THE ACTION PHOTOGRAPHER
Ian Abrahams

The Mad Butcher Demolition Derby
Waikaraka Park February 6th 1999


When the meeting started the queues of fans wanting to pay their $15 to get in stretched the length of the Car park road in both directions. The signs went up ‘Standing Room Only’ very soon after the start of the meeting and eventually the gates were closed, locking people out.

The meeting featured a New Zealand versus Australia Demolition Derby Teams Race. The crowd were royally entertained and ecstatic that the Black cars beat the green cars.
The Mad Butcher’s demolition derby was over subscribed with 130 cars eventually being allowed on to the track. The star driver Frank Endicott the New Zealand Rugby League Team Coach destroyed his car by ploughing into a pack at full speed. He did not last long but went out of the event with a bang right in front of the main grandstand. The Mercedes-Benz, which was a very tidy motor car before the event, did not last very long and also expired in front of the main grandstand.
The winner of the derby was Robby Blewden in a Datsun Sunny Wagon.
Modified driver Mike McCall, who has his car for sale, unretired for the meeting. He incurred the wrath of the officials before he even turned a lap at racing pace. His crew jumped the pit wall without permission to make a 30 second repair to permit the car to stay in gear. McCall was therefore denied the two minute bell. With the stadium packed, the modified driver who has proved to be the most spectacular of all this season was not allowed to race because his crew had not waited until an official had told them they could repair their race car. Petty! McCall won the second race.


From Rotorua the unofficial news is that Wellington beat Rotorua in the Stockcars Teams. Auckland beat Waikato on the also rans race. The Auckland Alley Cats beat Rotorua to win the Standards. They were the defending Champions. In the Streetstocks Rotorua beat Auckland.
From Gisborne the cell phone report was that Brent Tomkins won the Champion of Champions for the second year in a row. Sam Mason was on the side of the 32a sidechair. Second was Mud Hanley and Maurice Richards, with third place being Wayne Hills and Roger Bloor.
Auckland number nine Steve Louden won in Stratford from Mark Osborne who had repaired the damage from his massive roll over the night before at Rotorua.Third was Phil Towgood in 28h.
Out of Nelson comes a one eyed report of the N.Z. Midgets which claims that Micheal Kendall won. Going into the last race Shayne Alach only needed to finish in front of Micheal, and he had a better grid, to win but spun away the title three laps from the end. Baughan (in the ex Fabish car) finished second and defending Champion Hyde came home third.


Results from Waikaraka Park.

Race 1. Streetstocks. 8 laps. 9, 82, 29, 38, 58.
Race 2. Saloons. 10 laps. 44, 35, 55, 31, 5.
Race 3. Std. Stocks. 8 laps. 53, 26, 45, 12, 73.
Race 4. Modifieds. 10 laps. 69, 0, 42h, 12, 19.
Race 5. Sidecars. 52, 84, 17, 8.
Race 6. Streetstocks. 9 laps. 9, 12, 5, 69, 82.
Race 7. Saloons. 9 laps. 25, 87, 55, 44, 5.
Race 8. Std. Stocks. 24, 76, 124, 37, 0h.
Race 9. Modifieds. 15, 12, 96, 69, 21.
Race 10. Sidecars. 4 laps. 52, 17, 84, 8.
Race 11. Custom Cars. 8 laps. No results posted.
Race 12. International Derby Teams. 8 laps. 5NZ, 3NZ, 1NZ.
Race 13. Modifieds. 12 laps. 78, 0, 21, 69, 15.
Race 14. Sidecars. 4 laps. 52, 17, 8.
Race 15. Std Stocks. 10 laps. 53, 0h (Billy Neil) 26, 43, 42.
Race 16. Saloons. 12 laps. 5, 98, 13, 79, 87.
Race 17. Streetstocks. 10 laps. 9, 12, 5, 58, 29.
Race 18. Mad Butcher Demolition Derby. 58.


Pics later.

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