Crowning a new king of Kohatu

Scott Alexander is the new King of the Kohatu after beating 17-year-old Ollie Ward in a hard fought final race.

Ollie was one of the most consistent drivers throughout the event, improving through the knockout stages to post the fastest time of the weekend, a 1:31.27, in the semi-final before having a half spin in the final and falling three-and-a-half seconds short.

Conditions were perfect for racing, with a dry and dusty track allowing drivers to let loose on the closed gravel track.

Event organiser Mark Kibble says one of the highlights was watching professional motorcycle racer Avalon Biddle take to four-wheeled racing like a duck to water.

The two-time New Zealand and two-time European champion was a celebrity guest at the event, driving a borrowed crosscar from Jeff Ward at Semog racing.

The selfless support from the major sponsors, Semog, MTF Finance and Mitre 10, were instrumental in making the event the success it was, says Mark.

Despite having never driven the vehicle before getting in it over the weekend, Avalon would go on to be one of the favourites to lift the title before she had a half spin in the semi-final and fell two seconds off the pace.

Avalon says it wasn’t a hard question to answer when Mark came to her with the offer of racing in the event.

She had very little experience racing cars, having done a two-day Rally of Otago last year, but says she wasn’t nervous.

“I went in pretty cold, but it worked out alright.”

While she couldn’t touch the pedals when she jumped in the car before the weekend for the first time, she says she was assured they were adjustable and was excited to see how she’d do.

With last year’s winner Jason Clark blowing a gearbox in his first run of the weekend, he also jumped into a borrowed crosscar and would go on to finish in the top eight, which further highlighted Avalon’s achievements, says Mark.

“It’s a good litmus test to show just how good Avalon is. To go from two wheels to four, we all knew she was good, but to come in the top four is impressive.”

Avalon also competed in the race for the world’s fastest All Blacks car against Wyatt Crockett after his opponent, Piri Weepu, pulled out due to a family emergency.

She won that race and was crowned the fastest All Black with Wyatt’s blessing, laughed Mark.

Wyatt also impressed with his racing ability, with Mark saying they will have to invite him back now he’s caught the racing bug.

“He grabbed the car by the scruff of the neck. . . he loved it.”

Wyatt says he loved racing on the track when he went out there previously.

“I grew up in a small country town (Tukurua) driving a car around paddocks.

“It’s just cool. Motorsport at this level is about having fun and giving it a go.”

Paul Roughan won the A Class in his Toyota Scarlett with a 1:43.90 time and Taylor Devine won the B Class in his Nissan Primera with a 1:43.79 time.

In the mum’s car class John Nelson drove his family's car, a Subaru Legacy, to victory with a 1:43.97, while in the D class Carey Harwood and his Subaru WRX finished with a winning time of 1:35.70.