After a six month racing tour of the USA, leading midget car driver Michael Pickens arrived back in Auckland this week looking forward to do battle with the local drivers when the Western Springs 2006-07 gets underway on November 4.

Pickens, who did the majority of his 2006-07 racing in Australia has signed with Western Springs Speedway and will be contesting all twelve of the scheduled meetings at the track this summer and will also race at the two International Midget Series races at Christchurch’s Powerbuilt Speedway at Ruapuna Park.

Soon after arriving home, the twenty three year old former New Zealand Midget Champion said that for many reasons he had made the decision to commit to doing the majority of his racing this summer at his home track.

“Western Springs is the place that gave me my start in Midget racing and we have done fairly well at the track over the past few years. With the on going noise issue problems at the Springs it is important to me to show my support to my local track, it really comes down to giving something back, said Pickens. Over the past few years it is my sponsors and the people who have supported me who have made it possible that I have been able to race extensively overseas and I also owe it to them that I race at all the meetings at the Springs this summer.

“With Springs Promotions bringing some of the best Midget drivers in the World to contest the International Series, fans will be in for a feast of racing, it’s going to be awesome”. Pickens said that the prize money on offer by Springs Promotions this season is as good as or if not better than any prize money that he has seen on offer for Midget racing anywhere in the World. 

As for his recent racing in the USA, Pickens described it as a ‘mixed bag’. Unable to secure a permanent Midget drive in the USA Pickens admitted that continually jumping into different cars every second week, he did himself no favours at all. Despite driving six different cars, Pickens picked up two BADGER feature wins, winning at Angell Park and Wilmot Speedways he took his career total to five USA Midget wins, more Midget wins on soil than any other New Zealand Midget driver has achieved.

Pickens will team up with the Don Kay Team to contest the National Series at Western Springs and then drive for the Seamount Team to contest the International Midget Series at the Springs and Christchurch.

Welcome home to Western Springs Michael!     

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