MATTHEW TSO/STUFF
Damon Smith, 16, won the Tubby Norriss Memorial Ministocks in his third and final attempt.
A young driver has taken out one of the country’s most coveted ministock youth races in his final crack at the event.
Damon Smith, 16, from Lower Hutt won the Tubby Norriss Memorial Ministocks in Paradise speedway event in Rotorua held over February 16 and 17.
The Hutt International Boys’ School student said it was “awesome” to have taken the unofficial national title but the victory had not sunk in yet.
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Lower Hutt’s Damon Smith, 16, centre, finished first in the Tubby Norriss Memorial Ministocks in Paradise ahead of Taranaki’s William Hart, 16, right, and Tauranga’s Luke McClymont, 15.
Damon was one of more than 130 young drivers aged between 12 and 16 entered into the competition across the junior and senior categories.
He did not rate his chances after he placed at the back of the top 26 in 2017 and finished outside of the qualifying group for the championship races the year before.
Any feelings of self-doubt were shaken off when he finished third in his qualifying group on February 16, but he only realised he was really in the hunt when he placed fourth in the first of three championship races on February 17 after starting near the back of the grid.
Another fourth placing in the second race and a win in the third race clinched him the Tubby Norriss title.
Damon said it was great to get the win over his mates William Hart, 16, from Taranaki, who finished 2nd and Luke McClymont, 15, from Tauranga who placed 3rd.
While he loved the speed and thrill of racing, a big part of ministocks was getting to know his competitors, many of which he now counted as friends.
“I started not knowing anyone, but now I have really good friends all over New Zealand.”
Damon began racing three years ago and said it had been steep learning curve.
He had been given a lot of encouragement from Wellington ministocks organisers Keith and Debby McPhee. Keith taught him how to drive a manual in a ute at the Te Marua Speedway carpark.
He also works on his own car alongside his brother, Vaughn, 14, who also races ministocks, and dad, David, which he said was a lot of fun and very satisfying.
Damon will move on from ministocks next year as he will be too old to compete. His ambition is to make the step up to stockcars in the near future.
“I just have to get some money and a couple of sponsors together,” he said.
– Stuff
Source :Stuff.co.nz
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