Speedway in South Canterbury (Read 4,854 times)

[flo5]

G'day,

I know there's no track at present but is there a club? Anyone know of future plans for a track in the Timaru area?

Cheers

[bonezman]

"Bump" would like to know more myself how this track is going?

[madnessracing78c]

i think its on the 50 year retirement lol the last i heard they where putting up a wall but that was about 5 years ago there must be someone out there that knows how the piece of dirt is coming along

cheers
craig campbell
madness racing78

[Cheque Book]

Back in 1996 when i was working for wallance and Cooper in timaru, the owner Bryan Kent ? took me out to just before levels raceway, on the left hand side of the road, i met a guy called Nobby Jones from timaru who seem to be the main man,
There were 100 big blocks being moved around for the wall,
Im not sure what happened to it, Back then there were a number of woodfordglen members involed Streetstock driver who had a tyre shop on the south side of timaru was also there cant remenber his name,

Great to hear what happen.

[supercrew007]

been to levels raceway for work in tier 1 class for the last 3 years and the concrete blocks are still there and the track infield is over grown and the land around the wall.
Pity really because it would be an awesome set up if some had the time and the money to spend on it.
Some of the boys on the team live in timaru il try find out more goss for ya

[FantomFan]

Maybe the question of resource consent came up.

I know they tried the 'existing use' ploy - but there hasn't been a tract there for a very long time so that may not have worked.

[BarryB]

Would love to know the official story myself........

[craig]

Apr 20, 2009 9:44:51 GMT 12 Cheque Book said:

Back in 1996 when i was working for wallance and Cooper in timaru, the owner Bryan Kent ? took me out to just before levels raceway, on the left hand side of the road, i met a guy called Nobby Jones from timaru who seem to be the main man,
There were 100 big blocks being moved around for the wall,
Im not sure what happened to it, Back then there were a number of woodfordglen members involed Streetstock driver who had a tyre shop on the south side of timaru was also there cant remenber his name,

Great to hear what happen.

Brian Kenton was one of the driving force people behind it, unsure as to what stage the tracks at now days. The wall panels were made in Chch & transported down there, last I heard was these were all done & stood up in place, never saw personally, so unfounded info there.
Went down to Temuka a few years ago to watch some banjo paddock racing & Adrian Fitzgerald, a local temuka notoriety (& W/Glen club member) took me to the gate to have a look down into the area.

Chequebook, was Neil MacGregor the name that escaped you?

[Cheque Book]

Chequebook, was Neil MacGregor the name that escaped you?

that was him, great guy,

what a shame if its been stood down because of consent bulls hit, Brian Kenton (nearly got it right) had put a lot of money in to it, these guys seem really driven to get it going.

I took my ministock to Temuka back in 1996 it was a banjo paddock racing set up then too ha ha, great to hear it still going.

[MadMarty13B]

I raced there late seventies

[craig]

Apr 20, 2009 21:26:38 GMT 12 MadMarty13B said:

I raced there late seventies

you were probably the one who played the banjo there Marty....lol

[craig]

Apr 20, 2009 19:32:43 GMT 12 Cheque Book said:

Chequebook, was Neil MacGregor the name that escaped you?

that was him, great guy,

He's still down there in timaru & still around the racing scene, doing the odd derby etc.

[MadMarty13B]

Apr 20, 2009 22:13:58 GMT 12 craig said:

Apr 20, 2009 21:26:38 GMT 12 MadMarty13B said:

I raced there late seventies

you were probably the one who played the banjo there Marty....lol

The Piano Accordian actually NZ Champ when I was 10 lol

[cards]

I remember when Brian Kenton put in an application for a track with the "Strathallan County Council" as it was back then in 1987.

Neary 60 angry "lifestyle block" people turned up and with true vitriolic anger had the thing thrown out.

All Timaru's Dentists and Lawyers were scared people with dirty finger nails would upset their Alpacas.

I was reporting it for Radio New Zealand at the time .. I've never been so disgusted with a Council before or since the way they rolled over and gave in to the pressure from these "Johnny-come-latelies."

Then we had the Western Springs thing and I'm sure there have been others since as well.

"Not in my neighbour !"

Makes my blood pressure rise thinking about it still.

[CLIFF]

had a guy staying with me for the burt munroe weekend in november, the week before he was out there back filling the concrete wall. but he didn't know anything about who had anything to do with it.
there must be someone around timaru who knows what's going on.

[thunderbird1]

Quite right cards. There was a hell of a stink about the whole deal. Around 2002 the Timaru City Council offered the then called South Canterbury Stockcar Club a grant of around $14K to develop land to resource consent standards. Of course we all know that resource consents change quicker than you can actually sort them. In 2005/6 the club also had a grant offered by a local charity group but have not heard anything since then. Obviously something is still happening as quoted by gop47. Does anyone know exactly where or on what road this track was to be situated. Come in Timaru.

[fee13]

They still have a club in Timaru, just waiting for the track to be done and finding time and money, most members race in Ashburton and Miles Marsden (North End Ford in Geraldine) is the president of Timaru Club.

[Admin]

The following arrived in my inbox tonight .


Timaru Herald story
SC speedway work slips into top gear

29 September 2005



Race cars could be sliding round Timaru's speedway track by Easter.

The South Canterbury Stock Car Club had a setback earlier this year when a rising
water table due to irrigation in the vicinity meant the western end of the track
disappeared under about 15cm of water.

After receiving professional advice the club waited for the water to recede before
building up the track base.

Work is now steaming ahead and a tentative completion date has been penciled in
for April.

"But there is no date set in concrete," stock car president Miles Marsden said.

About 240 prefabricated barriers will be put in place in about two weeks.

"It will really start looking like a track after they are installed, but there is still a lot of work to do."

The club is still trying to raise money to complete the project, but is confident of doing so.

The track would be a good asset for the region when it is completed, he said.

"I believe it will bring a lot of people into the district, which has to be great for the likes of motels, garages and
restaurants."

Competitors and fans are likely to flock from all over the South Island to the quarter mile oval track at Falveys Road,
near the intersection with Levels Plain Road.

Mr Marsden said the club had decided to build a permanent base as members had to travel to Ashburton, Christchurch
or Dunedin for competition.

People living in the area need not worry about the noise as he was confident little would be heard because the track
was below ground level.

Mr Marsden said each event would probably see about 20 cars involved in each of the five classes.

"The racing is great to watch. South Canterbury is starved of good racing like this."

He also hoped to include events for the region's boy racers.

"We will get them in there and give them a challenge. We will supply the cars and hopefully they will get hooked."

[MadMarty13B]

Took nearly 4 years to arrive in your email box Gordon!!??

[Speedway Central (David)]

So was opening about Easter 06