![](https://www.pukekohecarclub.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_7926-1024x768.jpg)
Events, Events, Events
Whether it’s host events or community events, our committee members and club members are actively involved. Quiet weekends seem to be a thing of the past these days.
We work off the race calendar but sometimes forget there is a variety of other events on, some very cool community events at that. Any opportunity to sew the rally seeds and get people involved, we get into it.
The recent Waiuku Steel & Wheels Festival brought out the petrol head in everyone with vintage cars, hot-rods, tractors, rally cars, and more! It was a car enthusiasts dream day and Club members made up part of the show with cars, bikes and trucks on display.
With a splattering of planned motorsport events in the months to come, our members will be keeping busy, whether it be competing or volunteering. With slim pickings of officials, some of our members will be busy with a back-to-back rallysprint and bentsprint events planned in mid/late May.
Together we are strong and as a team – we are mighty!
Sunday 26 May
Rodney Atchinson Memorial Bentsprint
![](https://www.pukekohecarclub.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Rodney-Atchinson.3-1024x683.jpg)
A Tarmac favourite of the late Rodney Atchinson.
Approximately 3.5 km in length. Starting downhill into some tight technical corners, opening up to a nice flowing uphill section, entering an often slippery tree covered tight section to emerge into some flowing right left combinations to the finish.
Documentation and scrutineering will be held in the service paddock at the
Awhitu Central Hall.
We will accept entries on the day but entries via Motorsport NZ preferred.
Please reach out to Brian Best 021 903 332 to advise if you can help volunteer at this very special event.
Regs are on our website
Presidents Ramblings April 2024
Another month gone and the first of the big rally events has been held down in Otago. What a massive undertaking to pull events like this off- and much of it is done by volunteers.
Our Club, like the rest, relies on volunteers to run our events. We can’t do it without them. This includes your hardworking committee- doing the safety plans, regs, road safety and resident visits- without these very time-consuming duties, there will be no events. Then there are those on the day- CoC’s, CRO’s, Stewards, Scrutineers, Marshalls, Radio, Timing and Results plus other important roles behind the scenes and on the course.
Often this means there are more volunteers than competitors, and many give up their chance to compete to help run the day.
However, it also gets people the opportunity to learn new skills, meet lots of new people and get up close to the action. As a Club we would encourage anyone with an interest in motorsport to get in touch and get involved- no prior knowledge is needed. A great way to get young ones involved and interested in our sport.
Look out for our events and turn up on the day and offer to help, or better still get in touch with us so we can make sure you get looked after.
And competitors, please remember we are volunteers! I know most of you help out your Clubs so you understand a kind word or a thanks to our teams is really appreciated.
We are gearing up for the Rodney Atchinson Memorial Bent Sprint on May 26th, with a few of us racing back from the Motorsport NZ AGM to be there for the day.
We are also looking for venues for Motokhanas and other events- so please let us know if you have a suitable paddock or a cool road that we may able to use as well
Many hands make light work of an event!
Cheers
Fiona
Upcoming Events
HCC, Ruapuke Rd, tarmac 12-May
MBOP, Waitao Rd hillclimb, gravel 19-May
Northern Rallysprint Series & North Island Rally Series, SACC Jacks Ridge rallysprint 19-May
NCC, Paiawa Rd bentsprint 19-May
PCC, Rodney Atchison Memorial bentsprint 26-May
Rally of Canterbury 2-Jun
TVCC Piakonui Rd rallysprint 9-Jun
Northern Rallysprint Series, MBOP Stanley Rd, gravel 23-June
MBOP Leslie Rd hillclimb, tarmac 14-Jul
Rally of Dargaville 27-Jul
HCMC Kaipara Hills bentsprint, gravel 4-Aug
Northern Rallysprint Series, HCC Hoddle Rd, gravel 18-Aug
MBOP Tokoroa Airfield 1/4 mile sprint 11-Aug
MBOP Day/Night sprint, gravel 31-Aug
![](https://www.pukekohecarclub.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_7924-1.jpg)
Meremere Park
![](https://www.pukekohecarclub.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Screenshot-2024-04-29-210103-1024x347.png)
45 minutes from the city lies a motorsport gem and true motor enthusiasts playground. The hangout spot of the drag racing community has really grown, and some of the other hugely popular disciplines have joined the team. For a second, I felt like I’d stepped back in time as I followed the old gravel road and parked up to get reacquainted with this familiar spot.
![](https://www.pukekohecarclub.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/9Tzi8ywRz924XE3uHaD6DfGZQfjEdZd7oKlsiR53VLHvSZExpMzuRmKdwHbkL9Pk1D8nGbw_q_f1z9tl_bYCZmTPryyD0Rejiil_BT6lWLaj0KOlkZLcGtqcQZL3kNAezTXA7BvAG1wgtGPbnrTN4AH6Tybxe7lF.webp)
Tyre smoke fills the air from the drift park, earth rumbling torque is erupting from the dragstrip alongside, but I had come to see the dirt karts. Racer Bill Morton was racing in the Rotax Heavies class of the dirt karts and boy, what a great bunch of races it turned out to be!
![](https://www.pukekohecarclub.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/View-recent-photos-1-1024x560.png)
Roughly 150 entrants split between different classes, racers start from Junior Cadets and go right through to Open class. A huge amount of work has gone into this sculpted track and its popularity shows. With one of the busiest meets this year, the Autumn sun complimented a fast and furious day at the track.
Just a stones throw from the dirt karts, is the drift track where you can catch the drifting action as well while the karts line up for their next race. Hard to keep focus with all the great action going on!
The Rotax class runs a Rotax Max FR125 engine and can they boogie. Transponders keep heat times and just like our rally racing, its mates vs mates in a good old chocolate fish racing battle.
Thoroughly enjoyable day and look forward to catching some more racing action soon.
Waiuku Steel & Wheels Festival
![](https://www.pukekohecarclub.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_7928-1024x768.jpg)
Waiuku township turned on the festival atmosphere on Sunday 14-Apr with the annual Steel & Wheels festival.
This year brought new attractions and some favourites including the infamous fire breathing Jet Car, a different kind of fire power from the Quad 50, a Pistol display, lots of booms and bangs, dreamy classics on wheels, live music, dancing, drummers and even some action in the sky with a variety of aircraft including chopper joy rides!
Club members cars & bikes were spotted throughout the lined streets.
A big laugh to see kids gather at the pest control tent to touch a look-a-like possum, only to find it was squishy. It had been put in the fridge specially to bring along to the event. There was also gasps when it moved its arms about when approached – hidden fishing line, a sneaky trick from the pest control team.
![](https://www.pukekohecarclub.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_7937-1024x768.jpg)
![](https://www.pukekohecarclub.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_7927-1024x768.jpg)
![](https://www.pukekohecarclub.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_7934-1024x768.jpg)
![](https://www.pukekohecarclub.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_6921-1024x1024.jpg)