Photo: The Men who had a Vision and were behind the revival of ORETI PARK SPEEDWAY - Left to Right: Joe Hughes, Aiden Thwaites, Paul Hayes, Jason Brown, Doug Fox & Jason Clark
Restoration of Oreti Park Speedway written by Janene Stenning
In 1998 a group of enthusiastic fans of the dirt, restored what had previously been an abandoned oval on Pit Road with the dream at heart of seeing a young rider reach for the glory of former stars such as Ivan Mauger, Ronnie Moore and Barry Briggs. In the Solo field, Grant Tregoning (based in Christchurch but contracted to Oreti Park Speedway) took to the track at Norden, Germany in May last year and qualified 12th place at the World Under 21 Championship. He rode with flair and stunning style which has become an exciting feature at Oreti Park and further ensured that New Zealand has reasserted itself as a force to be reckoned with at International level. Grant is currently back overseas for this years U21 Championship. John Tuffley, a local man has an Australasian Solo Long Track title added to his impressive trophy cabinet in 2004. He was on the Podium for the New Zealand Solo Championship a few years back. One of the main men who restored the track in 1998, Jason Clark and his swinger Adam Gibson were crowned the New Zealand Short Track Champions in 2006. This was then repeated this year when our president Fraser Gillespie and David Uitentuis took the title. Fraser also won the New Zealand Longtrack Grand Prix this year. - Go Oreti Park!!! In the 10 years of restoration we have seen many riders succeed at Regional and National level and look forward to the continuing growth of the Club.
The track at the beginning of the restoration - 1997-1998
The track being restored back in 1998 As it is today
The perfect track thanks to Allan Shuttleworths expertise
The Track Restorers racing at Cromwell 1998
WATCH THIS SPACE FOR THE HISTORY OF ORETI PARK SPEEDWAY PREVIOUS TO THE RESTORATION
