2013 new zealand midget car title
TRANSCRIPT
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7/29/2019 2013 New Zealand Midget Car Title
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In the semi main we came from the
back row up to second place along
with setting quick time.
Photo Credit: Ned Dawson
The Christchurch Cathedral,
21/3/13
The day had finally come... we were
ready to take on the Southern dirt!!
The car was prepped, the team was
firing on all cylinders and I was
feeling great after the International
Series at Western Springs. We had
some new challenges to face as we
headed to Ruapuna Speedway,
Christchurch. My first time
competing outside the North Island
on a previously unseen track. Thiswas going to make things
interesting from the outset. But
anything worth having wasnt going
to come easy. It was game on!!
In the lead up to the New Zealand
title it was great to see that both the
speedway community and the
media had recognized the results
that the HLR Racing team drivers
had achieved over the Summer. A
real credit to Geoff Harper, Team
Principal, along with both Haydensand my crew. None of our results
could be delivered without our
team!!
After a road trip spanning across
several days we were welcomed
into the South Island by some
incredible weather. Something we
havent had in the North this
Summer. Once we arrived in
Christchurch with the car in tow I
managed to get out and visit the
three BNT branches in the city. It
was great meeting with all themanagers and their sales teams and
allowing them to get up close to the
car and chat about what we all have
in common... motorsport!!
That night we headed out to dinner
with some family friends who we
havent seen since the devastating
earthquakes. They offered to take us
for a drive through the city centre,
past the cathedral, CTV building site
and the rest of the red zone. I
could not put into words what I saw.Using the term like a ghost town
just didnt not even come close to
what you could feel. There was a
real sense of emptiness, pain,
heartache and sorrow. Two years on
from the actual event and everything
felt so empty.
The following day was the day was
it, qualifying for the New Zealand
title. Make or break. Do or die. Now
or never. It was game time.
ALASTAIR
Sunday News - NZ Nationwide
THE NZ MIDGET TITLERUAPUNA SPEEDWAY, CHRISTCHURCH
UPDATEWOOTTEN
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7/29/2019 2013 New Zealand Midget Car Title
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eget lacus. Maecenas felis nunc
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THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES HAS COMEAND GONE SO WHERE TO NOW FOR THE
2013 SEASON...?
From the 26th of December until the 5th of January Western Springs Speedway was the host of
the POWRI International Midget Series. An event bringing
the worlds best midget racers head to head!!
After having an eventful
Christmas day, indulging in plenty of
good food and drink I had my whits
about the calm before the storm.
The POWRI International Midget
Series would kick off the following
day at Springs Speedway. After my
rookie season last year I knew I
would have the car and a little more
knowledge and understanding or
what I was getting myself in for.
The opening night of the
international series proved to be a
little challenging as the engine
problems we though we had got ontop of seemed to have come back
to haunt us. After qualifying a strong
16th place in the feature we were
unable to fire up the motor due to
no oil pressure... Not something any
team owner wants to hear of -
resulting in a DNF!
A couple of nights later on the
29th we headed back down to the
Springs with our fingers crossed
that we had sorted our problems.
After leading our first heat until the
last lap we were certain we were on
top of things. Coming home behind
Brad Mosen and Nathan Smee
(#1AUS) was nothing to be ashamed
of. Qualifying for the feature once
again meant we had a car to place
us in the top 15 for the feature. We
finished and the car was on song.Tick!
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Purus in consectetuer Proin in
sapien. Fusce urna magna,neque
eget lacus. Maecenas felis nunc
aliquam ac consequat vitae.
Congue porta scelerisque
praesent at, lacus vestibulumet at dignissim cras urna, ante
convallis turpis duis lectus
sed aliquet, at tempus et.
Before we got to the track, we knew the eleven drivers
who we would face in our three heat races on the night.
The grids for race one were determined by marble
draw. Pulling grid eleven was thought to be an
advantage. On a fast track we thought we could make
good progress. As the night went on, the track would
loose grip, our grids would move us forward as the
passing opportunities were getting less. After
managing to pass three cars in heat one we came
home 8th. Still coming to grips with the track... We
were ok.
As we moved into the second heat with a little more
knowledge of the track as the surface dried out we
were ready to start moving forward. Dave, Dad, Scot
and Kent had made some changes to the car to tighten
it up a little more and give it some more grip for the fast
drying track. We took the green flag and held our own
for a handful of laps before being freight trained and
being forced wide by 3 cars. After this it was either win
it or bin in. I moved up track and started running thecushion around the high line of the track. The car has
never felt better. We were hooked up and had a fast car
however not able to gain those spots back.
Unfortunately it was too little too late. Once again
another 8th.
For the final heat we started off the front row with local
South Island Champ and South Island Grand Prix
winner Dave Kerr. After the first half of the race we were
holding our own in second place. Once again running
the high line was working for us but just not managing
to get gripped up off the turn. 4 x NZ ChampionMichael Pickens and another competitor sneaking by
resulting in a 4th place for us.
What this meant was that we were up for a long night
on Saturday night or a super short night. We were
having to take part in the B-Main event. A race where
the top 5 drivers transfer into the A-Main event for the
title crown. Once again, the race was a fast one. After
running 12 laps of total commitment I am proud to say I
have never driven that hard in all my life!! With
maintaining our starting position in 6th we set the
second fastest lap of the race. A true testament that my
team gave me a fast car and that we prove that we had
a great package. Unfortunately things just didnt work
out for me, finishing in 6th and first of the non
qualifiers.
We did manage to have one more race on Saturday
night. A non-qualifiers feature. After reversing the the
finishing order of the B-Main meant we were off the
back row. After six laps we came from the back row to
2nd. Unfortunately, the race was red flagged on lap 10
when we were challenging for the lead. For sure if the
race went the full distance it was all ours!
All in all, a huge learning weekend for me as a driver
and one which I wont forget. Getting more comfortable
running up against the cushion is sure to be a huge
help as we head home to Western Springs for the North
Island Champs for this coming weekend.
Also, a huge thanks you to all my South Island fans,
family and supports who managed to get to the track
and those of you who followed via:
www.facebook.com/alastairwoottenfans
www.twitter.com/alastairwootten
Instagram @alastairwootten
And a huge congratulations to now 5 x NZ Midget Car
Champion Michael Pickens!! So until next time,
Photo Credit:
Ned Dawson
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