Some of the closest racing over the four round 2007 Top Half series was seen at the final held at the Bay of Plenty Kart Club's Fagan's Valley Raceway on Sunday August 26.
A new lap record for the Bay Heating Services trophy was also set. This trophy is awarded for the fastest racing lap set in the Junior Restricted 100cc Yamaha class and was last awarded back in June to Auckland's Daniel Colville who recorded a 39.276 second lap.
Mt Wellington kart club member Shaun Grocock now holds the trophy with a 39.222 second lap set in the last heat of the day.
However Mt Wellington's Aaron Hodgson won this class with the day's only clean sweep, taking all four heats, but had his work cut out for him with up to five karts battling nose to tail over the eight lap races. Clubmate Ben Drummond claimed second for the day carding three seconds and a fifth place for his four heats with the final podium spot going to Tokoroa's Andy Schofield.
In Cadets Joel Herbert took the honours with three wins and a second place from Kaitlyn Wonnacott and Mitchell Turner. The best of the locals was Blake Harris in a hard-earned fifth place.
In the 100cc Junior Yamaha class National champ Mathew Kinsman won the day by a solitary point from Mitchell Evans. David Meszaros filled the podium. Local lads John van Bommel & Tom Catley finished fourth and fifth respectively in the fifteen kart field.
The Yamaha Lights class was dominated by Bay of Plenty drivers with Daniel Dufty winning the day by a single point over Jason Catley and Justin Herbert who were tied on 216 points. Catley claimed second place on countback.
This effort combined with other consistent results over the series helped the Bay of Plenty kart club win the 'Clash of the Clubs' challenge cup for the first time in 14 years. The club sees this as an indication of the rising talent the local drivers have.
"With some promising up-and-coming junior drivers combined with our senior members, we look forward to defending this cup in next year's series" says club president John van Bommel (senior).
In Yamaha Heavy, Auckland's Kendall brothers owned the class both taking two wins, a second and a third to tie on 225 points. Dion claimed the win on countback. Whangarei's Charles Hoare rounded out the podium.
125cc Rotax Lights saw Kane Taylor win the day with a five point margin over Simon Evans with Ethan de Jong a further five points back again.
Meanwhile recent Rotax Max Challenge Heavy class winner Phillip Saunders took a convincing win from Mike Grimshaw and Peter Ball in that class, Saunders carding three wins and a second.
Shane Hodgson, Simon Evans & Craig Toy filled the podium in the Open 'gearbox' class.
2007 Top Half Series Rnd 4 (Final) Fagan's Valley Raceway Te Puke Sunday Aug 26
RESULTS
Cadets: 1. Joel Herbert 227pts, 2. Kaitlyn Wonnacott 223pts, 3. Mitchell Turner 217 pts
Junior Restricted: 1. Aaron Hodgson 228pts, 2. Ben Drummond 221pts, 3. Andy Schofield 217pts
Junior Yamaha: 1. Mathew Kinsman 226pts, 2. Mitchell Evans 225pts, 3. David Meszaros 221pts
Formula Junior: 1. Joel Thrupp 219pts, 2. Tom Blomqvist 217pts, 3. Mitchell Evans 215pts
Senior 100cc Yamaha Light: 1. Daniel Dufty 217pts, 2. Jason Catley 216pts, 3. Justin Herbert 216pts
Senior 100cc Yamaha Heavy: 1. Dion Kendall 225pts, 2. Leyton Kendall 225pts, 3. Charles Hoare 218pts
125cc Rotax Max Light: 1. Kane Taylor 227pts, 2. Simon Evans 222pts, 3. Ethan de Jong 217pts
125cc Rotax Max Heavy: 1. Philip Saunders 227 pts, 2. Mike Grimshaw 217pts, 3. Peter Ball 213pts
Open: 1. Shane Hodgson 227pts, 2. Simon Evans 222pts, 3. Craig Toy 221pts
