Tank #4

03/02/2024

Long time no post, things have been busy the past few months - had a ex Tank driver hounding me for a while and a deal was struck at the end of last season for the Tank.

I think in what's possibly the best use for the tank rather than onsell to be rolled bowled ...holed, returning the car back to original livery to go race in historics (especially after the massive effort to rebuild it). The car will be resplendent in it's original colours on display with other Dave Evans cars at Palmerston North Arena this weekend.

As for me, well I need to rename the page for the next car. With what arguably is one of the best looking chassis combo ever produced..

28/03/2023

Modified invasion we decided to give the Limos another run, in the final derby of the Season - Ramp race!

Yes we're that unwell.

After far too much time prepping and replacing parts we got all 3 scrutineered after the teams derby.

I shot off to a early lead in the XE until the tierod snapped. Doing the usual hit it hard and hit it fast over the ramp and I'd like to think I didn't disappoint the crowd with my efforts!
After the snapped tie rod I limped round in reverse bouncing off other cars and the wall for another couple of laps. Lost the ignition key when I got a sizeable whack and cooked it trying to get it going after the last red light - think I made it to the last 5-6 cars

Troy had the Eb Limo wound up and completed around half distance also before it cut out on him.

Tim did the best Derby he's had in years, giving and taking a huge amount of damage in the Lincoln winning the stirrers purse & I'm pretty sure second on the track!

I think it's fair to say we all got the last laugh after listening to the other drivers talking up a storm in the pits about the demolition job they were intending on giving us, outlasting them all.

12/03/2023

Battle of the stocks 2023

Well what a privilege to attend this event. We were paired up with Blair Reeves Smith 212v, although we didn't place individually on Friday we both finished all our races on a rather trying track when plenty of others were parking up, coming away relatively unscathed finishing Friday night 4th on points and Blair bagging enough points to make the TWS stockcar shootout.

First race on Saturday started off well but noticed the car was distinctly down on power and breathing rather heavy, nail in the coffin was coming back in with very low oil pressure..

With a heavy heart, sadly having to let our team mate down, rather than risk any further damage I opted to call it a day. Unfortunately this also means closing the chapter of 2022-23 season for us as we look to strip down for a rebuild.

Can't really complain as the engine has done some 29 meetings now, over that time I can count all my dnfs on one hand (2 were from teams on one night) ! If nothing else it's been reliable and I believe on the money performance wise.

A big thanks to the valued support of friends, family and others along the way who've helped us.

Fast Blast
Mag & Turbo Chch
JG Designs

06/03/2023

Somehow between rainouts and missing a double points meetings we scraped enough points to make it through to the big show!

Looking forward to some hard fast racing with the North Islanders again!

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=579234640898540&id=100064360282955&mibextid=Nif5oz

The Big Show is set to hit town - the 2023 Battle of the Stocks, two epic nights of SuperStock & Stockcar action, 32 SuperStocks, 32 Stockcars from all over NZ, it doesn't get much better than this!

SuperStock Entrants
4K Chad Ace
5W Keegan Levien
7C Riley Evans
9B Adam Groome
10C Mike Hyslop
19C Malcolm Ngatai
23C Jake Berry
23R Kendyll Ashton
24C Zac West
24R Kyle Ashton
25C Lloyd Jennings
26V Kaelin Mooney
28S Blair Uhlenberg
32C Mitch Berry
34C Caleb West
46B Quinn Ryan
46W Ethan Levien
47C Nigel Keats
52P Scott Joblin
62P Adam Joblin
72P Simon Joblin
79C Ben Hern
87B Thomas Stanaway'
91C Hepi Paul
95N Alex Hill
99B Jacob Buckerill
118R Bryce Steiner
144G Tim Ross
557C Darrel Wallace
971C Jayden Ward
991C Harley Robb
999C Cam Raine
27C Peter Field

Stockcar Entrants
1NZ Josh Walsh
2NZ Scott Tennant
4C Braydon Lennon
6V Dion Mooney
8A Logan Peat
9W Sheldon Arapere
15C James Thian
15V Callum Sturzaker
26V Kaelin Mooney
44C Baylee Clive
45C Matt Richards
46C Brook McPherson
53C Chris Wildey
56C Awa Johns
56K Cam Taylor
69W Kayne MacDonald
71C Jason Brooks
74C Tyler Houghton
79P Kyle Rowe
82P Roydon Winstanley
95C Alex Rondel
99S William Hughes
134P Bexs Barr
136C Tyler McPherson
151C Wade Sweeting
212V Blair Reeves-Smith
317C Jay Holtham
521C Michael Arras
772P Kyle Lampp
911C Craig Robb
991C Harley Robb
992P Taylor Lampp

Pre-Buy your tickets online now to avoid missing out, at the Woodford Glen Shop, or at the gate from 4pm race (if not sold out prior)

https://www.woodfordglen.co.nz/race-dates/race-meet-13

12/02/2023

11-2-23

Canterbury streetstock champs. We got the call up to run!

Bit of prep and once over the car we headed out for the night, only to discover we had 4 races scheduled.

With a few people on holiday and most of the fast guys saving their cars for Teams this weekend the track and pits was a little emptier than usual.

First race made our way through the pack after having a good battle with Bailey Clive finished 3rd.

Second race got a great start and then caught up in a pack, made some poor choices and brought it home 6th.

Tweaked the setup a little and had the car dialed in to take the chequered flag in the 3rd race

Fourth race was first in best dressed setup, after a quick splash n dash of fuel, resetting pressures and hydrating the driver we lined up on the front row. Led for a couple laps then dropped back behind Brad Rosewarne (after a bit of a absence racing) to have a good battle with Craig Robb - his car was on rails all night with a great turn of speed. Finishing 3rd again.

Thanks to my sponsors, fans and family for the support

Fast Blast Limited
Mag & Turbo Christchurch
Llama Engineering

I'd like to acknowledge and send the best of luck to our fellow Canterbury Crushers who are off to Huntley to contest the NZ Stockcar teams champs. Hell of a effort and commitment from all involved and we know they'll give it their all. We'll be watching in earnest!

29/01/2023

We had a ball of a time, great team of guys, just from the outset wanting to have fun - my somewhat low measure of success for this was if it could pull off more than one lap I'd be happy!

On the blocks at the start, took a couple cars to the wall, saw our runners were getting a fair amount of attention so did my best to get involved & then chase down.

Surprisingly had a bit of pace and I only spun once, didn't handle too badly if somewhat lazily.

1st, 3rd, 4th and 5th at the chequered with all but one of our cars still driving - I cooked mine about 20m into the victory lap.

Who knows if she'll live again!

https://youtu.be/0FBGafoHo68

Thanks to Ben Porter for the footage! Glad we got video evidence to share

Could definitely hear the crowd and kids at the fence! That's half the reason we do it

28/01/2023

Tonight is the night! Amazing what some paint and far too many days welding can do!

28/01/2023

All through scrutineering. First time all parked together.

Good luck to all the other drivers and we look forward to putting on a show

Thanks to our valued supporters

Fenwick Reinforcing
Fast Blast Limited
Trenchless Services

22/01/2023

Something a bit different in store for this weekend for us Woodford Glen Speedway Association Inc. Demolition Derby teams qualifier

4 current / ex stockcar drivers and a ministocks driver

You could say it's been somewhat of a looong wait 😂 first limo purchased at lockdown 3 years ago

Far too much work, but these should be something different.

Yes these were all road registered limousine's in nz throughout their lives

Proudly presented by Fast Blast Limited , Fenwick Reinforcing, Trenchless Services

"The Dead Presidents"

Ronald Reagan
George Bush
Gerald Ford
Abe Lincoln
Teddy Roosevelt

14/01/2023

Well that's the Canterbury Champs done and dusted for another season. For the first time I can remember it was made into a two day affair with qualifying on Friday night due to the sheer number of cars (even with some out of Towner's)

It was a big meeting with the NZ Streetstock GP & Extreme dirt series in town making for a hard packed track.

Fridays goal was to qualify and bring the car home with minimal work to do Saturday morning, with some pretty average results I came home 13th overall.

Saturday we had a long wait between races, moving forward 13th from grid 18 I think, seemingly clearing the way and then letting the door open each time for someone else to pip me 😂. Second race I started on the front row, got off to a good start but really had no answer for the first 6-7 cars - I was really struggling on the slick track, finishing 12th.

Going into the final we weren't looking likely for even a top 10 which had been my lofty goal for Saturday, starting off the back with Harley & Tama meant I couldn't even sit on the brakes for anyone. Somehow after the second lap popped out with Harley from the back in 7th, having a great old battle with Craig Robb like days of old swapping, scraping pushing & shoving bringing the car home 8th. For a finish 9th overall, drove it on the trailer which is always a bonus!

Thoughts are with Wade after his unfortunate incident, wish him well to a speedy recovery.

Congratulations to the place getters, you were head and shoulders faster out there and well deserved, it was good racing in a quality field with less stoppages with lots of fast tidy racing with a few new faces from out of town!

Thanks to James for the photo… reckons I'm deep in thought 😆

Thanks as always to my sponsors, friends & family that help out where they can.

Fast Blast Limited
Mag & Turbo Christchurch
Transform Graphics
Marley Fibre Glassing

18/12/2022

https://www.facebook.com/100068321274656/posts/466909288929776/?mibextid=Nif5oz

53c Chris Wildey at the 50th Anniversary of the tanks meeting at Robertson Prestige International Speedway 3rd December 2022