NZDRA is pleased to announce we have clarified our position moving forward and can post a calendar of events and at what venues they will be held. In an effort not to send out erroneous information the Board have kept correspondence to a minimum which may have concerned some members but plans are now well underway to give racers plenty of opportunities to race their machines as a National series is discussed with the NZDRA tracks. 

Taupo Motorsport Park will be the host venue for the sports biggest event the NZDRA NZ Nationals, this event over the years has been shared with other venues, most recently by Masterton Motorplex although was generally hosted by Fram Autolite. With a new approach enacted by the venue management at Taupo the Board are convinced the organisers will do this event proud. NZDRA are expecting great support for all events at Taupo by lower north island racers while work is underway on the new NZDRA sanctioned Masterton Motorplex Drag strip.

“With greater racer support will achieve better fan support and rebuilding the sport to higher levels than before will be the aim of the Board” said CEO Chris Tynan.“Once the present contracts with IHRA have run their course we are confident the sport can return to a united front under NZDRA” he said.

As the continuation of the National series has been up in the air of late as the Board have worked through other issues, and dates have been proposed, a series can be reinitiated even if with a less significant profile than previous until a united front is possible. 

Proposed series date would be:

1.                               Summer Nationals Taupo 3^rd/4^th January.

2.                               Divisional round Nelson 4^th February.

3.                               Divisional round Tokoroa 19^th February.

4.                               Finals at the NZDRA NZ Nationals Taupo 3^rd 4^th March. 

It would be great if the Motorplex is up and running before the end of this season and we will keep our options open to accommodate this with the support of our racers. 

More info will follow when discussions with tracks are complete. 

New Zealand Drag Racing Association Inc

Licence agreement.

Secretary position.

As many would be aware Wendy Campbell has resigned her position as secretary of NZDRA back in December 2010. Wendy has been working on a part time bases until the end of the financial year and has now officially left the organisation. The Board would like to publicly thank Wendy for her work and devotion to the Sport and wish her well in her future endeavours.

From this point forward all mail should be sent to PO Box  5569 Hamilton.

MEDIA RELEASE FOR MOTORPLEX FACILITY

An international standard drag strip took another step closer  said Deputy Mayor, Cr Jane Terpstra when Masterton District Council agreed to allow the access road to the strip at the back of Hood Airport to be established on their land east of the aerodrome off Manaia Road.

This road is shorter and cheaper to construct than the alternate route on South Road and is better for security and entry to the dragstrip and the aerodrome.

Associated parking and pit lane entry will be from this route.

The new road will provide access to the drag strip adjacent to land that is available for potential future aerodrome development. Planting and a physical bund along the new road formation will minimise any traffic noise and any dust creation.

The project has attracted significant funding and in-kind support which will allow the earthworks to proceed in September. The in-kind support has come from major contractors Oldfields Wairarapa, who are project managers, and from Hopper Construction Ltd who are presently involved with the Waste Water Treatment project at Homebush for Masterton District Council.

Funding applications to regional and national organisations have been lodged for consideration in the October-November period.

Masterton Motorplex Chairman Bob Wilton, who has been driving the project, is confident of attracting the funds needed to complete the work which will provide the only international grade drag strip in New Zealand.  “When we used the runway we were restricted to about three events a year but with our own strip we can hold more events. This makes it more attractive to sponsors and those who attend the event.”

Deputy Mayor Jane Terpstra said the Motorplex events attract big numbers to Masterton and it will be a great facility to boost the economy and promote Masterton as an events destination.

For further information contact