwell on Saturday. If you were into bikes, you had the chance to be witness to the Birt Munro weekend held in Invercargill over a 4 day period. For those of us that aint really into bike racing, we packed our stuff and headed to Dunedin for the Otago Streetstock and Stock Car Title.. here is the update from that meeting....read more


25/11/09 One thing is apparent so far this season is the quality of both the racing that we have been witness to and also the good crowds that are fronting up to watch them. The amazing thing is that we are only at the start of the season with the main events typically being held after the new year. Cromwell will be an exception to that rule on the 5th of December when they host a round of the South Island Super Saloon Series, more commonly known as the Elf Cup. The thing that saddens me about this is that Riverside and Cromwell will once again clash on that day, which has people having to choose where they race or watch, or even commentate. More care needs to be put in to avoid this happening. Typically, it ruins events when they do this. Expect another clash of the clubs after Xmas as well. I think that it it is important that these 2 clubs work together, not against each other, and compromise. Perhaps alternate days on? 1 races on the Saturday 1 week, then the other the next time. Come on guys, get with it and give us all something to talk about that's positive. Talking of positive, the whole reason for this update is to give you the run down on the DHL Southern Saloon Series. But before you head over to read the lengthy update on that, catch up on the latest news on the opposite side of this page.....read more


All Photos by Shelley Corbett Photos

Note: All information contained in the pages of this web site are the opinion of one person and one person only. The Pits is not connected to any other promotion in the southern part of New Zealand, and all care is taken to insure that the information contained in the web site are true and correct based on information gathered. Your discretion is appreciated. If you believe that there has been a mistake made, then please email the web master by clicking here, with why this is the case.

 

Web Site bought to you by Steve's Autos. For quality 2nd hand used cars, visit Steve Dryden at 157 Clyde Street Invercargill




305 Great North Road, Winton

ph/fax: 03 236 7066

Chris Burns



Hall Of Fame:
Acheivers for 09/10

 

1NZ/7i Geoff Loan Streetstocks -Winning NZ Streetstock Title

3NZ/25i Mike Verdona Super Saloons - 3rd overall at NZ Title

13i Paul Renton Saloons - fantastic run at NZ Saloons and also DHL Saloon Series

73d Nathan Taylor Stock Cars - 3rd at South Island Title

88t Jason Scott Sprint Cars - Commitment to racing at Cromwell, Ruapuna and Western Springs, Qualifying for the NZ Sprint Car Title

34d Craig Shaw - Top South Island Car at the DHL Saloon Series

Steve Dryden Streetstocks - 4th NZ Streetstock Title

43t Tony (Buck) Buchanan Sprint Cars. Qualifying for the NZ Sprint Car Title Cromwell 2010

492i Campbell McManaway Superstock - 4th NZ Superstock Title


 

Quick Links

 

 


Pic of the Week

Taken by Shelley Corbett

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Coming Soon

  South Island Sprint Car Title

Central Motor Speedway, Cromwell

Easter 2010


Next Meeting:

Eve of Destruction

Friday the 12th March

New Zealand Super Saloon Grand Prix

Saturday the 13th March

New Zealand Super Saloon Teams Nationals

www.islandparkmotorspeedway.co.nz

Details to Follow


 

ON SALE NOW


News:

Got any news you want to see on here? send an email to thepits@xtra.co.nz

2/3/10 Just a few bits of news to come through for the update this week.

A huge shout must go out to the 492i car of Campbell McMananway who travelled to Kihikihi and went on to not only qualify, but to also get 4th overall. What a fantastic effort by the Superstock driver. It was also good to hear that the Title will remain in the South Island with Brendan Higgins from nelson taking the 1NZ off a great ambassador in 19c Malcolm Ngatai

Cliff Henderson has sent through a great update about the tanks he is building and also a very good story about him. The Pits plans on running this over the next day or 2.

Speaking of Stock Cars, there has been a new site launched this week by Cromwell track photographer, Sharl Frires. The site appears to be quite informative with information about what is coming up with the big hitters along with profiles and meeting write ups. Visit the site at www.southernshock.co.nz for a quick nosey.

There has been a load of interest after I mentioned that I would run the story about Joel Kergozou that was written some 2 and a half years ago. I have been in contact with Kergozou and are hoping to sit down with him to do a follow up on what has happened over the last couple of years. He has agreed to do this. Check back for this very interesting and informative insight to what really happened.

A quick note to inform people that the meeting to be held on the 6th of March 2010 at Riverside Speedway has now been cancelled. With the South Island Street Stocks being held in Woodford Glen on the same day, Riverside was going to be lacking in numbers with the committee making the right move to not clash with it. The next meeting for Riverside will run on the 20th of March and will feature the end of season demolition derby and will also feature the Southland Stock Car Champs as well as Southland Champs for Productions. The final meeting for Riverside will be held on the 17th of April featuring the Southland Sprint Car Champs.

Speaking of meeting cancellations. Central Motor Speedway in Cromwell have cancelled their next meeting as well, which will now make their next one that South Island Sprint Car Title. Numbers for the title have been rumoured to be around the 14-18 mark, with a interest coming as far away as Alan Wakeling. Wakeling is rumoured to be keen to come down and contest the event because it is the only title that he has never had. Watch this space.

The Pits will be the source for more information for the pending NZ Super Saloon Grand Prix and NZ Super Saloon Teams Nationals. Shane Maaka is the man in charge of making the event happen, and The Pits will be bringing developments to you closer to the meeting. Already there is a $1000 treasure hunt scheduled for the crowd, Along with a $2000 winner take all demo derby. What a event this is turning out to be. As of this update, Maaka had confirmed some 24 entries for the title. Folks... Where will you be!!!

Off the email this week, I must make a wee correction to an earlier update in regards to Modified Sprints and Mini Sprints. Darryl Harris from Harris Race Team sent through an email which I will post. Here's what he had to say:

Hi
I was just reading through your site and in particular about Shaun Harris with his new car.
 
His car is in fact a modified sprint not a mini sprint. The difference is it is powered by a motorbike engine and is chain drive, Not a car engine and diff.
The car engine ones (mini sprints) are in fact a different class to the modified sprints. Modified sprints run up to 1200cc motorbike engines that produce 150 to 160 horse power and weigh 350 kg. They are the 2nd fastest class in speedway with the sprint cars being the fastest.
  Hope this doesnt confuse things for you but thought I would enlighten you with what the differences are.
 
Cheers
Darryl Harris

 

And finally, a big shout out goes to the Southern contingent that are heading away this weekend for the South Island Street Stock Title at Christchurch's Woodford Glen Speedway. Thats hope that one of the local lads can secure the other main title in this island adding to Geoff Loans 1NZ from a month ago.


9/2/10 This news update is dominated by the crash that hurt up and coming Sprint Car driver out of Riverside Speedway, 61i Chris Burns in the Winton Flooring Xtra sponsored machine. Burns was involved in a heavy crash that had him sustain what was believed to be some serious back damage after the tumble at Ruapuna Speedway in Christchurch. Burns had gone to Ruapuna to compete in the Gold Cup as a build up to the NZ Sprint Car Title to be held the following weekend at Central Motor Speedway. Sadly, Burns crash will have him sit out the rest of the season because of the crash. the upside is that the injury has proved to be less serious than first thought. Burns was expected to stay in Christchurch's main hospital for quite sometime, but was released in time to see the final nights racing in Cromwell for the NZ Sprint Car Title. At the time of the incident, The Pits was debuting a new feature section for drivers, to which Burns was the very first person. After talking about the incident with Burns, it has been decided to still run this feature. On behalf of everyone at Riverside Speedway, The Pits and all other Sprinter drivers, we wish you a very speedy recovery, and look forward to seeing you peddling that 61i Winton Flooring Xtra around again in no time.

Here is that crash: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_DClhxpP90

The Central Southland Frieght Sprint Car of 47t, Corey Price, was another person to have a a serious crash after a heat run at the NZ Sprint Car Title held in Cromwell on the 5th and 6th of Feb. Pricey was flying in the new car that the only debut hjust a few weeks before the title, but had a minor brush with the 15i car of Chris Hope. The end result was a head on crash with the wall heading into the tight turn 1 and 2. Check out the video footage to see what you think happened. Sadly the car is a write off.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YNfYZ21R_A


26/1/01 Following up form the 1NZ that Geoff Loan claimed, there has been confirmation from Geoff that this weekend was a double whammy for him. Not only did he grab the 1NZ, he also managed to put a few dollars on himself to win the Title, netting just shy of 10k in the process. How's that for a story and a half.

82i Troy Dryden became the hero of this meeting, insuring that the 7i car of Geoff Loan returned with the 1NZ. Dryden went on a mission to stop the 33c car of Don Garthley who was the much favoured car to take out the title. Dryden paid due to that theory and took to 33c. Once again, this kid can drive himself, but when it comes to being there for his club mates, you can be damn sure you know where his loyalties lye. Not something we can say about other drivers huh? On behalf of the southern readers and supporters of this site, we congratulate you on a job well done. Onya Troy!!

Peter Knight had yet another horror run, when the car only had first gear in the first race. Knight had broken the linkage and had to limp the car around the track. Knight eventually done enough to finish around the 10th mark over all. Once again, another driver that has the goods, but just cant make it stick on the important ones. Will this be the last time we see Pete in a Streetie now that the Stock Car is on the go? That's wait and see.

Cromwell Speedways web site seems to be very laxed on updates heading into a major NZ Title, so The Pits has been sent a link to info that could help you out with information required. The link is http://wow.gandtphotos.com/NZ%20title.html

If you require a list of the entrants to the Sprint Car Title, you can find it by visiting http://www.sprintcarworld.co.nz

4 more added today that aren't in the list. They are:

15i Chris Hope

43i Nigel Molloy

3nz Greg Pickerill

24w Martin Halcrow

Best of luck goes out to the Southern contingent.


24/1/10 Holy shit!!!! The news just keeps getting better for the southern part of New Zealand. Just a couple of weeks after the fantastic effort by Mike Verdona in the Super Saloons, we can now say that we have a New Zealand Champ in amongst us. The new New Zealand Streetstock Champion is none other than our very own 7i of Geoff Loan. Un Fkn Real.. The Pits and its readers wish to congratulate Geoff on such a fantastic effort. This would be the first front wheel drive Jap car that has ever taken out the title, and only the second driver in history to take a NZ Title out of the North Island. Also, Steve Dryden just missed out again after finishing 4th once again. Dryden had said that the car was set up wrong in the first race which effectively cost him the title. He was unable to be caught in the final race of the night. We congratulate Steve for such an awesome effort.. But 4th again... when will it be his turn.

19/1/10 Making news today:

Steve Dryden has had a horror build up to make an assault on the New Zeeland Street stock Title in Wellington. The 33p/33i car of Dryden's has had some serious mechanical issues with it since undergoing a huge rebuild. Dryden took the Falcon to race at Cromwell Speedway over the Xmas period after having the engine rebuilt, and the car sustained some major damage during the meeting. A new motor was rebuilt for the last meeting at Riverside Speedway, but with just a day to go, the engine was put back into the car and had another failure. With only hours to spare, Dryden had the engine redone again, and headed to Riverside Speedway. The car perform well up until he went to come out for the second race when the car had a clutch and a gearbox failure. This has jeopardized Dryden's chances of being able to attend the title. We wish Steve the best of luck in getting it sorted, and on his life long quest to obtain the 1NZ. Furthermore, we wish to extend that to all the southern drivers that are heading up for the title.

Central Motor Speedway has attracted at least 2 Americans to the NZ Sprint Car Title on the 5th and 6th of Feb. The numbers are rumoured to be sitting around the 25 mark as of today's date, but are expecting at least 40 cars to front up for the champs. Cromwell is doing everything in its power to put on the best possible show bringing in help from as far as Western Springs in Auckland and Ruapuna in Christchurch. A huge crowd is expected to turn out and watch one of the premier events of Speedway in New Zealand.

Phil Burgess is rumoured to be seeing out his last season as Promoter of Cromwell Speedway, as he wishes to put a huge effort into his racing. When asked why he was leaving, Burgess had commented that it was very hard to run a track and a race car and work full time. He said that his car is unreliable and never has the time to get on top of the regular situations the car has. By stepping down as Promoter, he believes that he can then get the car up to pace. This will be a huge loss to the Cromwell circuit as Burgess is well know around the Speedway fraternity. He is yet another character that you either like him or you don't. Either way, its safe to say that he wouldn't give a toss... Onya Phil... best of luck for the coming seasons.

Ex Production driver and Stock Car driver, Shaun Harris headed to Ruapuna Speedway to race his newly acquired Mini Sprint. Harris had a good run in the car until he rolled it over during one of the races. Harris was said to be enjoying the speed of the class.

 

Rhys Shirley debut his new Streety over the weekend, with the Dunedin registered driver buying the ex 3nz car of Barron Kelmans. Shirley performed well in the car and was said to be happy with the way its going.

Another car to debut was the newly built 28i car of Trevor Nelson. Nelson has had a wee break from Speedway after having minor back surgery last year. Nelson has been building the new XF wagon over the last couple of months and in the process looks like he has been doing a little working out himself. Nelson has been rumoured to have cut down to 2 pies a day ;-)

 

 

                                                             The Pits © 2009 Images ©www.shelleycorbettphotos.racing.org.nz