Top Half 2004 Round 3 Report From Taupo-9 May
14 May 2004
RE: TOP HALF ROUND 3
Taupo Kart Club hosted at the Taupo International Raceway, Round 3 of the 2004 Top Half Series. On the fast open spaces the racing was some of the best to watch in sometime. Of the racing, the small people (Cadets) entertained with spectators with an absolute top display of racing and the minor number of incidents allowed the day to finish early and the competitors to return home in good time.
Round 4 will be at KartSport Mt Wellington?s track on 27 June 2004.
Cadets
This racing was absolutely awesome to watch. In the final a blanket could have covered the first seven karters including Levi Madsen ? Prinn who came from way back in the field for third place. This was one of the outstanding drives of the day. In the final Aaron Hodgson led the drivers out from the start to be passed first by Arie Hutton and then Mitchell Evans. These two swapped the lead several times and just when it looked like a Mitchell Evan?s win, Arie Hutton stole the lead and hung on for two or three laps to secure the win. Shaun Nicholson popped up for fifth with Daniel Kinsman in fourth and Aaron Hodgson back to sixth.
Junior Restricted
Ben Dallas cemented his lead in the series over Tyler Richardson and Todd Sherley. The speed that the top six drivers exhibited in the final was a joy to watch. The class is one of the better- supported classes and all eyes will look to Ben Dallas defending his lead at his home circuit next month.
Juniors
Nick Sandstad had one of his blue days. Everything was perfect. His final drive of the day was his best. Mathew Wooding demonstrated that not all good drivers live north of the Bombays to register a second in the final and third overall. Mr Consistency, Andrew Waite, finished second and extended his lead in the series. An interesting point is the top six places all belong to Mt Wellington members.
JUNIOR DEVELOPMENT
Daniel McMillan from Tokoroa won both the day and extended his lead in the series. Newcomer in the series Simon Evans came a creditable second with another youngster Graeme Smyth in third. The junior development class continues to host the largest fields.
YAMAHA LIGHTS
Edward Fea continues to be the big improver heading off Whangarei?s Caine Lobb (having his first senior meeting) and Hamilton?s experienced Clinton Fell. Fea and Fell were not out of the top four all day and were always within a wheel of one another. With only two points separating the two, the last round will be a classic battle. The next three places are all filled by up and coming youngsters in Mike Griffiths, Allan Shaw and Jason Catley.
YAMAHA HEAVIES
The Kendall boys, assisted by a relegation to Shane Hodgson, took out the top two places. Leyton won the day from Hodgson and brother Dion Kendall. The racing was not as competitive as the other classes due to only 9 karters racing but Russell Grinter and Todd McKillop also had flashes of brilliance.
125 NATIONAL
Steve Brown, Godfather Varney and Greg Helleur belted out the first 3 places in the days racing. Melissa Urban got in amongst the placings in two of the heats but had to concede the overall results to Brown, Varney and Mark Sweetman.
ROTAX HEAVIES
Bradley Alexander from Tokoroa had a battle all day with Brent Murgatroyd conceding the day to the latter. However its still Alexander on Murgatroyd over Brian Tyrell overall.
OPEN
Despite the poor support in previous rounds, 16 of the Open boys experienced the open track. The Maranello boys of Ryan Grant, David Pinkerton and Hayden Norton took the day but newcomers from Taranaki, Kane Frost and former New Zealand T.Q. Champion Glenn Smith, also took wins in the heats. Smith qualified second for the final and looked to be competitive but a costly mistake ruled him out of the placings. Richard Vickers came in a solid fifth and leads the series comfortably.
The series moves on to the final round at Mt Wellington on 27 June 2004.
