7B Superstock

248 Global challenge Palmerston North

With Shane Penn driving the car tonight as John Lund 9 times world champion driving the Silver Bullet it was going to be a good night to learn. Heat 1 Shane was on grid 4 the green flag dropped and first corner Shane hit the lead and 15 laps later he took the win good first race in a familiar car.

Heat 1 Superstock Global Challenge. Shane got a good start and made his was up to 3^rd Royden Collingwood decided he wanted that place more so half spun Shane but unable to finish the job off Shane got away again but with a flat left front tyre. Shane Penn still managed to keep good pace and finished 7^th. Heat 2 Shane somewhere near the back of the pack was going at a steady pace and picking off cars until he got passed 85H Jarrod Wade and Wade decided he didn’t like that and spun Shane out in pit corner. Shane trying to get the car going but she just wouldn’t fire at least 15 cars managed to dodge Shane just that 85H managed to hit Shane and do abit of damage. So red lights and we are taken off. When the car gets back to the pits we find damage and a lot of it. R/h side wheelguard, Diff pan arm bar bent front axle had seen better days and no brakes. Shane Penn decides that’s enough damage for the night and we load up. We would like to congratulate 66p Kelvin Gray taking the 2008 Global challenge in an immaculately presented car or Steve Hampton. Frankie Wainman Jnr and Stuart Smith for taking 2^nd and 3^rd respectively these guys can sure drive.

We would like to Thank Bryce, Shane, Gary Penn, Robbie, Peter and their families for their help and support

Thanks Superstock 7B team

Saturday 12/01/8 off racing in Palmerston North leaving Mum and Dad at home. Just before entering the Manawatu gorge we get a flat tyre on the trailer and we all remember what happened when our trailer caught fire the 7b engine blew up the next night. After some help from fellow Hawkes Bay racer Gary Foley we get going. Finally getting to Palmerston North International speedway.

Race 1 grid 5 Shane gets a good start and into turn 1 and a small pile up luckily Shane manages to miss the pile up and gains a short lived 2^nd place till 3nz Shane Penn takes that away the car seemed to be not quite handling like Shane wanted it to but Shane managed to pick up 5^th position with 21 Cars in the race Shane was pretty happy with that.

Race 2 Grid 17 near the back of the pack a really quiet but fast race and Shane manages to make his was up to 12^th in that race with that field of cars including currant 1nz and 3nz ex 1nz and ex 3nz and many locals more than capable of taking any of the top 3 places in major meetings.

Race 3: Grid 3: Shane gets a good start and gets into 2^nd behind 53p Supertanker Kevin Roberts and manages to make his way past entering turn 2 and takes the lead. What a feeling for Shane leading heat 3 and making the most of it. After listening to the advice of Superstock legend Bryce Penn Shane has his mirrors out for the past 4 meetings so without looking back (literally) Shane took his first ever race win in Palmerston North Infact his first top 3 and what a night to do that. What a feeling for Shane. Shane Penn, Shane’s childhood hero coming home in 2^nd place. Infact it’s the first time Shane has won a race with Sir Shane Penn in it so another high for Shane Mellsop. After loading the car on the trailer now with 4 wheels again Elyse hands the phone to Shane still sitting in the car and it’s Dad who is gutted not to be there to share the moment with the 7b team. Shane would like to personally thank Dad and Mum for the opportunity to drive such an awesome Superstock. Elyse, Hayley, Denise and Dayna for their ongoing support. Jeff, Craig, Carl, Murray, Mark Walford, Shane and Bryce Penn, Tony True for their help on keeping the car going and giving some much appreciated advice. And also Mike Zachan for his help and support. Shane would also like to Thank all of the people that put the positive comments and congratulated Shane after the race win of the season.

Also Shane would like to clear up any thoughts of why he is not Teams Racing after a joint decision by Terry and Shane we decided that we were not quite ready to teams race. Maybe next year if we prove we are ready and good enough to make the team. We will be at teams champs giving our 110% support and help with the Hawkes Bay Hawkeyes team that consists of 16B Steve Jude, 24B Gary Foley, 59B Steve O’Dwyer, 81B Trevor Mason and 96B Murray Long and 6^th driver Brent Larson

Thanks

Team 7B

Super Saloon Series Hawkes Bay 2/02/08

Heat 1 drew grid 9. Good to have 19 Superstocks at Hawkes Bay and another note 13 of them had B’s on them! We got a good start and managed to make up a few spots in the opening lap and the track being abit wet actually helped us knowing how to drive a wet track at Meeanee really helps. I was really enjoying this race, by midway we were running 3^rd behind Joe Faram and a very quick Andy McCabe this season. Going though some lap traffic of Adam Groome having a good race in his first race you should be proud. Mike Groome and Steve O’Dwyer. Steve got abit crossed up in the unfamiliar car of Wally True’s and Shane had nowhere to go but into him and the both got away again. Steve got abit out of control just as Shane went passed and clipped Shane’s right rear wheelguard reverse spinning Shane straight into the wall at full speed resulting in as you can see by Chris Morris’s (www.racepics.co.nz)  quick photography in a good rollover. Landing back on our wheels Shane thinks wonder if she will go and she did. Just as the red lights come on Shane turned around and was ready for racing but unfortunately funnily enough the Anti-Roll bar broke and without knowing the damaged Shane took the safer option and pulled off. Back in the pits we got into work but later deciding with the NZ Champs only 2 weeks away rather than make the next 2 weeks even busier we decided this was enough and loaded up. Damage was a wing and some body damage.

We would like to clear up that the hit done on 65B John Hynd had nothing to do with the spin John did on Murray Long.  As a fellow competitor you do not like seeing what happened to John happen to anyone. The Superstock 7B team would like to wish John his family and crew a good recovery and look forward to seeing you at team champs if not before.

Shane would like to wish the Hawkes Bay Hawkeyes and the other 11 teams the best of luck for the Team Champs in Palmerston North this Friday and Saturday night it’s going to be awesome. Hope we can all drive there and home safely

Superstock 7B team