SPEEDWAY: 'Goat' isn't kidding once he has wheel in his hands | Hawkes Bay Sport | Surfing, Rugby, Soccer, Football, Cricket in Hawkes Bay

Mount Maunganui Super Saloon driver Brent Emerson boasts about two interpretations of his nickname, "Goat".

One isn't fit for a family newspaper and the other - "the Greatest of all time" he joked to SportToday. Spectators at ZM Meeanee on Saturday night realised why the second interpretation isn't just a joke.

Former national champion Emerson, driving a 406 Chev-powered Camaro, won the Thirsty Whale-sponsored first round in the Weldwell North Island Series by 21 points. He took out the feature 15-lap race without relinquishing his lead at any stage, won the top-six shoot-out, one of the first two heats, and was second-fastest to Hawke's Bay's Grant Flynn during the time trials which opened the meeting. Both Emerson and national champion and fellow Mount Maunganui driver Shane McIntyre, who finished second, went close to the lap record for the class of 15.74s throughout the evening on a track well-prepared for the occasion.

"Even if I had finished second, third or fourth I would have praised the track ... I love coming here," said Emerson who will return to Meeanee on January 13 for the Hawke's Bay Super Saloon champs.

"I couldn't have wished for more tonight. I had a mixed season last summer so made a few changes to the car during the winter and they're paying off."

Flynn was the best of the four Bay drivers with a third-equal placing in the 13-strong field with Wellingtonian Paul Hodson. Former 3NZ Grahame Strong was the next best of the Bay contingent with his seventh placing, while Steve Flynn and Johnny Browne were 10th and 12th respectively.

 Bay's Wayne Melling stole the limelight in an 18-strong streetstock class. He collected two wins, including the feature, and a second placing from four starts.

In the feature, Melling nudged his way past clubmate Bill Towler and pipped fellow Bay driver and Manawatu champion Richard Houston on the finish line for the victory.

"I had a shocker at our first meeting and had to make up for it tonight," said Melling afterwards.

Regular saloon car driver Steven Martin, 17, had his first taste of streetstock driving in two of the heats and celebrated his first with a fifth placing from the back of the field.

Twelve Bay kiwilite drivers had their first outing of the season and produced some entertaining racing. Mark Croskery was unlucky to be spun out when challenging for the lead in the feature won by Glenn Dudding.

 Bay's Craig Todd did well to take out the TQ feature after finishing second to his cousin, Duane Todd, in the Huntly feature the previous night. Craig also won the first heat and was second in the other.

Gisborne's Dylan McGregor, a regular TQ visitor to Meeanee, set a lap record of 15.9017s for the class. Craig Todd set the previous one of 15.9180s back in April.

Sidecar action saw the Bay duo of Dave Black and Pete Steigenberger win their second consecutive feature and the first heat of the night.

 Bay driver Aaron Iremonger won two of the three stockcar races, including the feature. His clubmate and first-year driver in the class, Jemma Palmer, again impressed with two third placings.