Canterbury Crushers Updates

24 May 2015
Canterbury Crushers 3NZ Stockcar Teams Champs for 2014-2015. The team and management would like to thank their loyal and valuable sponsor’s, crew, fans, friends and families for the continued support. Planning for season 2015-2016 is well underway and we look forward to doing you all proud again.
2014-2015 squad – Ricco Gray, Michael Arras, Josh Prentice, Matt Hand, Jay Knight, Kyle Lane, Kyle Heibner, Lloyd Jennings, Harley Robb, Shane Steer, Kirk Page, Brad Rosewarne, Jason Skurr, Dylan Robb & Julian Lynch.
Brown & Syme Painting Contractors, Hanmer Holiday Homes, M Hand Builders, Smith Concept, Hammonds Collision Centre, AmPro Tools Woodford Glen Shop,

“Canterbury Crushers named for Eve of Destruction”
7th November 2013
A strong Crushers line up has been named for the first teams race of the season at Eastern States Speedway this Saturday night. With plenty of depth this year team selection has been a tough ask but management have chosen a team with experience and speed in mind. With the teams Nationals at Palmerston North in mind, expect to see some rotation of drivers at the North vs. South Teams challenge at Woodford Glen Speedway on show weekend. Drivers such as Lloyd Jennings were unavailable for Eve of Destruction but is in the frame for North vs. South. Meanwhile Jennings will be stand in manager for this weekend’s teams racing as usual manager Craig Hughes is unable to attend.

4 Dan McClure
5 Michael Arras
6 Norton Gowans
7 Brad Rosewarne
8 John Gray
9 Rene Bovendeerd

17th Nov 2012 - North wins Island challenge at Woodford Glen by Mat Kermeen
The Eastern States Titans won the battle but the North won the war at AmPro Tools Woodford Glen Speedway over the weekend.
Four stockcar teams – Canterbury Crushers, North Island Invitation, Ken’s Cowboys (Palmerston North) and the Titans locked horns on Friday night before, four became two, for the annual North verses South Teams Challenge on Saturday night.
Friday night’s teams racing started with the Titan’s despatching the Cowboys after a see-saw battle. The Cowboys looked home for much of the race with Jordan Dare holding the lead but he was slowed by the Titans block men – who were organised and read the race to perfection - allowing Ralph Gillespie through to a lead which he never relinquished. In the final few laps, a well timed Ricco Gray hit on Dare in turn four, put out the race beyond doubt.
The Crushers caught a lucky break in their first hit out. The Invitation team lost two cars in the warm-up and another before a lap was completed. Sandy Flett deposited Paul Anderson up the back straight wall, late in the race but that was the only action in a quiet and one sided race. Crusher, Lloyd Jennings, took an easy but fortunate win over teammates Troy Wilson and Daniel McClure.
Kyle Heibner almost created the boil over of the weekend in round two after his Invitation teammates sent Gillespie into the infield. Heibner looked in control but, after falling behind early, Steve Biddulph made up a mountain of time and with the help of his ever reliable henchmen, Gray and Sam Thompson, snuck home for the Titans.
The Crushers had a chance to eclipse the Titans with a comprehensive win over the Cowboys but, the experienced northerners’ were having none of that. Jennings tried hard but lacked support from his teammates who could not get a clean shot on leaders Brad Powell and Dare who stormed over the finish line to salvage a victory for the Cowboys.
The only team to win two races, the Titans finished on top of the table, and along with the Cowboys were clearly a class above the rebuilding Crushers and the patched together Invitation side.
By teams racing standards the racing had not been brutal but that could partly be attributed to the fact, the Crushers and Invitation sides were in their first teams race of the season and, had little experience together as a team, plus the racing was four on four rather than five aside as is normally contested. Given the circumstances, no driver or team, went anywhere near letting themselves down.
The weather was almost the winner on the Saturday night as the heavens opened just 30 minutes before the scheduled start time. After solid sessions of wheel packing from Super Saloons and Modifieds the track was finally race ready just after 8pm. Had it not been for the efforts and commitment of those drivers, racing simply would not have been possible.
Promoter Steven Lennon made the wise decision to delay the North verses South race several times to provide a better track surface, for better action and to save the race from becoming a lottery on a wet track.
Dare and Heibner quickly found the front early and were never seriously challenged by any of the southerners, despite the best efforts of Ricco Gray late in the race. Biddulph and Jennings also tried hard for the south but when Gillespie retired after a big hit from friendly fire, the race was effectively over.
Cantabrian John Gray was deposited onto the turn two wall but managed to manoeuvre himself back down to mother earth but. In a cruel twist of fate, once back on all four wheels his car caught fire – ending his race. In the end it was a comfortable victory for the north as Dare crossed the line first to retain the cup they won in 2011.
The weather shortened program the program considerably but the club still managed to get through 14 races after a late start.

15th Nov 2011 Update - Crushers win battle but North takes out the war - By Mat Kermeen
The TTL Hire Canterbury Crushers were in sublime form at AmPro Tools Woodford Glen Speedway on Friday night winning both their heats to win the North versus South stockcar team’s challenge.
Nathan Taylor claimed both wins for Canterbury while his team mates did a great job of protecting him from the attacks of both North Island teams.
North Island teams KB’s Cowboys and Team Moon Goon featured some of the top stockcar drivers in the country that were always going to test the young Canterbury team.
Team manager Terry Hall was very pleased with the result and praised not only his team’s commitment but also their ability to execute a plan.
“We had a good strategy but they have to go out there and stick to it which they pulled off very well.
“They all get on well, they are mates, they look out for one and other and now that’s really starting to show out on the track,” Hall said.
While it was a team effort Cody Streeter was superb in looking after the speedy Taylor and John Gray always tried hard despite suffering damage.
On Sunday Taylor, Streeter, Gray and Ben Jacobs joined Blenheim drivers Sam Thompson and Ricco Grey to represent the South Island in a one off team’s race against a North Island side selected from their two teams.
It was business as usual for Taylor who quickly found the front and with Jacobs in second it looked promising for the South, but that was all about to change.
Taylor was pushed up the wall and on to his side by the North’s Hilton Parker and the bad news just kept coming for the South. Jacobs pulled to the infield with gearbox problems and John Grey was largely ineffective with a rear wheel puncture.
Northerner Jordan Dare assumed the lead after Taylor’s exit and cruised to victory earning the northerners the Bluebridge North verses South Cup for the first time.
A disappointed but up-beat Streeter was in no doubt as to where it all went wrong.
“Losing both Taylor and Jacobs at the same time was pretty unlucky. Going down to three cars is a huge disadvantage,” he said.

11th Nov Update 2011 - Our weekend started with us all meeting in Woodend so we could travel in convoy. Not long after leaving that all fell apart when Nathan Taylor’s trailer decided it needed one less wheel. The back of the group stopped to help and got him on his way again where we all met up again in Kaikoura to have lunch and a giggle at the misfortune. From there it was through to Blenheim Top 10 where we could unpack and make sure the cars were all ready to race, with last minute touch ups and wings added.
We travelled in convoy to the track where we were greeted warmly by Ricco Gray and shown to our parking spots.
Loyal supporters soon showed up to let us know they were right behind us and to wish the boys well in their endeavours for the night.
We were provided with fruit juice from Steve Mansfield from Kaikoura to keep the boys fuelled up after the racing.
With a bit of damage sustained in the first race we couldn’t have gotten back out without the help of Aaron Penberth and his welder. The rest of Aaron’s crew jumped in and helped get John Gray ready after tossing two belts and losing his brakes. Standing back and watching for a minute it was like watching a busy beehive with all the crews busy on the cars getting them ready for the next race.
A nice spread was put on by the club and stories were told as we caught up with old friends and friendly rivals.
After a breakfast BBQ cooked by Team Management we packed up and made our weary way home after a tiring but fun weekend.
A huge thanks to our sponsors Brown & Syme Painting Contractors, TTL Hire Ltd, Canterbury Waterblast ltd and Woodford Glen Ampro Tools Shop, who helped make this weekend possible.
While we did not come out the victors this time it was a fun weekend and a good taste of what is to come this weekend in the North vs South teams at Woodford Glen.

7th Nov Update 2011 - A great weekend away to Eastern States Speedway for the Canterbury Crushers would not have been possible without the help of our wonderful sponsors Brown & Syme Painting Contractors, TTL Hire Ltd, Canterbury Waterblast Ltd and The Woodford Glen Ampro Tools Shop.
Also a huge thanks to our crews and supporters. It is wonderful to have support wherever we go. Our drivers 4c Chris Hall, 5c Ben Jacobs, 6c Reece Ward, 7c Cody Streeter, 8c John Gray and 9c Nathan Taylor really appreciate your cheering and encouragement.
A special thanks to Steve Mansfield for the juice and Aaron and co. for the welder and help.