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Members are reminded Voting for the NZDRA Board close on Sunday 22nd May.
Athol Williams
Athol is a well respected Director and owner of Stud Welding New Zealand Ltd. Athol entered the Navy in 1972 as an Artificer and left the Navy in 1980 as an Engineering Chief Petty Officer. At the time he was the youngest CPO. In Feb 1977 he married Sharon but seperated in March 13th. 2009 and has two children Byron born 1985 and Rachael born 1986.This is Athol's second drag bike, he once owned New Zealand's fastest road bike, a modified 1975 Kawasaki 900, run as a AA/PRO stock drag bike. The bike held the New Zealand class record of 10.74 sec. He hadn't been back in the racing seat until the purchase of the Stud Racing machine. Has speed totally in his blood, and nitro fumes are an addiction.Crewed on Mike Gearings dragster during the 1980's until Mike stopped racing in the late 80s .Navy Engineer by trade, now owns and operates Stud Welding NZ Ltd and started it in 1991 . I was involved in:· bringing Jay Upton to NZ· bringing bikes from Australia twice for the Trans Tasman Dragbike Challenge in NZ and promoting it· 2 campaigns for the Trans Tasman Challenge in Australia· bringing the Worlds Fastest Electric Bike to NZ· the First Safety meeting held by group one· the follow up safety meeting involving Top Doorslammer I am:· the only Kiwi ever to go to Australia and win an ANDRA Christmas Tree - sorry 5· the only person outside of Australia to ever win an ANDRA Championship I have:· raced at 6 tracks in Australia and visited 9· raced at 6 tracks in NZ and visited 7· had already had discussions with tracks in NZ about issues they have· had discussions with Tony Thornton ANDRA CEO about NZ Dragracing, Tracks and Management· sat in on a meeting with the IHRA representative· been very vocal about Tracks Safety, Racer Safety and Public Safety For those that don't know what I am holding it is an ANDRA Gold Christmas Tree.
Andy Chapman
Howdee Guys and GalsFirst of all, cheers to whoever nominated me for the Board...not sure if it’s a good thing or not, but humbulled!As far as my roll in life, or any achivements in the sport, I’d rather just like to take this time to say a big thanks to the Board for the direction the sport has been heading towards over the past few years, apart from a very few, over educated, and a few more under educated parties, I really do feel the sport is in very good hands.I’m more the “sit around the table, and sort out the smaller things that crop up, find and apply solutions to the problems, and keep heading towards the commin goal” sorta guy , rather than take the plunge into the unknown and find out if that was a good thing or not.I’m all for the currant direction, in having a real National Series. My goal would be to see each and every one of those meetings on TV. Our sport gets great ratings when it is aired, better than most other forms of motor sport here in NZ. This is important for the real growth of our sport.I’d like to do what I could as a Board Menber to try to ease our way towards clearer and more open discussions with the Track Promoters.Once again, my honest opinion is that what we have had as a Board till now is some of the best we could ask for. Use you vote, as this is where you get to elect the people who will steer the sport over the next year.Yours in Drag racingAndy Chapman.352 A/MA.
John Neilan
Why vote for me???
Its a valid question, and the first thing you should ask yourselves, given there are half a dozen quality candidates who have stepped forward for the 3 vacant positions.
Drag racing is something that has consumed a great part of my life and an unwavering passion for the sport has led me from humble beginnings in a 34 Chev Coupe, through founding membership of Southern Dragways in 1984, Presidency of Southern Dragways, Area Steward work through to a becoming a founding member of the current NZDRA board, all the while stepping up my own participation to a group 1 level with the Digga dragster. Its been a long 30 year association, one full of highs and achievements but also tinged with the lowest of lows in being on the scene when we lost one of our own. The board needs to have visionary and dynamic people, it also needs those experienced in the real world, who have the background in not only the business side but also the participation side to offer a diversity required when decision making time comes, something I definitely think I bring to the table.
My business and working life has taken me in many directions and different countries from the early days of automotive electrical apprentiships, onto heavy fab, crane and bridge work, controlling workshops and site gangs ultimately leading to my current role as GM of Digga New Zealand. I've built and raced everything imaginable and will take them anywhere in the country to promote our great sport and as a sponsor, Digga NZ is fully behind the vision and direction NZDRA and its board have put in place and look forward to the future of the National series in years to come.
On a personal note, I think I can and have provided a clear drive and direction for the sport and am committed to moving forward and building on the success of the national series to date through the extension and continuation of the TV coverage which provides us the much needed profile and platform on which to take the sport we all love through uncertain times and onto a bright future. I believe the promotion of the sport should ultimately lie with the appointment of a professional promoter allowing NZDRA the avenue to get back to its core business of administrating the sport of Drag Racing in New Zealand, focusing on safety and continued growth.
Regards,
John Neilan
Jeff Dobson
I have lived in Taranaki all my life and with my wife Janice, I currently own and operate Pirtek Taranaki Ltd, a Hydraulic & Industrial Hose Franchise of ten years standing. I am an advanced qualified Automotive Technician with extensive experience in diagnostics & dyno-tuning. Prior to Pirtek, I owned and operated a large Automotive Repair Workshop for twenty years.
Throughout my business life I have been involved in a number of Association and Club committees and advisory panels: Motor Trade Association, Alternative Fuels, WOF Regulations and Kartsport NZ. I have six years experience as a MTA National Board Director with a year as President in 2000. I was also a Director of VTNZ during this time.
My vision for dragracing in New Zealand is for NZDRA to remain the elected representative Association for all licensed drivers in New Zealand and that the sport continues to grow and increase its profile. For this to happen, it is imperative that we have correct policies and procedures in place at Board level as well as accurate information and consultation between Board / Members / Tracks to ensure that the Boards’ goals and directions are achieved for the benefit of its members.
I believe that my experience and knowledge as a Director and business owner as well as being a Licensed racer for the past eight years leave me well qualified for the position as an elected representative of the drivers on the NZDRA Board. I am open and frank and believe I have the ability to be understanding to all parties yet remain unbiased.
I am passionate about the sport and want to see positive growth for all involved.
Paul Jacobs
45 years young, solo parent to a teenager, A-Grade petrol and A-Grade diesel mechanic, and been in the Air Force 26 years. Now 'flying' a desk, writing policy for the maintenance and repair of defence force vehicles. Worked my way up through the ranks, running workshops and have been the manager-equivalent of them as well. Did a 5 1/2 year stint at the Air Force's technical training school teaching and developing the training syllabus. Been on many committees as it is a part of being in the military.
Got involved in drag racing through Hawkes Bay Rod & Custom Club when it still owned and ran Thunderpark. Worked in just about all the positions at the track. Continued working there for a while after Garth and Co took it over until family took me away. Teamed up with Possum in 2004 and campaigned his FED with my engine and trans, winning the championship in our first full season (05/06). Now racing on my own, debuted a new car this season, going to the finals in three of the four meetings I competed at, winning one of them. Built the car myself (with huge help from Graeme Bicknell on the chassis) including doing most of the machining, building the trans, and assembling and tuning the engine.
I want to be on the board because I want to give something back to my sport. I'm not saying the incumbents aren't doing a good job, I just want to do my share. Thanks to the Air Force I have a broad range of knowledge and experience in engineering, running organisations, team management/participation, logistics, and policy. I want to help our sport grow. I foresee a time when the sport is in such a good position that it costs very little for racers, there isn't enough seating at the tracks for all the spectators, and the TV channels are PAYING to have their cameras at the tracks to film the meetings, with top level racers from overseas as regular visitors. A true World Finals held in NZ? It will take some work and some time, but we have the advantage; drag racing is the basic concept of all motorsports, and most people have an awareness of it. Whether it's basic recognition of a drag car, or the racing itself. We need to tap into that awareness to get more people to the tracks, reducing our costs, allowing us to pay for more advertising, more prize and travelling moneys, and TV coverage. More advertising means more spectators. More spectators means more prize and travelling moneys, more TV coverage and more sponsorship. More prize and travelling moneys means reduced costs to racers. Reduced costs means more racers. More Sponsorship means more TV coverage and advertising. It's a circle that we need to grow, and it needs everyone involved.
Parry Hunt
I'm keen to get involved in the NZDRA Board to take the sport forward in a positive and constructive way in the future. Relationships form a key part of a constructive way ahead and I think it is essential for the governing body of the sport to have open and honest relationships with the people that run the tracks and the racers that want to race at them. NZDRA is the body who represents the interests of the racers in New Zealand. I understand there has been a five-year business plan developed for the sport but I'm not aware of anyone outside the Board having seen it - this has to change, we need to develop good relationships between the racers, the governing body and the tracks to move the sport forward and to deliver on the growth promised in the business plan. Another passion I have is the technical aspect of the sport and would like to become more involved in ensuring the vehicles we all drive are the safest they can be. I am an engineer by trade and have spent the last 12 years in a senior management position building the engineering division of the company up from 10 to 150 staff all of who come from very diverse backgrounds i.e., mechanics, electronic engineers, armourers and specialist vehicle technicians. To do this I have acquired acute management, negotiation and relationships skills which are all qualities that could be put to good use on the NZDRA Board. Currently I am self-employed and have financial and governance interests in two other non-related companies.
Chris Johnston
I am 51 yrs of age, married with two young adult daughters.In business for 18 years running my own Diesel Repair Shop in Pukekohe, I also build engines, diffs, superchargers and fuel systems for other racers in NZ drag racing. I have been involved in drag racing in many different aspects. I am a past member of the Board of Champion Dragway (as it was called then) for 19 years. I have held a competition drag racing licence for nearly 30 years. I am a current NZDRA Tech Inspector and have been on the Rules Committee for a number of years, on and off, having started when it was still under NZHRA's umbrella. With the knowledge gained from this involvement in all of these area's of the sport, I believe I have a unique perspective on what the racers and tracks need from this governing body to take us forward.
Please note that due to work commitments, Ken Galvin has
withdrawn his nomination.
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