Taranaki Historic Speedway Association Inc. -- New Zealand.
Saving the past -- for the future.     Saving the past -- for the future.

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This site seeks to record a brief history of  New Zealand speedways and competitors, past and present, particularly in our home province of  Taranaki, starting with Waiwakaiho Speedway (1950--1969).
Speedway in NZ started in the late 1920's and prior to1965 ran solo motorbikes, midgets, sidecars and TQ's. (Three quarter midgets) Stock, sprint and saloon cars came later. Those closed speedways we know about are listed here, NZ Speedways  along with currently operating speedways. Histories are being recorded as we are able to research the information. Some current NZ speedways are also listed on our links page. If you can help with NZ speedway history please contact the webmaster via this link


New Zealand Speedways current and past       NZ Speedway Champions        

 NZ Speedway Hall of Fame     Local Taranaki Speedways      First and second year of Waiwakaiho history

Where did speedway start?  (The debate continues)  The start of speedway in Ireland.   Speedway history in NZ

Speedway Links        Personalities and rider / drivers who have contributed to speedway in NZ

Bits 'N' Pieces      Midgets (photo gallery)     Speedway Museum,  Auckland     

History of Stockcar Racing in NZ     Speedway books n' DVD's                      

About our club    Join or contact our club      About the webmaster.  

Now available in New Zealand.

Another great Historic Speedway book from Allan Batt. The Big Thrill is the history of Palmerston North Speedway in NZ.Order now from Speedway Classics, PO Box 19687, Woolston, Christchurch 8241. $25NZ plus postage. Allan at ajbatt@#hotmail.com (remove the hash)

Fourth volume now available. "From Cinders to Clay". If you like speedway history in New Zealand, and Western Springs in particular, then this book is a "must have."  Purchase details here. Written by Harry Chambers with much help from Gordon McIsaac, it contains story's about drivers, officials and promoters from the first year of midgets in 1939 and working towards today.  Great photo's on almost every page.

Photo below left, is Ian Hoskins, our first Honorary member, with Ivan Mauger, at the World Long Track final run here in New Plymouth in November 2003. Ian is the son of the legendary Johnnie Hoskins who had a major influence on the start of speedway in Australia and the rest of the world. Follow this link to read Ian's comments about the start of speedway. Johnnie was born here in Taranaki and Ian has now returned to live here.   Ivan, from Christchurch, New Zealand, was winner of 9 World Championships on short and long tracks and among other awards was granted an OBE and an MBE.

Please note this site is subject to copyright © laws and use of any info or graphics without the webmasters permission is not allowed.  Every effort has been made to trace copyright holders of photo's or text used.
The webmaster would appreciate hearing from any copyright holder not acknowledged.

If any visitor can contribute to this site in any way or help correct any discrepancy, please follow this link. to Max Rutherford --Web Master

Saving the past--------for the future.