Preview PREVIEW: New Year Teams Bash - Meeanee (7th Jan 2021)

[HGR#777]

Welcome to the 2021 New Year Teams Bash!

 

I hope everyone had a good Christmas, it's time to look forward to 2021 and to kick us off in style we have the first NZ Teams meeting of the season, grab a cup of tea and a left over mince pie for this one and enjoy. 

 

Booking Notes:
If there are TWO extra teams looking to book in then let me know as we can run with 10 teams, however we can't run with nine teams as it doesn't work.
If anyone has a driver drop out, please message me as I have some back-ups if you can't find someone yourself

 

MEETING PREVIEW

 

Hello and welcome to the first team event of the season, the warmup to the ENZED Teams Champs in Feb...

Its the New Year Teams Bash 2021!

A quick overview, we will begin with a round robin of heats with each team racing each other once - the top 4 drivers in each race will score points 10, 5, 3, 1. The top 4 points scoring teams after the heats are complete will enter the semi-finals. The winner from each semi will make up New Year Teams Bash Final. We finish the night with an all car Teams Revenge Race. Full details will be released in a Meeting Info post closer to the date.

 

Last year it was the Nelson Tigers that took the inaugural New Year Teams Bash title with a last bender in a thrilling 15 lap final against the Rotorua Rebels.

The Nelson Tigers then went on to win the ENZED Teams Champs in February over suprise new team Christchurch Glen Eagles who did a great job coming in 2nd place. SIX time champions Rebels failed to make the final for the first time ever in the nine years the teams championship has existed.

 

2021 will be the first time we stage the event with EIGHT teams, and the second running of the New Years Teams Bash. Here is the run down of each team competing...

 

Stratford Scrappers - Aidan Grindey, Owen Strong, Ollie Armstrong, Tom Brighton

We begin with our youngest line up on the grid, the Scrappers. With Owen Strong and Ollie Armstrong the only drivers to complete a race so far this year and with a combined average score of a measly 83 between the two it looks to be a challenging prospect from the off.
Aidan has turned up to race, however has more fun blowing up his engines than actually competing.
Team owner Owen Strong admitted the target is "Just have fun, we know it’ll take a miracle to get very far looking at the other teams" and says Aidan Grindey is the standout one to watch.
Predictions: Tigers or Panthers to win

 

Manawatu Mustangs - Scott "Skint" Kinton, Callum Thornton, Harvey Wells, Stockrod

Up next the Mustangs, previous NZ Champion (1nz) Scott Kinton lines up alongside three newbies in NZs so are certainly an unknown. 
In an interview ThorntonThorton sounded extremely confident as he explained "Thornton 68 is the man to beat" and his aims are to "smash up that HGR geezer".
A mix of confidence, unknown talent and an experienced driver could bring up a surprise package to the event!
Predictions: Christchurch Glen Eagles to win

 

Great British Lions - Nobby, Eavesy, Winter, Tom Armstrong

The next team see's an interesting prospect. All four very sensible drivers who can all easily fall into the "glass bumpers" category makes you question how they will fare in all out NZ team racing, however with all drivers racing the season so far and all producing some very respectable results you can't count them out.
In contrast to my thoughts Nobby suggested that all of his team members "aren't shy to use the front bumper!" so it remains to see if the dark side of these drivers will show up on the 7th. 

When asked about tactics Nobby pondered - "Tactics.... If in doubt go flat out!!! In truth, no tactics as of yet, think we plan to have a few practice sessions together, see who's got the speed and then we can figure out what we should do."
We wish them all the best of luck and their teamwork could see them as some serious underdogs, if they can put there tactics into place.

Predictions: Hawkes Bay Hawkeyes or Nelson Tigers to win

 

Hawkes Bay Hawkeyes - Wim Peeters, Stijneman, Stannie, Badeend

The first all dutch team is our last brand new team for 2021. All drivers are always consistanly quick and also use the bumper very often (wheather they use it well is another question...). You can never count the Dutch out in NZ teams it's as simple as that.
Stijneman said "For us its the first time as a team so we hope to do well and our aim is to get to the final four but it will be hard as we are not that experienced but hopefully we have some luck"

"You should definitely look out for Wim Peeters 124 as he is a 2 times world champions in the real formula 2 so he knows what it takes to win big races and with his experience and hard driving style he can help us. And keep an eye open towards me (Stijneman) as i am known for my hard driving style beside that stannie and badeend will be the perfect players to complete our team"

Predictions: "If we dont win i think the nelson tigers will win they know how to do it and have 4 experienced drivers. We hope to do better then the rebels as they are our fellow dutch competitors we would like to beat them so maybe that could lead to a rivalry"

 

Rotorua Rebels - Frans, Marten, Kloosterman, Tsjalle

Up next, SIX time consecutive ENZED Team Champions from 2013 to 2018, the Rebels. Last year they struggled with Durk in the ENZED Team championship so Kloosterman returns to the squad after featuring in last years Teams Bash after team captain Tsjalle dropped Durk to the bench. The Rebels did manage to finish 2nd place in 2020's New Year Teams Bash after losing first on the last bend so they will be looking to take the win this time out.
When asked for comment, the Rebels declined.

 

Palmerston North Panthers - Braderzzz, EllisR, Niall, Burnsy

Two changes to the team from the ENZED Team Champs as Jake Cameron gets swaped for Niall, and Burnsy returns to the team in place of Ash.
A stubborn Team captain Bradley Cooper said "our aim is to beat everyone and win". 
Predictions: Panthers, if not Tigers as they have some very quick drivers

 

Christchurch Glen Eagles - HGR, Tomdavison, Tosh, Barker

Next up is our runners up in last years ENZED Team Championships, the Christchurch Glen Eagles. They have signed Barker to their roster for the New Years Teams Bash in place of Skint who was forced to leave through a contract termination. The Eagles gave the Tigers a scare last year so have got what it takes to go all the way yet again.
Described as "The Perfect Mix", with speed (HGR), clever bumperwork (Tomdavison), crasher (Barker) and experience (Tosh) they will be looking to go one better and knock the Tigers off the top step.

Team captain, Harry Graham, has high hopes as they are 'Aiming to win' however they 'would be happy to make the Final'. When asked who is their danger man, Harry was certain it was 'Barker, he's a loose cannon and god knows what will happen'. Graham kept it plain and simple about their tactics as they plan to 'Beat the other teams'. To finish off, Harry answered with a not-so-serious quote about who he thinks will win if they fail to do so, 'The Tigers because I like their stripes'.
Predictions: Tigers to win

 

Nelson Tigers - TomD, Kane, Fake Wardy, Crashley England

Last but not least our final team. Your current reigning New Year Teams Bash and ENZED Team Champions of the World... the Nelson Tigers! Speed, tactics and bumperwork are all top notch so they will take some beating but this is NZs teams, and with the strongest line-up of teams ever there is no certain winners. Can the Nelson Tigers be the first team to defend the New Year Teams Bash title?

Kane Morgan explained "We'll be high on confidence from the past 2 years of success, if we don't make the Final, it'll be a loss for us."
When asked about who we should be looking out for, he failed to provide a single answer... "All of us, we're all capable of doing something special when it needs to be done, whether if that's for the lead or stopping someone."

In the final question about what team would win, Kane seemed extremely concerned about the team in blue "It would have to be the Rebels, they can pull anything off at any point, they aren't 6 time Team Champions for no reason"
Predictions: Tigers or Rebels to win


Thanks to everyone so far for entering the teams nice and early and remember if TWO more teams want to book in we can accommodate you and run with 10 teams. Unfortunely it must be two more teams and not one more team as we can't run with nine... If you have a team ready please message me.

See you on the 7th!

 

Edited December 27, 2020 by HGR#777