Nelson brings race action to town

Nelson Offroad Racing Club is bringing top race action to town, hosting its round of the 2011 Mickey Thompson New Zealand Offroad Racing Championship at the Richmond A&P Showgrounds.

The organising committee say race fans are in for an exciting day of wheel-to-wheel action on Saturday April 16 when the racing gets under way on the fast 1.1 km Mainfreight Raceway.

The event has already attracted more entries than the first North Island round of the championship, and like that event will feature the debut of several new or upgraded race vehicles.

The most innovative among these will be the new rear wheel drive race truck for Bryan Chang. Chang, who has driven his previous V8 turbocharged Ford Falcon to numerous class titles, has built an all-new race truck to an American design and will give the truck its first run in competition at Nelson. It races in AFWE class eight.

Also racing at Nelson is another Christchurch regular, Wayne Moriarty.

Long a star of class three for Super 1600 race cars, Moriarty is bringing out his Euroblast Cougar for what is expected to be one of its last appearances with Moriarty behind the wheel.

Taking advantage of a favourable exchange rate, Moriarty has committed to an Alumicraft “super buggy” or unlimited pro buggy which has had little race use and will be run in New Zealand in He’s staying with Bu-Mac Engineering class three for Super 1600 race cars, a category he has dominated in recent past few years.

Joining Moriarty in class three are John Van Dyk and Ron McPhail.

Former Nelson resident Dennis Andreassend is back in Whakatane Commercial Spares unlimited-class, racing the Cougar Evo he took to a national title two years ago. He will go up against Ashley Kelly, who drives a Nissan turbo-powered single-seater in unlimited class.

Clint Densem returns to contest Leader Products class five for Super 1300 cars.

Leading entries in the Coms4U Challenger class include Chris Devereaux, Simon Craig and John Strickett.

Local racer Darrin Thomason is also back, racing in AFWE class four for sport trucks in his bright green Nissan utility along with Paul Milne, Simon Smith and Dale Hammond.

Blenheim’s Mark French moves to AFWE production class this year.

There are three entries in class 10 for Odyssey-style race cars.

Among the many businesses supporting the event are Mickey Thompson Tyres, Mainfreight, the Rock FM and the Stable Bar and Restaurant.

Scrutineering will be on the Friday night at RPM Autos behind McDonalds in Queen Street in Richmond from 5.00 pm – 8.00 pm. On Saturday morning racing will start at 10:30 am. All racing will be in heats, with the fourth and final heat of the day run as an all-in race but scored by class. Admission for spectators is $5.00.

The 2011 Mickey Thompson New Zealand Offroad Racing Championship will feature three North Island and three South Island regional rounds before all leading teams come together at Nelson in early October for the national final, where the in-class and overall champions will be decided over two days of racing.