The Hearne family, from left; Justin, Raiden, Blake and Lisa with the boys ministocks. Photo: File.

Keeping up with the Hearnes

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Justin “Red Feathers” Hearne hasn’t had much time to rest after retiring from stock car racing — his two boys are keenly following in his footsteps.

Raiden, 15, and Blake, 12, are spinning plenty of laps at Milestone Homes Top of the South Speedway in their Youth Ministocks.

Raiden picked up his maiden win a few weeks ago, while Blake has completed his mentor programme for new drivers and is now free to race at other tracks.

Justin has built Blake’s car over winter and gave Raiden’s an overhaul. The structural engineer from Trinders also looks after the steelwork on a few other drivers’ cars as well.

The cars mirror his former Stock car, sporting the Lift and Shift colours on both machines. Raiden carries his dad’s race number 14 while Blake’s is 41.

Justin raced for six years and was a member and former captain of the Tasman Thunder stock car team. Now he’s a Speedway NZ scrutineer, checking cars prior to racing. His wife Lisa was involved in building up and running the popular junior members club. But with both boys racing this season, she is kept busy looking after the cars and boys during race nights.

The boys are active away from racing — Raiden enjoys basketball and soccer while Blake is a keen boxer and plays rugby. He does a pretty mean haka as well.

The boys are looking at racing at the NZ Youth Ministock title at Oxford in May and will continue to race at home with a few trips to the Blenheim and Greymouth tracks.

They wish to thank their sponsors Lift and Shift, Jacks Tyres, Oxford Court Motels, Trinders and Nicholson Industrial Contracting.