It was a moment of triumph for Tauranga's Shane Morgan and his Mag and Turbo team.
His demolition derby car came off the track muddy, battered and broken – and with some of the wheels facing the wrong way. But a turn of the key and a few revs had the engine roaring back into life. 'She's still alive,” they shouted.
Tauranga's Mag and Turbo owner and SunLive Baypark Demolition Derby winner Shane Morgan. Photos by Tracy Hardy. Video by Cameron Avery and Tracy Hardy.
Behind the wheel of his front-wheeled drive, manual Honda – the owner of Mag and Turbo beat about 70 other drivers on the terracotta track in the SunLive Baypark Demolition Derby last night.
'It was awesome, we had a great time, says Shane. 'It was heaps of fun.”
It was a race to the finish line on Saturday as Shane and his team rushed to get their three demo derby cars, sponsored and provided by Pick-A-Part, ready for the track.
Mag and Turbo demo drivers did well in the derby, with Shane's number 95 car making it to the final two. Shane bashed his way to the win, with the demo derby driver still able to drive his car back out the gates.
'The car itself is pretty damaged though,” says Shane. 'There's not much left of it. The bonnet's all damaged up and the wheels are kind of facing the wrong way – but that's alright.”
Shane drives stock cars, but the derby was a whole new ball game. As for his tactics on the track, there wasn't any.
'When you've got a front-wheel drive and everything crumbles around you, there's no tactics,” says Shane. 'It's just go out there and have some fun. It was awesome.”
His prize? A cool $2000 to slip in his back pocket.
'I've definitely got to take the boys out for a big feed and probably a few beers after this one. So we'll see how much is left after that.”
Shane Morgan.
As for his title, he'll definitely be back to defend his trophy.
Shane wants to thank his team at Mag and Turbo for getting the cars ready, Speedy Signs for the signwriting – and to Baypark Family Speedway director Bernie Gillon for putting on the great event.
Bernie says more than 7000 people turned up to see the smash and bash event. The SunMedia team was there supporting demolition man David Tauranga in the contest.
Despite a short ride, David did well in his first demolition derby. He walked out unscathed and only a few nerves were shaken.
The car though, didn't make it. That's smashed up and probably on its way to the wreckers.
SunMedia's David Tauranga before the race.
Results:
Saloon Cars
1st 1NZ Steve Cowling - Baypark
2nd 75m Michele Wymer - Baypark
3rd 8m Jarrod Fletcher - Baypark
Stock Cars
1st 81r Damian Orr - Rotorua
2nd 92m Scott Hayward - Baypark
3rd 94m Caitlyn Hayward - Baypark
Super Saloons
=1st 7m Brent Emerson - Baypark
=1st 27m Chris Cowling - Baypark
2nd 12m Kirstin Vermeulen - Baypark
3rd 6b Grant Flynn – Meeanee – Napier
Super Stock Cars
1st 87b Thomas Stanaway - Meeannee – Napier
2nd 19m Kerry Remnant - Baypark
3rd 45r Nick Valance - Rotorua
Sprint Cars
1st Michael Pickens - Western Springs – Auckland
2nd 51m Rodney Wood – Baypark
3rd 88m Keaton Dahm – Baypark
Sunlive Baypark Demolition Derby
Shane Morgan
The best entertainer/stirrer
Vince Wallis
The smashed up derby car after the race.
Audiences enjoyed the FMX show.
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