Apart from the year that the past presidents & life members were roped in to the Christmas meeting this years must be close to the best one yet. And, we ran reverse direction!

The Kids Christmas Party, yet again, increased in numbers and Santa was well busy distributing the prezzies.

2007 saw 103 drivers - this year it was 102; but in addition to the normal days racing we also had in attendance 20 odd Vintage Karts on display and on track for demonstration runs. We thank these guys & gals for affording us the privilege to view and experience a bit of karting from yesteryear.

For those of you who attended the Auckland Christmas Meeting for the first time we hope you enjoyed it in all its aspects.

Eighteen Cadets hit the track on Sunday & the competition was fierce; as in all classes, this was the final chance at club points for the 2008 year so all the Auckland members were striving for their very best result. Hamilton’s Blake Filleul took the days win from Chelsea Herbert & Alex Edwards.

It was so close in JR that we had a tie for second place! Rhys Tinney took the win, but only by one point from Aaron Wilson & Joel Herbert - who could not be separated so shared second place.

This year saw another wonderful turn out of Formula Junior drivers; Hamilton’s Stan Tangaroa- Green won by just one point from Bradley Hicks with a fair gap back to Mitchell Pykett who took third, on countback, from Daniel Connor.

Daniel Kinsman made it two in a row for the Christmas Meeting, by winning the Jack Pearson memorial again in 2008. It was close though; only one point back to Aaron Hodgson with Levi Madsen-Prinn in third.

All the Yamaha classes ran on track together - in Club Class Todd McCormack had a clean sweep, within the class, with 3 wins. Sharn Connor shadowed Todd, finishing second, with James Maddox in third.

Yamaha Light saw Deon Forrest take the Bob Hone Trophy home for the third year running; winning the class from Mat Kinsman & Matt Wallace.

Shaun Curran & Brendon Smith were on fire in Yamaha Heavy with the win going to Shaun & Brendon gaining third on countback from Robbie Rowe.

Rotax Light & Rotax Heavy ran together on the track - 24 of ‘em! Right up to the track limit! It is so awesome to see racing at our complex with the full compliment of karts on the track.

Rotax Light was like a blast from the past - well for some of us! Daniel Kent, Michael Wheaton & Kane Taylor gave a few of the newer lads a taste of Rotax Light racing at its best. Daniel took the days win, on countback, from Kane and Michael was in third.

Rotax Heavy, the larger of the two classes - in more ways than one?....- was hotly contested also. Garry Claxton made it two wins in two days - so the grapevine tells us - by following up his win in Hamilton on Saturday with a win at Auckland on Sunday.

Cameron Dennis was just one point back in second & Steve Cox took third.

Graeme Smyth would have had a clean sweep in Open but for an ‘oopps’ on the last lap of the last race. He was fortunate to have had the better results in the first two races, taking the days win, and the Williamson Memorial Trophy for the third year running, on countback from Ashley Johnson who had been consistent all day. Shane Hodgson filled third position.

A special thanks goes out to all the people - and you know who you are! - who helped make this Christmas meeting so wonderful.

Thanks, also, to the Vintage Guys & Gals, some who travelled serious miles to be in attendance.

Results –

Cadet -

1. Blake Filleul 2. Chelsea Herbert 3. Alex Edwards 4. Jacob Smith 5. Finley McLaren 6. Michael De Ponte

Junior Restricted –

1. Rhys Tinney 2. Aaron Wilson 3. Joel Herbert 4. Shaun Grocock 5. CJ Sinclair 6. Kaitlyn Wonnacott

Junior Yamaha –

1. Daniel Kinsman 2. Aaron Hodgson 3. Levi Madsen-Prinn 4. Matt Higham 5. Mitchell Brown 6. Adam Davis

Formula Junior –

1. Stan Tangaroa-Green 2. Bradley Hicks 3. Mitchell Pykett 4. Daniel Connor 5. Shaun Varney 6. Fulton Penny

Club Class –

1. Todd McCormack 2. Sharn Connor 3. James Maddox 4. Jaceon McMurtrie 5. Haylee Wallace

Senior Yamaha Light -

1. Deon Forrest 2. Mat Kinsman 3. Matthew Wallace 4. Danny Keene 5. Alex McClennan 6. Heather Comer

Senior Yamaha Heavy -

1. Shaun Curran 2. Brendon Smith 3. Robbir Rowe 4. Neville Carpenter 5. Patrick Hart

Senior Rotax Light -

1. Daniel Kent 2. Kane Taylor 3. Michael Wheaton 4. Matthew Griffin 5. Mason Armstrong 6. Michael Emmerson

Senior Rotax Heavy -

1. Garry Claxton 2. Cameron Dennis 3. Steve Cox 4. Garry Cullum 5. David Moors 6. Josh Hookway

Senior Open –

1. Graeme Smyth 2. Ashley Johnson 3. Shane Hodgson 4. Jason Farmilo 5. Steve Brown 6. Brett Hollander

Following all the official racing it was time for the Christmas and end of year fun to start.

The Fathers Race went to Steven Noyer & the Ladies went to Annette Morris.

This year, we split the Mechanics into Yamaha & Rotax. Yamaha went to Michael Kinsman - who is gutted cos his kids are quicker! - and the Rotax went to Matt Grant - maybe you should come out of retirement…..

Other 2008 end of year awards presented -

Overall Points -

Cadet - Jacob Smith Junior Restricted - Aaron Wilson

Formula Junior - Jake Bonney Junior Yamaha - Adam Davis

Club Class - Shaun Curran Yamaha Light - Nigel Kurtz

Yamaha Heavy - Leyton Kendall Rotax Light - Declan Hull

Rotax Heavy - Steve Cox Open - Graeme Smyth

Most Improved -

Cadet - Jacob Smith Junior Restricted - Samuel Carpenter

Junior - Chris Donovan Senior - Shaun Curran

 Best Presented Kart - Jason Farmilo

So ends our 2008 karting year.

The track is now closed and reopens January 7 th 2009.

Our first meeting for 2008 is the Totalspan City of Sails 2-Day Challenge.

Entry Forms are available on both the NZ & Auckland websites.

We have secured TV coverage for this event again thanks to Totalspan who are supporting us once again in 2009 - so get those entries in!!

Keep up to date with what’s happening via the web site - there will be a working bee or three leading up to this first event to get the complex ship-shape.

First Club Day is March 1 st; our February date of the 8 th is a test day due to the CIK Trophy of NZ being held this same weekend.

Have an enjoyable holiday break and travel safe.