2010 New Zealand Offroad Racing Shortcourse Champion:
RAY OLSEN

Racing Ray Olsen consistantly out-pointed Auto World Class 5 throughout the changeable weather at the Waikato Winter Show on Saturday 1 May to have a major points advantage by the time the feature race started. He made good that advantage to show the field a clean pair of heels and win the feature from the survivors of the 35 stong raceday competitors. Ray is pictured with the Waikato Winter Show Grid Girls who have become huge fans of Offroad Racing after spending the day waving races off and picking out their favourite drivers.
Rays win at the Waikato Offroad Racing Club's home track has given the veteran racer one of the few Nationally Sanctioned titles for 2010 and all in the course of one days racing. The Waikato Winter Show prepared the hardened ground of the drought affected oval into the ultimate racing surface by spraying 40 truckloads of water onto the 800m circuit. This water was added to by the rain on the day, but only soaked 6 inches of the soil depth. Once the cars ripped through the soft stuff, the hard base made the perfect racing surface. "This is the best Shortcourse track in the country" said Neville Smith when accepting his Southern Lakes Transmissions Class One trophy at prizegiving. High praise from one of the countries hardest charging, frontline offroaders.
Below is a selection of photos from an excellent days racing.

 

Max Thornton slams the big Southern Cross through the most spectacular corner  at the Winter Show.

Raana gives C88 the "Don't Argue" in the feature

Debbie Hoyland not only won the Big Posters Class 3, but also took home "Dinks Driver of the Day" award for a drive Dink described as being fuelled by "Angry Pills".

The Winter Show Grid Girls, from Prestige Promotions introduced the racers to the grid throughout the day.