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!!! BATTLE OF THE STOCKS !!!

As in many previous years night two of the Battle of the Stocks didn't seem to have quit the edge to it that night one did. There was a huge crowd, probably the biggest at Woodford Glen this year, and the racing was fast and furious as usual, but somehow not quite as tense as Friday night. The speeds some of the cars were reaching at the end of the back straight were frightening - some drivers afterwards commenting that that is probably the fastest their cars have ever been, due to the long straights and grippy surface.

The winners of the overall event were the pairing of Wayne Hemi and Emmerson Leach, and deserved winners they were. Leach put behind him the issues of night one, and got on with the job of racing, and he did it very well. We all knew the 99C car was fast (having won a heat of the New Zealand champs in the hands of Shane Penn last season) but so far this season Emmerson has been content to use it as a battering ram - it was pleasing then to see him really gun it fast and keep up with the North Islanders. Hemi looked unstoppable all night, and only oil pressure worries in the second half of the last race kept him away from the podium in each heat. The Red Waka really is an awesome machine, and very fast. But so too is Hemi fast - he can read the track half a lap ahead and the car is responsive enough to go wherever he wants it. He was the top individual points scorer for the night, by some margin.

Second overall were the pairing of Bryce Penn and Colin Summerton. Summerton was pretty invisible all night, just going about the business of collecting points, but Penn was always near or at the front of the pack, and frankly looked the second quickest car on the track after Hemi. Third were Kelvin Gray and Mark Sangster. Grey looked sharp all evening, never quite at the front of the pack, but always nipping at the heels of those in front, and never afraid to lean on cars he was passing. In fact of all the North Island cars, Grey would have to be the one who hit the most. Sangster capped off what has been a good season for him with some good mid-field drives, and more than a little hitting of the other Christchuch cars.

Fourth were Wayne Wilding and Ricky Boulton, and I felt both had an excellent meeting with good solid perfomances most races, and both seem to have lifted their game from earlier in the season. Fifth were Rodney Hern and Glen Smith, which just goes to show that consistency pays dividends in a competition such as this - neither driver was anywhere near the pace of the North Island cars, yet each finished every single heat, and 12 mid field finishes adds up to a good total of points.

Other things to note included
- Dennis Andreassend couldn't believe his luck when Malcolm Ngatai half spun right in front of him, and all he had to do was keep on driving to give Malcolm a big sideways shunt.
- Yet again Mark Osbourne combining great pace with aggressive lines and plenty of contact - I for one hope that he doesn't sell his car, and runs it next season at the Glen.
- As on night one, Neil Frew throwing his Standard Stock around and blocking everything he could. When he eventually gets a Toyota powered Gordge, as one day he must do, watch out New Zealand.
- The amazing torque from the Red Waka - red lights really played into Hemi's hands - he could easily make up 4-5 places from every restart.
- The high number of retirements with mechanical woes - I think largely due to the high speeds of the top cars and the constant contact which was taking place. Some may criticise the North Islanders as flag racers, but watch closely and you will see a lot of contact going on as they lean on slower cars to keep their momentum up through the turns.
- The pace of the Nelson duo of Nick Fowler and Dennis Andreassend, and their willingness to hit to get past when needed. They were lacking nothing in comparison to Gray, Penn or Joblin.
- The excellent track surface which kept two and half to three cars wide all night, without slicking up.

All in all another excellent Battle of the Stocks - fast, clever, controlled racing all evening. Well done guys, bring it on again next season!

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	!!! BATTLE OF THE STOCKS !!! As in many previous years night two of the Battle of the Stocks didn't seem to have quit the edge to it that night one did. There was a huge crowd, probably the biggest at Woodford Glen this year, and the racing was fast and furious as usual, but somehow not quite as tense as Friday night. The speeds some of the cars were reaching at the end of the back straight were frightening - some drivers afterwards commenting that that is probably the fastest their cars have ever been, due to the long straights and grippy surface. The winners of the overall event were the pairing of Wayne Hemi and Emmerson Leach, and deserved winners they were. Leach put behind him the issues of night one, and got on with the job of racing, and he did it very well. We all knew the 99C car was fast (having won a heat of the New Zealand champs in the hands of Shane Penn last season) but so far this season Emmerson has been content to use it as a battering ram - it was pleasing then to see him really gun it fast and keep up with the North Islanders. Hemi looked unstoppable all night, and only oil pressure worries in the second half of the last race kept him away from the podium in each heat. The Red Waka really is an awesome machine, and very fast. But so too is Hemi fast - he can read the track half a lap ahead and the car is responsive enough to go wherever he wants it. He was the top individual points scorer for the night, by some margin. Second overall were the pairing of Bryce Penn and Colin Summerton. Summerton was pretty invisible all night, just going about the business of collecting points, but Penn was always near or at the front of the pack, and frankly looked the second quickest car on the track after Hemi. Third were Kelvin Gray and Mark Sangster. Grey looked sharp all evening, never quite at the front of the pack, but always nipping at the heels of those in front, and never afraid to lean on cars he was passing. In fact of all the North Island cars, Grey would have to be the one who hit the most. Sangster capped off what has been a good season for him with some good mid-field drives, and more than a little hitting of the other Christchuch cars. Fourth were Wayne Wilding and Ricky Boulton, and I felt both had an excellent meeting with good solid perfomances most races, and both seem to have lifted their game from earlier in the season. Fifth were Rodney Hern and Glen Smith, which just goes to show that consistency pays dividends in a competition such as this - neither driver was anywhere near the pace of the North Island cars, yet each finished every single heat, and 12 mid field finishes adds up to a good total of points. Other things to note included - Dennis Andreassend couldn't believe his luck when Malcolm Ngatai half spun right in front of him, and all he had to do was keep on driving to give Malcolm a big sideways shunt. - Yet again Mark Osbourne combining great pace with aggressive lines and plenty of contact - I for one hope that he doesn't sell his car, and runs it next season at the Glen. - As on night one, Neil Frew throwing his Standard Stock around and blocking everything he could. When he eventually gets a Toyota powered Gordge, as one day he must do, watch out New Zealand. - The amazing torque from the Red Waka - red lights really played into Hemi's hands - he could easily make up 4-5 places from every restart. - The high number of retirements with mechanical woes - I think largely due to the high speeds of the top cars and the constant contact which was taking place. Some may criticise the North Islanders as flag racers, but watch closely and you will see a lot of contact going on as they lean on slower cars to keep their momentum up through the turns. - The pace of the Nelson duo of Nick Fowler and Dennis Andreassend, and their willingness to hit to get past when needed. They were lacking nothing in comparison to Gray, Penn or Joblin. - The excellent track surface which kept two and half to three cars wide all night, without slicking up. All in all another excellent Battle of the Stocks - fast, clever, controlled racing all evening. Well done guys, bring it on again next season!