The spiritual racing home of Jeremy Webb holds no boundaries as Webb returned to the top of the podium to win his 5th NZ T.Q. championship and his second at Milestone Homes Top of the South Speedway, his debut title was here in 2018, matching his father Dick’s efforts 1996. This year’s build-up not ideal, after missing the podium last year, (a crash with just a couple of laps to go in what would have been a record breaking 5th NZ in a row), Webb turned up for the first time in Nelson this year with a novice crew, mixed results at best, then to return alone(no crew) to win the feature against a top line-up in the final build-up meeting showed he was determined to regain the 1nz, that meeting he drew a line in the sand and showed as a former NZ competitor of the year, he was the one to catch.

Webb lead the points after the opening three rounds on night 1, he was joined by defending champion Aaron humble on 76 points as they headed towards the championship race, Humble picking the front row position with a faster heat lap time, two false starts with carnage behind saw Humble lead into the opening corner but on the 3rd restart it was Webb that got the jump and was never headed opening a comfortable margin over Humble, the real battle was behind in the fight for 3rd, the former 2nz of Kayden Barker, battling with 3nz Terrence Dorrell and Ryan Baker who had finished runner-up to Webb in 2018, then trio swapping positions throughout the race, but with laps running out it was Baker who just edged out Dorrell to finish behind Humble and Webb to make the championship podium.

The roll overs were frequent throughout the weekend, with several getting too far out in the marbles off the start and climbing the turn 1 wall, two of the senior competitors of Duane Todd and Peter Hunnibell both rolling at the same time in the championship final. Kimberley Yeatman missing the championship final after qualifying for the final but later found out not to have made the track under her own power (technical requirement).  The best of the Nelson drivers was Morgan Frost in 6th, he should’ve had a higher starting position, but he was a victim in the heats from a wayward driver.

A small field of Sprint cars turned up for the Paddy North Memorial and Sunshine Classic, the two young Americans joining the regular visitors and local drivers Alicia Hill and Connor Rangi, Rangi picking the Paddy North trophy, acknowledging the Blenheim legend, while returning American Joel Myers Jnr won the Sunshine Classic.

The Stock cars turned up the hits in their final heat, the visiting Christchurch drivers having a battle with a few locals, debuting Super Saloon driver Dave Manera receiving a couple of welcome to Stock cars shots from the visitors.

The Production Saloons were marred by a couple of incidents, Abby Carter and Nicole Carey both making heavy contact with the wall, the cars and drivers coming off second best. Vaughan Cornelious continued his trophy haul, picking up the Pam Nixon Memorial win.

Quarter Midgets ran their Mike Greer Homes (Nelson) S.I. series round 2, Greymouth’s Kohen Thompson picking his second series feature win, plus the feature win on night 2, a sore end to the night for Meneka Rawson clipping the turn 2 wall, while defending series champion Locky Martin ended his weekend early with engine issues.

The Super Stocks also had a few visiting Christchurch drivers, Braydon Lennon and James Thian picking up wins for the visitors with Shane Harwood winning the last heat for the locals. A shocking delay on the red light by the referees saw John Everett, who was stranded on the back straight get clipped by a couple of cars, the Man of Steel coming off very second hand.

The Youth Ministocks had an extra race added with a delay to the NZ championship race, a tough night at the office for Toby Walker while Conley Webley and Luke Higgins continued their season battles, Locky Martin keeping up with the speedsters in his fourth meeting, the biggest grade in the club still growing.

The Streetstocks mixed it early, the Rugby world cup TMO involved in a bizarre 22-day Stand-down decision, the grade building up towards the NZ title in Wellington mid-January, 3nz Steve Soper making an early exit for the night, a smaller field on the night.

The track staff did their best on a big 2-day open wheel meeting on a warm weekend, trying to get the track to its best for the T.Q.s with the Sprint Cars format making a difficult task nearly impossible, a couple of T.Q.’s left with little to no tread left on the tyres after the feature grade.

Jeremy Webb has confirmed his status as the greatest ever T.Q. driver in NZ Speedway history, he has the chance to break another record here in Nelson in January, gunning for his 7th straight South Island and 11th overall, no one has won more than 6 Island titles in a row, a few trips up north to compete in the international Midget car series will keep him match-fit to return back to try and break another record

Article added: Tuesday 12 December 2023