What was a track of vehicle destruction, now resembles a swimming pool as ASB Baypark Speedway organisers try to dry the track out ready for speedway action.

Speedway event promoter Bernie Gillon says the speedway track is under water because the pumps in the facility aren't working.

Drivers Melanie Stone and Doug Britton share their experiences about the night.

'I'm on my way to the hire centre to get some pumps to try and dry the place out. The place is almost a swimming pool.

'I've never seen it as bad. We've got real problems to try and get the place cleared up, dried up and prepared for next weekend.

'You can't get ahead. Every time it rains, the place turns into a great big swamp.”

MetService communications meteorologist Lisa Murray says there were two hours of really heavy down pours with 49.6mm of rainfall recorded on the automated system based at Tauranga Airport.

'The heaviest of that was 28mm in the two hours leading up to midnight and the majority of that fell quite swiftly.”

Lisa isn't sure what the cause of the flooding at the stadium may have been, but says MetService did release a warning of localised downpours.

Flooding at Baypark. Photos: Bruce Barnard.

Coromandel was hit the hardest by heavy rainfall with 120mm of rainfall recorded in Whitianga.

Luckily the weather stayed fine for the SunLive Baypark Demolition Derby and FMX Show on Saturday, April 16, which was originally scheduled for April 9 and postponed due to bad weather.

'That's exactly right,” says Bernie. 'There's always a silver lining isn't there?”

Despite the postponement of the derby, Bernie says the event was a huge success bringing a crowd of close to 5000 fans.

'The derby went really well. The freestyle motocross boys put on a great show and the crowd got right in behind it. I haven't heard people cheering at a speedway meeting like that for a long time and obviously that excitement all rolled into the demolition derby, which was a great event.”

The winner who wrecked the most havoc – or was the most entertaining – is Pete MacIntyre, who was awarded $1000 for his efforts.

The overall winner of the $2000 demo derby prize is Robert Boucher, who was driving car 311.

But there has been some remarks regarding the winning decision.

This comment was posted to the Baypark Family Speedway Facebook page: 'Lots of laughs in the Demo Derby!! Clearly Shane won the Demo Derby...Crap decision to allow a disqualified driver who'd been stationary for five minutes to re-enter the race at the last minute and win - who does that!!!”

Bernie disagrees. 'There's a whole lot of talk about that, but no he was fine. There's some grizzling and bitching about that, but no don't even go there."

There's also been off track banter between SunLive demolition drivers Melanie Stone and Doug Brittion, AKA Batman, following the race.

'At least I beat Doug,” Melanie told SunLive, with a big grin on her face. Doug was heard congratulating Melanie in the SunMedia offices this morning. 'There' I said it, I'll be the big man,” he joked.

Melanie and Doug want to thank the 'helpers in the fluro orange vests Jeanette and Chris” who were very helpful on the big night offering safety checks and a few track tips.

They'd also like to thank the support crews including Brett Emmerson 7M who supplied gloves, as well as other crews who offered their personal seat belts from their stock cars.

'For such an individual sport, I've never been around so many people willing to help,” says Doug.

Doug was late onto the derby track after his car 'couldn't turn right”, with pit crews under the car to try and get it started minutes before the race. 'But luckily we only really have to go left,” laughs Doug.

Melanie made about five laps before the transmission blew. 'It was still running, but I just couldn't put it into gear.”

The pair are a bit sore this morning, but say they'd do it again in a heartbeat.

'Hell yeah,” says Mel. 'For sure,” says Doug.

Bernie is hoping the rain won't put a damper on the speedway season's closing night this Saturday, when the Fireworks Extravaganza and Harry Fredrickson Gold Cup takes to the track.

'Over all it has been a really good season. We've had a few meetings that have been effected with marginal weather.”

If rain is forecast for Saturday, April 23, Bernie encourages speedway fans to check www.sunlive.co.nz for updates.

'Because if we can't race due to weather we will postpone the event until the following week.”

Meteorologist Lisa says the weather experienced in the weekend is moving to the west, and should have left the Bay of Plenty by now.

'There might be the odd shower around. But Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday are looking fine.”

Lisa says temperatures will follow today's high of 24 degrees with the rest of the week reaching temperatures in the 20s.