Update 3 - Pukekohe.indd

Extending the
CHAMPIONSHIP LEAD
Pukekohe Park Raceway
Although Pukekohe Park Raceway is better known
internationally as a motor racing circuit, it is primarily
a horse racing circuit in New Zealand. It is located 40
kilometres south of Auckland City in the North Island.
The Raceway was opened in 1963 as a permanent
track, replacing Ardmore (an aerodrome) as the host
circuit of the New Zealand Grand Prix. Annually for
several years, the mainly European based Grand Prix
drivers such as Stirling Moss, Graham Hill, Jim Clark and
Jackie Stewart, would head downunder for a relaxed
Tasman Series during the European winter.
For many years Pukekohe was the venue for New
Zealand’s premier production car race, the Benson and
Hedges 500 mile race (later 1000 km) featuring drivers
such as Peter Brock, Dick Johnson and Jim Richards. In
1996 the New Zealand Mobil Sprints held one round in
Pukekohe. Pukekohe Park Raceway also held an annual
round of the popular Australian V8 Supercar race from
2001 to 2007. However, the New Zealand round moved
to Hamilton Street Circuit in 2008. On 5 July 2012, it
was announced that V8 Supercars would return to the
circuit in 2013 as part of a 5 year deal with the circuit
operators.
In the centre of the circuit there is a horse racing course,
which dictates the use of the site as it owned by the
Counties Racing Club Inc, who had not invested a large
amount of money in the motor racing track over the
years and many would say that this would leads to its
slow demise. Even though the club holds very few horse
race meetings each year, it is used as a stables and
training facility.
2015 Update 3 - Pukekohe
Pukekohe Park Raceway, Auckland 11th-12th April 2015
Round 3 - Championship Lead Extended
P5. Really happy with that result. Race 3 was a 12
lapper and Sam started in P2 he was going really
well in lap 1 along the back straight he took evasive
action to avoid a collision (smart racing) in doing so
he missed going through the chicanes and when he
re-entered the track he came back on in P4 where
he stayed for the duration of the race. The safety car
was deployed halfway through the race to bunch up
the field but by this stage the ute was lacking a bit of
speed so it didn’t change Sam’s position.
The trusty ute was fair flying in the practices
at Pukekohe Park and Sam sure was showing
he knows this track well. We had the qualifying
on Saturday morning and he qualified in P2.
Unfortunately in the last lap the clutch failed so major
pit crew work was required to replace the clutch and
get them back out for Race 1 which was scheduled
for 3 hours later. Fortunately we had 2 sponsors/
supporters along for the day so Bones & Scotty rolled
up their sleeves, donned overalls and got busy under
the ute. Not what they’d planned for the day but was
most appreciated. With 10 minutes to spare the ute
was ready to race so Sam headed out in P2. He had
a great start and kept the pressure on the leader for
the full 8 laps and finished a nice clean P2 exactly
where he started. Great racing and great crew work.
When Race 2 came around on Sunday morning it
was down to the back of the back in P11 for the
reverse grid. Sam chipped away on the other cars
to work his way through the field and finished in
Overall for the round he finished 3rd (by 1 point) so
another podium finish. Overall standings see Sam still
in 1st place with a gap of 22 to 2nd place.
We take a break over the winter now and Race 4 is
scheduled for 25-26th September in Taupo.
Thanks again to our wonderful family of sponsors.
There’s still space on the rear tail guard for any
new sponsors if you have anyone you think may be
interested please let us know. With 3 rounds already
gone we could always look at doing round-by-round
sponsorship.
NZV8 Ute Series Points Standings
POSITION
DRIVER
UTE BRAND
UTE#
R1
R2
R3
R4
R5
R6
Total
1
Sam Barry
Ford
71
84
90
77
-
-
-
251
2
Brett Rudd
Holden
99
68
93
68
-
-
-
229
3
Matt Spratt
Holden
48
74
71
78
-
-
-
223
4
James Urquhart
Holden
10
72
60
72
-
-
-
204
5
Mike Lightfoot
Ford
96
61
71
70
-
-
-
202
6
Peter Ward
Holden
69
77
43
65
-
-
-
185
7
Mason Barbera
Ford
16
85
55
41
-
-
-
181
8
Jeff Kernohan
Ford
21
59
56
51
-
-
-
166
9
Simon Ussher
Ford
94
48
51
29
-
-
-
128
10
David Kernohan
Ford
12
0
55
48
-
-
-
103
11
Kirk Shier
Ford
6
49
0
46
-
-
-
95
12
Brent Collins
Holden
11
0
0
90
-
-
-
90