GISBORNE (NZ)
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AWAPUNI SPEEDWAY / GISBORNE SPEEDWAY
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1970 circa - GISBORNE MOTOR CYCLE CLUB & MIDGET CAR CLUB
The Gisborne Motor Cycle and Midget Car Club was formed prior to 1971 with the aim of building a speedway track in the immediate area. A site was locked with one of the local farmers who loaned the club the land. This land the club would buy at a later date.
Work commenced on the Awapuni Road site in that same year 1971 and was also completed in 1971. The first President of the club was Bill Northe, his Vice President was Gerry Huberts.
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1971 - AWAPUNI SPEEDWAY OPENING MEETING 2nd January 1971
The Awapuni Speedway opened its gates to the public on the 2nd of January 1971, before a massive crowd estimated to be about 12,000. This initional meeting brought plenty of headaches with it to the region. The organizers had under estimated the attendance. Officials, Police and the volunteers were all placed under presure.
The program consisted of Motorcycle and Midget Car racing. Stock Cars and Production Cars boosted the nominations, All the divisions put on some thrilling racing.
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1972 > 1974 - VENUE UPGRADES
Speedway Scrapbook facebook Pictorial feature
Kevin Hankey and Bill Ireland making repairs to the fence which surrounds the track.
Providing the welcome refreshments during the breaks, are from left Glenda Gooch, June Roberts and Joyce Gregg.
The uneven area between the Awapuni Road enterance and the track is being levelled off. It is the soil frm here which is being used for the seating banks. This area will be grassed and provide much more room for parking.
The soil has been moved from the parking area and banked up around the perimeter. After this consolidated tiers of seating will be built to give much improved viewing and a lot more seats for spectators.
The track itself is also undergoing a regular overhaul.
Taking a well earned tea break are members of the club.
The West end of the track has been completed at this stage. Note the thickness of the logs.
The enlarged area which will hold the new pits.
Fence logs being placed in position.
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Above - The size of the logs can be gauged by the size of the two children.Left - Club Secretary Harry Hessell lifts one of the log buffers into place, on the safety fence. |
A bitumen Sprayers machine banks filling by the new track entrance.
(Research - Nicholas Colleran)
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2005 - AWAPUNI SPEEDWAY Location.
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2022 - AWAPUNI SPEEDWAY Location.
