ENZED V8 Ute Challenge honour their achievers

ENZED V8 Utes Press Release

24 APRIL 2011

ENZED V8 UTES CELEBRATE LANDMARK SEASON

ENZED V8 Ute Challenge competitors and personnel gathered at Sky City in Hamilton last Sunday evening to honour their achievers after three fantastic races around the streets of Hamilton brought down the curtain on a landmark season.

The end of season prizegiving came at the end of the first season of racing at Tier 1 level for the V8 Ute category in New Zealand. It was a season that saw the class contribute some superb racing to the “main game” as the series went down to the wire in a dramatic finale.

The slick prizegiving ceremony saw each of the twenty-one drivers who competed in the series issued with a medal to mark their final championship position. The drivers who comprised the series podium – the champion Queensland based Chris Pither ‘The Gypsy, second placed Simon ‘Jnr Burner’ Beirne of Christchurch and Caine Lobb, ‘The Ginja Ninja’ of Whangarei also received their silverware.

The Most Improved Driver Award went to Peter ‘Kaos’ Ward of Auckland who finished seventh in the championship. The Best Presented Team Award was won by ‘Team Beirne’ – the father and son team of Graham Beirne (John Jones Steel Falcon) and Simon Beirne, (Team McDonald’s Falcon). Rookie Of The Year for the 2010/2011 season was Auckland based Scott ‘Precious’ McKelvie.

Several of the fathers involved in the series were presented with t-shirts for their contribution to the series and their sons’ efforts as well as one mother – Lauren Kernohan.

The evening began with the auction of a Citizen Watch, the proceeds of which were destined for the bid4 jase.com effort to raise money for V8 Supercar driver Jason Richards who is battling a rare form of cancer. Bidding was brisk and the watch, a product of sponsor Citizen Watches, was brought by Mike ‘Buzz’ Lightfoot for $1550.00. As the evening drew to a conclusion Lightfoot called Caine Lobb to the dais and presented him with the watch. Lobb had led the point standings since day one until his first non finish of the season on the penultimate day of the series in race one at Hamilton. While he remained in title contention as he began the final day of racing another non finish ended his challenge. After dominating the series lead for so long Lightfoot’s gesture in handing the watch to Lobb was a popular one.

In total more than $2000 was raised for Jason Richards as series newcomer Mark ‘Jobbo’ Joblin took the hat around during the evening raising another $500 for the bid4jase.com appeal.

The awards ended with series co-ordinator Lindsay Dodd reminding all present that there is now less than 200 days to the beginning of the 2011/2012 V8 Ute Championship.

ENZED V8 UTE CHALLENGE AWARDS

Point Standings
1: Chris ‘The Gypsy’ Pither (Queensland) – 1775
2: Simon ‘Jnr Burner’ Beirne (Christchurch) – 1684
3: Caine ‘The Ginja Ninja’ Lobb (Whangarei) – 1663
4: Mike ‘Buzz’ Lightfoot (Auckland) – 1193
5: Scott ‘Precious’ McKelvie (Auckland) – 1183
6: Geoff ‘SOS’ Spencer (Palmerston North) – 1111
7: Peter ‘Kaos’ Ward (Auckland) – 1054,
8: Peter ‘Rocketman’ Robb (Wanganui) – 985
9: Graham ‘Snr Burner’ Beirne (Christchurch) – 850
10: Jeff ‘Ripples’ Kernohan (Turangi) – 831
11: David ‘Dirty Dave’ Kernohan (Turangi) – 772
12: James ‘Huggi’ Urquhart(Karaka) – 757
13: Dave ‘The Boss’ Stewart (Wellington) – 655
14: Chris ‘Hammer Time’ Hanley (Auckland) – 600
15: Andrew ‘DJ48’ Waite (Auckland) – 436
16: Rob ‘The Captain’ Jarvis (Australia) – 419
17: Brett ‘Big Nutz’ Holdsworth (Australia) – 183
18: Bob ‘Sly & Dirty’ Grove (Auckland) – 164
19: Mike ‘T Bone’ Morton (Auckland) – 146
20: Mike ‘The Loan Arranger’ Pero (Christchurch) – 75
21: Mark ‘Jobbo’ Joblin (Hamilton) – 74
,
Most Improved Driver
Peter ‘Kaos’ Ward

Best Presented Team
‘Team Beirne’

Rookie Of The Year
Scott McKelvie

Support
Support for the category throughout the 2010/2011 season came from ENZED, UDC Finance, Radio Hauraki, Yokohama, Castrol, Citizen Watches, Exedy, Armorall, SCT and EFILive.

Series website - www.v8utes.co.nz

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