Mike Provost and Sharleen Jordan were re elected to their respective positions at the recent AGM. Some new faces appear on the committee including the evergreen rider Larry Ross.
Speedway New Zealand, the ruling body of the CSA has allocated $25000 annually and recognised a new sub group, Motorcycling Speedway New Zealand, to help foster, promote and restore the status of solo and sidecar racing in NZ. This group will provide advice and policy direction to both the MNZ and SNZ on all matters relating to motorcycling speedway.
SNZ previously revoked a licence they gave to the CMSC for Moore Park, (after submissions from the CSA). Moore Park was forced to join Motorcycling NZ to obtain training and race permits. The success of the training led to race meetings as an extension of its activities. It was also a necessity to fund the speedway venue. SNZ noted that Moore Park filled a gap in the shrinking solo scene as most of their tracks laid heavy clay surfaces more suited for car classes.
As a result of forming the new body, SNZ has now invited the CMSC to join them to facilitate the revival of solo racing in line with the formation and intentions of this new group.. They want the Moore Park track to be part of the SNZ scene.
Mike Provost has applied for membership on behalf of the club, to pre empt a feasibility study and due diligence in regard to joining SNZ. The track has been inspected and has passed SNZ standards for motorcycle speedway racing. At the AGM of the CMSC, the members approved in principle the joining of SNZ. The increased financial expense along side the clarification of a couple of stated points is being weighed up against the benefits this could bring to the club.
They will be able to bid for NZ speedway titles not available to them as a Motorcycling New Zealand track and can continue the training programs already in place. With the current situation with the CSA, there appears to be little to decide if we want solo speedway racing to have an active home in Christchurch. The view shared by a lot of people involved assisting with the both tracks, was that both the CSA and CMSC should be co operating and share the role for fostering and promoting the sport. This appears at this stage to be a bit of a dead duck.
The CSA has been kept fully informed by SNZ on developments regarding this issue. It may well be some of the problem behind their current stance in relation to the reinstatement of the solo track at Ruapuna. The CMSC fully support the continued involvement of the solos at Ruapuna but is now placed in a position where they can ill afford to rely on possible developments for the sport outside its control.
Many people scoffed nearly three decades ago when a group of parents and their children went inland to Kirwee. They set up the first Moore Park. After two shifts, including a short recession, they found the current property at West Melton. We need to thank those past and present who have had the foresight to follow their passion. Moore Park has been the saviour of the solo class, by default, as it was only intended as a training facility. It ran one meeting per year to raise some funds. The track has moved on from its early beginnings and has become an excellent race facility.
Again this was largely by default. All round the country it was difficult within the SNZ structure to find tracks suitable for competitive solo racing. Run on what you would call a “shoe string budget” compared to Christchurch’s other two main tracks, the road ahead for the CMSC even if it was to stay with the cheaper MNZ status could still be a little rocky. The determination to succeed however, has, as a result of the current situation the Christchurch riders find themselves in, gone up a few notches in some quarters.
It is a sad time for solo racing if the current status cannot be resolved. The CMSC does not want to see the solo riders leave Ruapuna, but they accept that they do require a suitable surface to race competitively on otherwise it becomes detrimental for the sport. Having exhausted most avenues available, the jury is now out as far as the future is concerned at Ruapuna. The riders have been offered at this stage a limited number of race nights on the main circuit this season. I encourage them to support these meetings.
The CMSC now knows what it has to work around. It has put together a proposed race calendar and will be working toward the forthcoming race season. They are also investigating running a public promotional day prior to the first meeting in an attempt to increase the following of speedway solo racing in Christchurch.
Personal views of Warrick Korstanje
