Jago celebrates

Press, 10 January 1986, Page 22

Jago celebrates

PA Gisborne A Stratford speedway driver, Alan Jago, celebrated 20 years in racing in fine style at Gisborne’s Awapuni speedway on Wednesday night. He won the North Island saloon car championship in his flying fuel-injected VW. He and the runner-up, Geoff Fletcher, of Cambridge, both had damaged cars before the event and it was only long hours by pit crews that got them to Gisborne in time for the championship. Jago scored 48 points across the three finals to finish well clear.

He secured sixth place in the third final — all he needed as the other leading drivers boxed in behind him in the tight pack.

The garage manager was thrilled with his win. He has been runner-up national champion and a place-getter at other/major events, but this is his first big title in 20 years, 10

of them racing his distinctive VWs.

The bored-out 2.5 litre methanol-fuelled car gave away a huge power advantage to the big VBs, but Jago was able to use his lighter car well in the tight racing Awapuni produced. Fletcher Buick Skylark took second after a three-way race off with Gore’s Peter Woods (Commodore) and Stratford’s Rowan Julian (MGB V 8).

They fought nose to-tail for the minor placings after tying on 44 points. Fifth was the new national champion, Peter Sloman, of Wanganui, with 43 points in the Corvette. He could not work up into a wining position in the vital finals.

Others in the top 10 were Graeme Colson (Stratford) 42, Tony Cardwell (Christchurch) 41, Michael Quinn (Palmerston North) 40, Ray Makere (Whangarei) and Ray Purdie i (Wanganui) 39. '