It was action a plenty from the first race at ASB Baypark Speedway on Saturday night when the combined Super Saloons and Saloons took to the track.

The challenge for the Supers is to keep ahead of their lesser powered Saloon cousins – and that in itself seemed to rattle some drivers with a number of spins halting the racing many times.

Super Saloon action at ASB Baypark on Saturday night. Photos: ASB Baypark Speedway.

7m Super Saloon driver Brent Emerson struggled with his set up with a number of spins in the first and second heat. However, the crew made the right adjustments for the feature where Emerson found enough drive up top on the track to take the chequered flag from 71M Russell Donovan, with 76M Karl Hanlon in third.

Saloon Cars claimed the next three positions with 271 Steve Cowling in fourth, 2NZ Brent McClymont in fifth and 75M Michelle Wymer in sixth.

The Sprint Car class turned on some of the fastest racing seen at Baypark this season. With two heats and a pole shuffle to sort out the starting order for the feature, it was the two cars which started on the front of the grid and went on to win first and second place in the feature. The Red Ant Sprint Car Gold cup was up for grabs and this season it went to regular Baypark visitor 3NZ Jamie Macdonald. 2NZ Dean Brindle was second with 78A Daniel Eggleton in third place.  

In the stock Car class, first place went to 92M Scott Hayward with 38M James Hamilton in second and 81M Mike Stock in third. A very enthusiastic 87M Ash Henstock won the Ministock feature with the highest two places in points over the night going to 81M Sam Waddell and 47M Matt Neilson.

Wheel stand in the dirt.

In an event that can only be described as “for pure entertainment”, the RFT engineering ramp Demo Derby did exactly that. Held on a very slippery track, 49 cars bumped, bashed and crashed their way around Baypark’s terracotta oval until there was only one standing. Crowd favourite and past winner Chris Trial in the lightweight V-Tech Honda civic received the entertainer award mainly for gaining the most air over the ramps. However, a number of his unusual landings and success, with recovering control of the car when sure disaster was looming, also contributed.

Tony Jenkins was second with Baypark Stock Car driver Mike Lowe winning the event in a Toyota MR2.

The next event at ASB Baypark is the Base Up Fireworks Extravaganza, Harry Fredrickson Stock Car Gold Cup, Super Stock Hit to Pass, Super Saloon Baychamps and Golden Oldies stock cars on Saturday, March 29.