Hey there, just spent 2 weeks in the sth island for the NZ champs and the NZGP. First up in Invercargill for the NZ champs, 34 bikes there so qualifying was pretty intense but managed to get through to the finals. On finals night we were going fairly average for the first three heats with two 2nds and a third only giving us 5 points and not much of a chance but we all know that anything can happen on the track and it did. All the guys on higher points started to lose races and we started to win races, two 1st in our last two heats gave us enough points to finish 3rd overall giving me my 4th 3nz title and Honk my swinger his first podium finish in the NZ champs.

Off to Cromwell for the NZGP the following weekend, this was run over the 20 heat format to find the top 6 point scorers to go into a one race final, as you cross the line is were you finish. We got through the heats ok and did enough to make the final on a interestingly shaped track and a dry hard surface with dust for africa!! We started on grid 5 for the final and got a flyer out of the gate to make 2nd into the first bend, managed to stay there for the rest of the final which gave us 2nd place in the NZGP.

We also got a good look around the south island while we were there and what an awesome place, thanks to everyone who organised the 2 meetings and thanks to my sponsors, Fujitsu, East Coast Contracting, Gillies, Cooltech & Jukes carriers for making it possible.

Congrats to 97p the new nz1 and congrats to 19n the new gp champ.

Thanks GT for the website as well.

Sefton

Hey there, been a while since I updated, bit of catching up to do! I only started my 2010 season on the 4th of jan this year, normally we would in october but moving house and flat out at work etc etc etc.The 4th jan was the first round of the aus v’s nz sidecars at gisborne. What a line up, current world champ, 2 time former world champ, aussie champ, nz champ, 2 former nz champs, 2nz and a heap of more than capable and definately willing bikes to round out the 16 bike feild. It was run over the 20 heat championship format to find the top 4 for a one off final, Treloar from aus finished on 14pts with us 2nd on 13pts, 39p and 9g rounding out the top 4. In the final the 84a to quick for the rest of us, we came in 2nd Andrew & Phillipa 3rd. We were well pleased with this as it was our first meet of the season, have also a different swinger this year but honk (Calvin Fogarty) has raced at this level before so knows what its all about.

Meet 2, ruapuna in Christchurh. We went ok down here but only finished 8th struggling to find drive all night. The best race of the night was Handbag and Tony up against the 3 aus bikes in the final and coming through from 3rd to take the win, good shit guys.

Meet 3, moore park. Racing in the rain!!!! first time for every thing I suppose. aus bikes loved this track as it is more what they are used to surface wise. not a good day for us as we didnt have any 19″ tyres to bolt in but had a good last race with Cam & Robbie from aus

Meet 4, Invercargill Oreti park. We didnt make it down for this leg but again the track was to the aussies liking taking the podium spots.

Meet 5, Wanganui. This was the best organised meet of the tour with Mick putting in a mammoth effort to get it all to run smoothly, from the uniforms for the nz and aus teams to the grid girls, the stunt bikes, lollie scrambles for the kids, air force helicopters, corporate tents and solo bikes back at wanganui, what a show. The racing here was like the old days, 6 wide into the first corner and see who pops out still in tact. 2 heats of 6 bikes, 3 nz and 3 aus with accumulated points for each team to find a winner, points givin as you finish, 6 5 4 3 2 1. After 5 rounds the kiwi team of ourselves, Les & Kervin, Andrew & Phillipa, Russell & Andrew, Cudge & co and Handbag & most of Tony finished on top with 119pts to aussies 73pts

2days later we raced in palmy for the Nth island champs and were pleased with a 4th equal placing in this meet. Next big meet is the NZ champs in invercargill and the following weekend is the NZGP in cromwell, will let you know how we get on, cheers.

Sefton

Hey guys, turned up at Napier for the Nth Is champs in the blistering heat on the 29th of jan, qualifying run during the heat of the which is hard on man and machinery and the track conditions less than adequate for our class. They did their best to keep the track but at the end of the day dry, black and dusty is not my idea of racing.

We qualified allright but our first heat in the finals popped a mean wheelstand coming out of pit bend, glanced of the wall and went half way over the bars when we landed wrenching my wrist in the process while Clint ended up getting dragged along for a bit with his foot trapped in the kneeler.

Pretty average meeting after that for us and pulled out of round 5 of finals with wrist giving me grief by then.

Had a couple of meets at home since then and still trying to find a decent set up with the new engine in a different position than last years, not really working how we wanted but thats all racing, lots of trying new things and learning. Had our Cartmell/Law memorial last night and only managed 3 seconds, the trophy going to Rob/Dean Miller with 3 wins and Clive & Brendon 56g second and us 3rd. Champ of Champs next meet so trying a few setup changes for that and see if we can get it right  and keep the cup at home. Not sure who’s coming but this meet usually draws a fairly class feild of competitors, looking forward to it!

Cheers Sefton

Hey there, been a while but we have been at the beach camping for last couple of weeks.

The NZ champs in palmy could have gone better for us with mechanical probs taking us out of 2 of the 5 heats in the finals, broken clutch cable as we entered the arena for the 3rd round and electrical probs in the 5th. We finished 6th overall which was not bad considering.

The NZGP at home the following two weekends after rain aborted the finals half way through the meet, track conditions were a bit of all over the show and we struggled a bit for a set up. Congrats to Les and Kervin for winning both meets, well deserved after so many years together,we finished 5th. For us its on to the Nth island champs in Napier this weekend. Hopefully with some better results.

Sefton

Hey guys, the last few meetings have all gone well for us, 3 from 3 in meeting 2, 2 wins and 2nd in meeting 3 and 4 and a win and 2 2nds on boxing day. Deane and Rob got their bike singing now and keeping us honest, also Graeme Rylot 33g having a good run this season as well.

Another meeting coming up on the 30th here and then off to Palmy for the NZ champs on the 2nd-3rd of Jan, have heard rumours that Qualifying is only 2 heats and there are no seeded heats which means you could end up racing heats with 5 top bikes or 5 new guys, either way it doesn’t sound fair!!! Not hard to seed the heats, and we could have big numbers finish on same points after only 2 heats which could make run offs for finals berths interesting, with more than 5 or 6 on the same points how do you run off??

Any way looking forward to racing the Aussies, be good to see how they handle the clay, not too well I hope

Sefton

Had our opening meeting last night which nearly didnt happen for us! Clint was admitted to Hastings hospital with a herniated disk in his back, laid him out and he couldnt get off the floor. From what I could gather the morphine at the hospital was awesome though!

Anyway managed to get the expertise of Calvin Fogarty (aka stuntman, honk) to jump on and have swing. With the new engine in and no time for any practice or setup with Honk it was straight into it, and we took out all three of our heats so we were both pretty happy with that.

Dont know how long Clint is out for but Honk seems up to filling his boots for now, good to see the visiting bikes here too with Chuck & Red 4k, Worm & Vinnie 92a and Stu & Ritchie 52p making the journey and keeping the locals honest

Cheers Sefton.

we have been nominated for competitor of the year at the NZ Speedway awards so if any of you supporters out there want to vote for us you can go to www.speedwaynzawards.co.nz  Voteing finishes on 8th of june.

thanks for your support.

Hey everyone, the last few meets at home all went good with plenty of chequered flags and a few seconds, didn’t quite take out the main points trophy, missed out by a couple of points. Maybe something to do with the way the grid draws were being done, maybe not!!!!!!!

Any way, had our prizegiving last Saturday night and managed to take all the other trophies home. We won the club feature points trophy, runner up in the main points, won the Cartmell/ Law memorial trophy and fastest lap time of the season. Add these to 3rd at the NZ Champs, 1st at the NZ Grand Prix, 1st at the Wellington champs, !st at the Sidecar opening series in Hawkes Bay, 1st at the Sidecar Champ of Champs and 3rd at the King Country champs and all in all its been a fairly rewarding season.

Real good feeling being able to accomplish this on a new bike this year that we built ourselves last off season, aiming for just as good , if not better next year! Thanks to everyone that helped in any way this year.

Sefton

Another cup up for grabs, this time the Cartmell/Law memorial trophy.  Only Deane left racing that knew them but still a sought after cup, Deane having the hard luck of the night getting tangled in first race 1st corner and holing his radiator putting him and Honk out for the night.

We beat Clive/Brendon in heat 1 and Russell/Andrew in heat 2 and lined up against them both as well as Rob/Nev and the gap vacated by Deane/Honk. Got another flyer off the line and a bit off a jump on the rest of the bikes only to throw the bike into the corner on lap 2 and realise the sidewheel had worked loose, giving the bike a mean shudder.

Kept on going, only two wheeling it round the corners so not to load up the sidewheel and managed to hold on for the win, 3 out of 3 and the cup to take home, I’m sure the boys looking down would be stoked to see all the other close racing that was going on in the other heats as well, all the bikes getting closer every meeting!!!!

Cheers Sefton

Well what a trip, 20 hours on your arse from gizzy to invercargill (and 3 hours drinking on the boat!!!).   Caught up with Tomcat in Chch on thursday and right into friday, bout 4-45 in the morning if memory serves me right.

On to Invers on friday and went had look at the track when we got there, first impression was not too bad!

Turned up Satur day and the track looked totally diff, water truck was going hard and heap more moisture in the track than last night. Heres where the solo tyres take over!!!!!

1st heat, Russell & Andrew had the inside run in 1st corner and completely filled us in , couldnt see anything but got back to 2nd, not a bad result considering.

Heat 2, us outside ,Toby&Bondy inside, got a screamer and managed to drop in 1st into the turn, all going good until the 3rd lap when pulled a wheelstand half way round pit bend but managed to save it, f@%ked up1nz I’m sure but still in the lead  at the end.

Won the 3rd heat.

Heat 4, us and 2nz, got the gate again us on 2 les on 4, managed to hold them out for 4laps this leaving us and 2nz tied on 11 points going into last round.

Heat 5, Les & Kervin up before us against locals Lightfoot, Lightfoot upsetting 2nz finishing 2nd. Us lineing up with everything to loose but got another good gate and home for the win and the title. This giving us after a few years of chasing all the major titles in the bank, Nz, Ni, and Gp.

3nz 1st, 2nz 2nd, and 49a 3rd.

Many thanks to Fujitsu NZ, East Coast contracting, Gillies Electrical & Aircon, Gisborne Sheetmetals,Cooltech, Gisborne Honda, Maurice Heaps Painting (HB), Trevor Jukes and to dad for driving us there and back.

Finally got all 3 majors in the bank!!!!

Cheers, Sefton & Clint