Drag racing in New Zealand has undergone significant growth over the fast few years. 

To acknowledge this growth and provide the support that racers, track officials and sponsors require, the New Zealand Drag Racing Association came to the conclusion that major changes had to be undertaken.

The first step in this process was to review the Constitution that sets down the guidelines and rules of the Association. Although serving the sport well in getting it to where it is today, change was required.  The NZDRA needed to bring the sport of Drag Racing into the more professional era that modern day Motorsport demands.

The intention was to bring in a group of professional business people that would form the new Board of Management that could guide the sport into the future.  To do this, a change would be required to the Constitution and would need the majority support of all NZDRA members.

The changes were made and a new Constitution was completed in July.  This was submitted to all NZDRA members for review and voting. The NZDRA are pleased to announce the new Constitution was resoundingly voted in with a massive 98% support from the members.

Chief Executive Officer of the NZDRA, Chris Tynan “It is with great pleasure that the NZDRA announce that, with the introduction of the new and improved Constitution, work can now begin in taking the sport of drag racing into the future.” Mr Tynan went on to say  “the new Board of Management are all successful business people in their own right and will bring a huge amount of experience and professionalism to the sport”.

“The NZDRA would like to take this opportunity to thank its previous Executive Members, who collectively, have served many years.  Without their diligence and guidance, the sport would not be at the level it is today” says Tynan.

The new Board of Management, who are charged with overseeing the future growth and development of drag racing in New Zealand are:

Chairperson

      Born June 1963       

      Lives in Southland

                                       With 2 children, Kate and Shannon

Interests:                    Drag Racing for 25 years since 1984.

Passionate about seeing the sport of drag racing progressing and developing to a professional level.

Employment:              Experience in the automotive 

                                    electrical engineering industry.

Heavy fabrication – bridges and cranes.

Work Place Assessor and 10 years as a workshop manager.      Joined Digga NZ 18 months ago as General Manager

Achievements:           Founding Member of Southern Dragway

                                    Currently an Executive Board Member of Southern Dragway

                                    Executive Member of NZDRA

                                    Been involved in a broad spectrum of drag racing duties, including 8 years as an NZDRA Area Steward.

Stu Stanners 

                         August 2001 – March 2003 Auto

                         One – General Manager

                         October 1998 – July 2001 Repco NZ – 

                         Manager Wholesale & NZ Call Centre 

                                 March 1991 - October 1998 Appco Auto

                         Parts – Sales & Marketing Manager

Goals:                         Family - always comes first!     

Business- Make a difference. Strive to grow the business and expand my personal knowledge and experience while having fun.

Drag Racing- Bring a professional and business like approach to the sport resulting in strong growth and added benefits for competitors, tracks, spectators and sponsors. 

Favorite:                     Food: Sausages with eggs mashed

                                    spuds and gravy

                                    Music: Led Zeppelin

                                    Drink: Chardonnay, Steinlager Pure

Alan Thoresen 

      Born 4th July 1955        

               Lives in Hamilton

               Married to Violet

                                     Land Speed racing

                                     Flying / Aviation

                                     Target Pistol Shooting

Employment:              I have worked in the Aviation Industry for over 25 years.

I assisted in the set up and establishment of two engine overhaul facilities in Australia. Hold NZ Aircraft Engineering Licences and Pilots Licence.  In the Aircraft Industry I have had experience in negotiating with Senior Government and Military Officials, and the Media. I am now employed as the General Manager of Serada Ltd which is part of the Fleetwood group of companies from Australia.

In my current position, I manage New Zealand‘s Largest Importer and Supply of  Motor home Caravan and Marine business which has had up to 28 employees and sales in excess of $14 million per annum.

 

            Born May 1965

            Lives Pukekohe

            Married to Ange with 2

            children, Nic and Chrissie

Interests:                    Drag Racing – raced competition

                                    cars for 11 years.

                                    Shooting.

Travelling.

Family time.

Employment:              8 years mechanic and automotive

                                    engineer.

6 years overseas working in bars, construction, freezing works, farming and mechanical work.

15 years Sales Manager in both Honda and a Ford Franchise.  Duties included running the Sales Team and setting budgets. Marketing, advertising, buying stock and reconditioning.

Currently managing Fram Autolite Dragway and a Director/Owner of two businesses in Pukekohe.

Achievements:           Executive Member of NZDRA.

                                    Board Member and Treasurer of

                                    Meremere Dragway Inc.

                                    Committee Member and past Treasure

                                     of Pukekohe Hot Rod Club.

Born March 1968

            Lives in Nelson

            Married with 3 little ones

Interests:                    Drag Racing

                                    Family

Employment:              Registered Automotive Engineer

                                    Co-owner and Manager of Gourdie 

                                    Automotive for 14 years

Achievements:           Executive Member, South Island Challenge Dealer Group 

                                    Executive Member, MTA Nelson Branch

                                    Executive Member, NZ Challenge Negotiating Committee

                                    Founding and Life Member, Nelson Drag Racing Association

                                    Member of the current Board since Jesus played halfback for Jerusalem

Peter Thompson                                                     

            

   Lives in Herne Bay, Auckland

   Married to Rebecca with one

   daughter, Sybilla

Interests:                    Family, motor sports in particular Drag Racing, fishing, rugby, CNC machining and creating a successful growing business 

Employment:              34 years in the engineering and manufacturing industry.

 Since 2000 Managing Director of Aotea Machinery Ltd. 

Goals:                         Drag Racing- I have had many great experiences from the sport of drag racing over many years and am excited to have the opportunity to contribute my skills to develop NZDRA in to a sustainable entity that all stake holders can take pride in. A particular interest is a focus on safe, fan and sponsor friendly facility’s for racing. 

Chris TynanChief Executive Officer          

      Born Te Awamutu October1958

     Married to Colleen with 3 sons &  one daughter

Interests:                    Drag Racing, Drag Racing, Drag  Racing and not much time for anything else

                                         Family.

                                         Other forms of Motorsport.

                                         WW II Aircraft,

                                         Shooting.

    Employment:             CEO New Zealand Drag Racing

                                       Association since 2002.

                                    Motor Mechanic 1996 – 2002.

                                                            Manager/ owner Tynan Race Cars

                                                            1988 – 1996.

                                    Motor Mechanic Clarkson V8 1982

                                    – 1988.

                                    Motor Mechanic Kihikihi Service

                                    Station 1979 - 1982

                                    Engineer Bedford Engineering 1979 –

                                    1974

    Achievements:          Optimistically raised the sport in New Zealand closer to the level it should be and strive to take it much further.

Have served on the Drag Racing Board before NZDRA existed and have been involved for most of the time since.

                                    Drag raced every year since 1980.

                     Drag raced in Australia on a number of occasions (presently racing there now).

                                    Current holder of the fastest

                                    Doorslammer in NZ @ 6.22 -

                                    227mph.

                                    7 National titles, 5 track

                                    championships (Champion Dragway).

 Goals:                        Strive to move the sport to a level that helps racers obtain funding, enabling them, and their kids, to continue to enjoy the sport at whatever level they may wish to attain. To accomplish this, the sport must be seen to be run in a professional and business like manner, delivering value for money in all aspects.

Administration

 

                                            Born In Wellington  February

                                            1961

                                             Lives in Mt Wellington,

                                             Auckland

                                              Raymond 18.

Interests:                    Drag Racing

                                    Fishing

                                    DIY home maintenance!

Employment:              Many years of experience in a variety of administrative roles for a number of organisations, including the Primary Education Sector, NZ Police and Auckland City Council. For the past three years I have held the position of Operations Manager at Fram Autolite Dragway.  This job entailed various roles including administration, staff and financial management, liasing with promoters, sponsors, spectators and racers alike. These positions have given me the broad experience and the ability to undertake my new position with the NZDRA.

Achievements:           Raising two boys and giving them the skills to successfully tackle today’s challenges.

                                    Past Board Member of  Meremere Dragway Inc.

                                    Operations Manager, Fram Autolite Dragway

                                    Best Reaction Time .005, first day racing on the track – and it wasn’t a fluke!

The NZDRA is confident that with the restructuring, and the wealth of knowledge offered by the new Board Members, drag racing in New Zealand has a very positive, bright future for everyone involved.

We look forward to seeing you all at the track.

For further details visit www.nzdra.co.nz

Or contact Chris Tynan: 021 456 449