The Nissan GTR Godzilla driver won the CM Engineering Supplies Street Sprints from Ashburton’s Ross MacKay in the final drive off yesterday.
Fifty-four drivers took part, in cars ranging from a 1200cc Toyota Starlet to the crowd pleasing Ford GT40.
While times varied as did the skill levels, the crowd of more than 500 was cheering the good driving as well as the those unfortunate enough to kiss the hay bales.
Stowell was the fastest of the 54 drivers in the three qualifying rounds, the fastest in the top 32, top 16, top eight, top four and in the final. He broke the lap record in qualifying then bettered it again three times, including the final, giving MacKay little hope at winning his first title.
Stowell won the event in 2001 in a best time of 2.40.990, but this year that mark would have placed him in 23rd. His time in the final, despite claiming a messy run, was his fastest of the weekend, a 2.24.688.
Stowell said he didn’t know his car was going to be quick until he got here. This is the first year he’d used the new Godzilla and he was worried its size and weight may make the tight, six hairpin course difficult.
But after his opening run he knew it was going to be a fast weekend.
Each run was 3.8km long, twice around the circuit, and Stowell found the first lap tougher than the second as his tyres were still cold.
By the end of the competition yesterday, the runs were closer together and his tyres retained heat making it easier to manoeuver his heavy car.
He said winning the Street Sprints was a real buzz because it was such a big event, and so well run by the Ashburton Car Club.
Stowell chose the order of the final by virtue of being top qualifier and let the local man go first.
Instead of listening to MacKay’s time, Stowell turned his car on and prepared oblivious to what he had to do to win.
“I didn’t want to know. I knew if I went as quick as I had all day, I had a good chance.”
Stowell said if he knew MacKay’s time, he may have driven too cautiously and got himself into trouble.
He messed up the first hairpin, by braking too late and getting sideways, and said the run was far from perfect. It can’t have been too bad as he re-broke his own record and won the event by more than three seconds.
Allan McCormick was the second local home in eight place and crowd favourite Donn McLaren finished 16th after having troubles with his MX5.
May 14 2007