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The Whangarei Kart Club began operating from a dirt track at Port Road circa 1956. If anyone has details
of that era please let us know so that this history of the club can be updated.
The existing track is at Austin Road which is on the outskirts of Whangarei City off the main
road to Dargaville. Originally the track was dirt. A sealed track was developed during 1974.
During the approximate 12 months taken to seal the track the members travelled each
month to the Mount Wellington track in South Auckland to compete there. The club's
President at that time was Ray Cameron. In addition to organising the track sealing he
purchased for $20 the old Badminton Club House at Kensington Park and it was relocated
to the track. This remained the Club's Club House for over 25 years until old age finally
caught up on it. On 3rd December 1980 consent was granted by the Whangarei County
Council to develop a permanent track on a 2.29 hectare allotment that was sub divided by
Mr. Edward Anderson for use as a private recreation area by the Whangarei Kart Club.
Certificate of Title of the land was transferred to the club on 19th April 1983. This track
originally was about 350 metres and eventually extended to become 380 metres in length.
Compared to some other tracks in New Zealand of over 900 metres this is a very short
one. The complex is known as Anderson Raceway in honour of the man who transferred
ownership of the land to the club. Since 1997 there has been a program of substantial
upgrading of the facilities with safety fences and track upgrades being a priority.
Throughout the nearly 50 years at Austins Road the club has been through many changes
and now has a membership of about 45 persons. There are over 30 active race kart
drivers ranging from Cadet class starting with 7 year old members through to Seniors over
65 years of age. Karters from Auckland and further away often come to Whangarei,
including Bay of Plenty, EBOP and from Hastings, for the experience of racing on a short
track with very tight corners. Club days are held each month and with the gates opening at
8 a.m. Members live from as far away as Kerikeri in the north and Auckland in the south.
As racing is normally over by 4 p.m. Those competitors living outside of Whangarei have
time to get back home in the early evening after a full day of good racing fun.
Subject to funding the track will be extended by about 100 metres during 2009
and 2010. This will make the track length approximately 500 metres.
• Stage One has the main straight rebuilt with a width of 6 metres.
• Stage Two is site works and the track extended, also 6 metres wide.
• Stage Three will be the relocation of the Pit Area.
EXISTING TRACK INFORMATION: Length 380 metres, average width of five and a half
metres. This track has a short main straight of just over one hundred metres. It is one of
the shortest and narrowest tracks in New Zealand and is very much a Driver's track that is
a challenge to drive on. The track is normally used in a clockwise direction but is easily
reconfigured for anti-clockwise racing. The Track has a permit for 16 karts racing at any
one time. As noted above the old Club House became too old to use and in 2003 was
replaced by a building that was donated to the club by Mark Cromie Holden. In addition to
the Club House Mark Cromie Holden also supplied a Tech Shed. There are photos on the
"Photos from the Past" page of the old building being demolished on 27th November 2005.
of that era please let us know so that this history of the club can be updated.
The existing track is at Austin Road which is on the outskirts of Whangarei City off the main
road to Dargaville. Originally the track was dirt. A sealed track was developed during 1974.
During the approximate 12 months taken to seal the track the members travelled each
month to the Mount Wellington track in South Auckland to compete there. The club's
President at that time was Ray Cameron. In addition to organising the track sealing he
purchased for $20 the old Badminton Club House at Kensington Park and it was relocated
to the track. This remained the Club's Club House for over 25 years until old age finally
caught up on it. On 3rd December 1980 consent was granted by the Whangarei County
Council to develop a permanent track on a 2.29 hectare allotment that was sub divided by
Mr. Edward Anderson for use as a private recreation area by the Whangarei Kart Club.
Certificate of Title of the land was transferred to the club on 19th April 1983. This track
originally was about 350 metres and eventually extended to become 380 metres in length.
Compared to some other tracks in New Zealand of over 900 metres this is a very short
one. The complex is known as Anderson Raceway in honour of the man who transferred
ownership of the land to the club. Since 1997 there has been a program of substantial
upgrading of the facilities with safety fences and track upgrades being a priority.
Throughout the nearly 50 years at Austins Road the club has been through many changes
and now has a membership of about 45 persons. There are over 30 active race kart
drivers ranging from Cadet class starting with 7 year old members through to Seniors over
65 years of age. Karters from Auckland and further away often come to Whangarei,
including Bay of Plenty, EBOP and from Hastings, for the experience of racing on a short
track with very tight corners. Club days are held each month and with the gates opening at
8 a.m. Members live from as far away as Kerikeri in the north and Auckland in the south.
As racing is normally over by 4 p.m. Those competitors living outside of Whangarei have
time to get back home in the early evening after a full day of good racing fun.
Subject to funding the track will be extended by about 100 metres during 2009
and 2010. This will make the track length approximately 500 metres.
• Stage One has the main straight rebuilt with a width of 6 metres.
• Stage Two is site works and the track extended, also 6 metres wide.
• Stage Three will be the relocation of the Pit Area.
EXISTING TRACK INFORMATION: Length 380 metres, average width of five and a half
metres. This track has a short main straight of just over one hundred metres. It is one of
the shortest and narrowest tracks in New Zealand and is very much a Driver's track that is
a challenge to drive on. The track is normally used in a clockwise direction but is easily
reconfigured for anti-clockwise racing. The Track has a permit for 16 karts racing at any
one time. As noted above the old Club House became too old to use and in 2003 was
replaced by a building that was donated to the club by Mark Cromie Holden. In addition to
the Club House Mark Cromie Holden also supplied a Tech Shed. There are photos on the
"Photos from the Past" page of the old building being demolished on 27th November 2005.
| We are Here |
| Road to Dargaville |
| Whangarei Kart Club |
| Club Details |
| The Anderson Race Track is situated on Austins Road, Maunu, Whangarei. Austin Road is on the left near the top of the Maunu hill shortly before the city boundary on the way to Dargaville. Mailing Address: Post Office Box 552, Whangarei 0140, New Zealand. The club does not have a telephone at the track. |
