Joblin on receiving end at Meeanee

GLENN TAYLOR/ sportsimages.co.nz

SUPERSTOCKS CAN FLY: Simon Joblin's hunt for the North Island title came to an abrupt end when he was rolled in the final at Meeanee, Napier, on Sunday night.

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Simon Joblin must be wondering why he's been on the receiving end of so many hits since he won his national title at Dunedin three years ago.

Always in the hunt for major titles, Joblin, along with brother Scott, headed into the final heat of the North Island championships at Meeanee, Napier, on Sunday night with both in the running for the first major superstock title of the season.

Scott was first to go, taken out when Hawke's Bay stirrer Steve Jude hit him so hard his car flew through the air. Seconds later, brother Simon's title hopes went out the window when he was also rolled.

The title chase came down to a battle between Palmerston North's Wayne Hemi and Hawke's Bay's Joe Faram with Peter Rees also in the hunt.

Unfortunately for Hemi, with Rees also chasing the title there was no-one to take Faram out and he cruised to second place behind Hemi in the final heat leaving the two drivers locked together level on points.

Hemi, though, with a blown clutch couldn't make the runoff, and his protest against Faram for moving under the red light while the Joblins' cars were being dragged from the track was dismissed.

There's no doubt Faram did do a circuit – apparently to see if his power-steering was all right – while the race was halted, but then most drivers do push the rule to the limit, with few stopping as soon as possible.

Rees again showed his car had the pace to stay with the more expensive cars and his driving ability was to second to none as he picked up another major podium finish.

The outstanding drive of the meeting, though, must be that of Palmerston North newcomer James Soane, who drove brilliantly to finish fourth overall in a quality field.

In his first full season of superstocks Soane has made rapid strides this season and is fast becoming a genuine threat to the established top drivers.

The Opiki farmer's rise is even more stunning considering that before he bought the car, previously owned by Roydon Collingwood, he had never raced any sort of speedway class.

Of the rest of the 13 Palmerston North drivers to make the final, Andy McCabe finished sixth, while Clive Elliot looked to be heading for a top finish, but failed to finish the final heat.

- © Fairfax NZ News