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Dirt Track Racing development started at the Meremere venue in 1972 when extra
dirt from excavations to build the drag strip were used to create a dirt track
on the other side of the hill.

This allowed the builders of the drag strip, Pukekohe Hot Rod Club to move their
grass track racing activities from Pukekawa over the river to Meremere. In 1980
the Auckland Hot Rod Club took over the running of the dirt track as repayment
of debentures the Auckland Hot Rod Club held in the drag strip.

The Meremere Dirt Track Club was formed in the winter of 1983 when members of
three clubs made up the bulk of the competitors involved, decided to form a new
club solely focused on their sport and to take over the running of the event
from the then promoters, the Auckland Hot Rod Club. The three clubs were:
Auckland Hot Rod Club, Western Districts Off-road Racing Club and the Waiuku
Dirt Track Club.

Keith Robson who had been the President of the Auckland Hot Rod Club, and Lance
Green the Treasurer of the Western Districts Off-road Racing Club became
President and Secretary/Treasurer respectively of the new club. Keith Robson
took on the role of writing the club rules along with refining the car
construction and racing rules which he had written while President of AHRC along
with the myriad of minor details needed to get the club up and running while
Lance Green used his marketing skills to create a business plan and a strategy
to raise the funds necessary to get a brand new club under way. Many innovative
ideas were dreamed up at this time. Such as a free glossy programme each
meeting. The first national champs weekend, monthly club nights, proper
sponsorship and a level of professionalism that had never been seen at Meremere
before. It was thanks to Lance Greens business skills and contacts that the club
gained the support. The first couple of years from some major businesses,
including

Auto Trader magazine, BP oils, McEntee Hire services, Trans Tours, and Mitre 10.

The club was also well supported by many members who owned their own businesses
and chose to sponsor events and programme adverts or to provide goods and
services to the fledgling club. Ultimately Keith and Lance were only able to do
so much and it was thanks to the initial nine committee members that so much was
achieved in so little time. The track was rebuilt and reshaped with a new off
road course built with jumps that ran around thru and over the dirt track a new
control tower was built, the main pit fence was built and sign written. The
access roads graded and metalled, lawns mowed, toilets built, water lines laid
and the water truck was dragged up to Auckland and rebuilt. Anything that didn't
move was painted.

 

ORGINAL COMMITTEE

 

The committee was made up with 3 members from each club, members being:

Auckland Hot Rod Club

 * Keith Vazey
 * Ricky Mitchell
 * Bob Bassett

Waiuku Dirk Track Club

 * Kerry Jones
 * Harold Kitson
 * John Rattrie

Western Districts Off Road Racing Club

 * Stewart Reid
 * Alan Wakeling
 * Trevor Watts

 

The members of the club could see what was happening and became enthused enough
to become involved as well. With working bees well attended by large amounts of
members all keen to make the club and its first season of racing successful.
Many a Saturday night was spent at the track with members camping over. Sitting
around the bonfire enjoying a sociable night of storytelling, singing and the
odd drink or two.

 

The first race meeting run by the new club happened on the 16th of October 1983
as planned. All the hard work was done and all the efforts of those that had
worked so hard to get the new club up and running were well rewarded with a very
successful opening meeting. It was a start of a club and venue that continues to
this day having given lots of people a great start in motor sport and even more
a great deal of comradeship in the last 25+ years.

 

MDTC LEGENDS IN MOTORSPORT

 

Some of those that have taken part and gained their initial experience in motor
sport at Meremere have moved onto much bigger things in the broader world of
motor racing, these include:

Kerry Jones and Alan Wakeling - NZ Sprint Car Champions

Possum Bourne - Australian, Asia PAcific and NZ Rally Champ (in the mid 70's
with his V8 Cortina

Peter Hemi - NZ Super Saloon Car Champ

Kim Austin - Ashley Forest Rally Sprint Record Holder 

Ricky Mitchell - Auckland Super Stock Champ

Steve Murphy - 2 x NI Rally Cross Champ. NZ Rally Cross Champ, 2x Ashley Forest
Rally Sprint Car Champ 

Andrew Hawkeswood - NZ Rally Champ and Sprintcar Driver

Mike Eggleton - Multiple Champion Rally Co-Driver for Possum Bourne

Clyde Walters - Multiple Targa Driver with his spectacular MK 3 Zephyr

Tony Mc Call - 9 x NZ Off-road Racing Champ 

Dean Perkins - NZ V8 Race Car Driver 

Paul Vazey - Well regarded Stock Car Chassis builder and Race

Ossie Sokol - One of NZ's Top Sprintcar Drivers

 

CURRENT RACE CLASSES

 

Moving along to date, we now have the following race classes competing at
Meremere Dirt Track.

 * 0-1600cc
 * Production Saloons
 * Production 6cyl
 * C Hot Rod ( 4 Cylinder ex-road cars )
 * C Altered ( 4 Cylinder Space Frame Cars  )
 * B Hot Rod ( 6 Cylinder ex-road cars )
 * B Altered ( 6 Cylinder Space Frame Cars  )
 * A Hot Rod ( 8 Cylinder ex-road cars )
 * A Altered ( 8 Cylinder Space Frame Cars  )
 * Juniors ( Aged 12 – 16 years )
 * Ladies
 * Mechanics

OUR HISTORY