On April 26, the first cars in many years were back at the high-banked track at Meremere. Now reborn as 21 Speedway under the guidance of racing icon Kerry Brocas. He chats with HELENA O’NEILL about his journey.
How did you become involved with racing?
I always wanted to be a racing car driver. From the time I was five years old, I’d be hanging around the race track all day. I was one of those kids who’d just walk up to a car, open the door and jump right in.
I watched my brother try to race during his younger years, and I thought, unless you’ve got plenty of money behind you, you can’t do a good job of this.
How did you become involved with the project to bring the track at Meremere back to life?
Watching speedway racing and tracks in the US inspired me to reinvent the wheel and restore 21 Speedway. It’s a special track for me.
When I was about 25, my brother offered me a drive in his Midget race car at the new Meremere Highbank Speedway track – then he talked me into buying it off him. After that, I started racing there, at Western Springs, and then competed on most of the tracks in the North Island.
When and why did the Meremere Highbanks Speedway close?
Two factors — local politics and track accessibility/location — were the primary reasons behind the closure in the mid-1990s.
Tell me a bit about “Meremere Outlaws”?
The New Zealand Outlaw Racing Association (often referred to as the Outlaw Club) was formed in 1988 by legendary speedway racer Barry Butterworth.
Known as the “Kiwi Outlaw”, Butterworth co-founded the Circle Track Racing Association (CTRA), also known as the Outlaw Racing Association, alongside Brian Tracey. This association, affiliated with the Motorsport Association of New Zealand, was a response to their dissatisfaction with the existing speedway governance. They aimed to create a platform that celebrated the true spirit of racing — hard, fast, and from the back of the pack.
Barry’s vision led to the promotion of the first successful Outlaw speedway meeting at the Kumeu Showgrounds in 1984. With the help of Bruce Drinkrow and other dedicated members, he went on to build the Meremere Super Bowl, a 30-degree banked 1/3-mile racetrack, which became a haven for outlaw drivers who lived to race.
Where does the name 21 Speedway come from?
The name 21 Speedway comes about as it was Butterworth’s number as well as mine through the years of running Sprintcars.
Today, 21 Speedway Meremere stands as a tribute to this rich history, embracing the outlaw ethos that Barry Butterworth championed. Our track is more than just a venue; it’s a revival of a movement that values independence, bravery, and the unyielding passion for speedway racing.
I understand that the original Highbank Speedway track builder, Lloyd Hodge, is back to oversee the new track?
Yes, that’s right, Lloyd is a legend, and he is back restoring the 21 Speedway 1/3 mile.
21 Speedway is a third-mile 27° banking speedway, the largest and fastest in New Zealand.
When will your first season begin, and when is it expected to wrap up?
The speedway season in New Zealand is from October to May, and 21 Speedway will announce the grand opening in due course.
Long-time Speedway driver Michael Pickens weighs in
“The new track at Meremere is amazing; it’s exactly what speedway needs right now. Fans will get to experience what it’s really like to see cars racing on an “American-style” track. Kerry Brocas was a fierce competitor but also a true racer, and what he’s recently done with Meremere is testament to that!
“The part I love most about speedway is how much the track changes throughout the night, and it doesn’t necessarily come down to who’s spending the most money, but who is on top of their game.”
