The Speedway Insider
Christian Hermansen, former three-time New Zealand Speedway Champion and driver of the 99m Sprintcar, and Louise Smith, from Ruapuna Speedway's commentary team, talk about everything Speedway in New Zealand.
Episodes
The Speedway New Zealand AGM is coming up and with a surprise SGM. Christian and StM discuss the upcoming AGM and the topics that will be discussed. Hermo gives his hot takes on the state of the sport and what the agenda says about it. What happens at an AGM? An SGM? Listen or watch now!
- This episode is brought to you by Auto Super Shoppes - New Zealand's mechanic: https://www.autosupershoppes.co.nz
- And ...
We're joined by broadcaster and friend of the show, Steve Daniel aka Steve the Maori, as a guest co-host to interview Christian about being one of the first drivers to experience the revival of the high banks of Meremere! The highlights, the high speeds, and the overall success of the day. We also hear from Geoff Harper, Ryan O'Connor, Hayden Williams, and Mitch Fabish about their day.
- 21 Speedway website here: https://www.21spe...
EXCLUSIVE: In a first public chat, former New Zealand Sprintcar champion, Kerry Brocas, joins us to talk about his career as a racer and about his dream project - the return of the high banks of Meremere Speedway and 21 Speedway.
- 21 Speedway website here: https://www.21speedway.com/
- Follow 21 Speedway on Facebook here
- This episode is brought to you by Auto Super Shoppes - New Zealand's mechanic: https://www.autosupers...
Louise and Christian catch up on what's been happening around speedway. After 8 weeks out of a racecar, Christian calls for more collaboration around calendars. Louise talks Ruapuna's Speedweek on- week off- week on. And a good chat around innovations that could happen in New Zealand from overseas.
- This episode is brought to you by Auto Super Shoppes - New Zealand's mechanic: https://www.autosupershoppes.co.nz...
Ross Thurston, Senior Official for Speedway New Zealand, joins us to chat about his journey through speedway, what it takes to make decisions at the big meetings, and the process that goes into it.
- This episode is brought to you by Auto Super Shoppes - New Zealand's mechanic: https://www.autosupershoppes.co.nz
- And by Fastmaster, your home for Marina Racewear, Arai Helmets, Ibex Tyre Conditioner, Dirt Sl...
A couple of Glen Eagles, Jay "Huggies" Holtham and Scott Tennant, join us to talk superstocks, stockcars, the future of those classes, what it means to race at Palmy Teams and what it takes to win a teams race. Behind the scenes into team and tactics meetings with two of the best going around.
- This episode is brought to you by Auto Super Shoppes - New Zealand's mechanic: https://www.autosupershoppes.co.nz...
Our first international guest! So cool to be able to speak to World of Outlaws Late Model driver, Ethan Dotson, who is in New Zealand right now racing in the International Super Saloon series. He'll be racing this Saturday and Sunday at Robertson Prestige International Speedway in Palmerston North at the ENZED Teams Champs!
- This episode is brought to you by Auto Super Shoppes - New Zealand's mechanic: https://www.au...
We're back for 2026! A recap of what we've been up to, the NZ Sprintcar Champs, the NZ Midget champs, plus a preview of the year ahead!
This episode is brought to you by Auto Super Shoppes - New Zealand's mechanic: https://www.autosupershoppes.co.nz
And by Fastmaster, your home for Marina Racewear, Arai Helmets, Ibex Tyre Conditioner, Dirt Slayer Tear Offs, and everything you need to perform at a high level ...
This week’s guest is Tim Savell. Tim is one of Speedway’s leading administrators in Australasia, being CEO of Speedway New Zealand from 2008 to 2015, CEO of Speedway Australia from 2015 till 2021 and sitting on the SNZ Board from 2018 until 2024.
Tim has been heavily involved in transforming the sport at so many different levels in many different ways. We talk everything from administrating the sport, to governing the sp...
We're joined by Chris Cowling, multiple time New Zealand Champion in the Saloon and Super Saloon grade, to debrief his recent trip to race late models in the USA. Where did it all start, words of wisdom, being a second generation racer, and everything in between.
This episode is brought to you by Auto Super Shoppes - New Zealand's mechanic: https://www.autosupershoppes.co.nz
Louise and Christian discuss awards and rule changes, what is big that changed and how does it affect you? Plus our first proper sound check!
This episode is brought to you by Auto Super Shoppes - New Zealand's mechanic: https://www.autosupershoppes.co.nz
And by Fastmaster, your home for Marina Racewear, Arai Helmets, Ibex Tyre Conditioner, Dirt Slayer Tear Offs, and everything you need to perform at a high leve...
Driver of the 808c Superstock, Scott Tennant, joins us to talk about his racing career, our controversial opinions, and fulfilling a life long dream to race at the BriSCA World Finals in the UK later this year.
Support Scott's fundraising efforts here: CLICK HERE
This episode is brought to you by Auto Super Shoppes - New Zealand's mechanic: https://www.autosupershoppes.co.nz
It might be the off season in that we aren't racing but there is heaps going on in Speedway land. Updates and HOT TAKES from all over the show.
Those links as promised:
- Give your feedback to Auckland Council: https://akhaveyoursay.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/western-springs-stadium
- Give your feedback to Tauranga Council: https://bayparkspeedway.co.nz/
- 21 Speedway at Meremere: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61552798862820
Professional racecar driver, crew chief, promoter, commentator, mental health advocate, great mate; from Blacktown, New South Wales to living the dream as a professional racecar driver around the world; Peter Murphy joins us to tell us his story.
The highs, winning races as a driver or crew chief, to the lows, a career ending crash and the effect that had on his mental and physical health. Pete has been a professional driver, crew ...
I've always wanted to know what being the promoter of a major speedway track is like and had a list of questions I've been waiting to ask. Melissa Webb is the promoter of Baypark Speedway, in Mount Maunganui, and joins us to discuss everything that goes into running one of the best shows in the country.
This episode is brought to you by Auto Super Shoppes - New Zealand's mechanic: https://www.autosupershoppes.co.nz
Possibly the one you've been waiting for. Sound checks, sanity checks, resigning, how would we fix it in a perfect world, being suspended for 22 days, rule changes, and more. Get your questions in for us to answer.
This episode is brought to you by Auto Super Shoppes - New Zealand's mechanic: https://www.autosupershoppes.co.nz
And by Fastmaster, your home for Marina Racewear, Arai Helmets, Ibex Tyre Conditioner, Dirt Sla...
Episode 15 is a tribute and a Goodbye (?) to Western Springs, the iconic venue that has (maybe) had it's last hurrah. We're joined by winner of the last feature and 11x NZ Champion, Michael Pickens, qualifier for the 96 lapper and long time "crew guy", Fergus Managh, plus clips from Jeremy Webb, Kevin Clive, Dylan Forsey, Liam McCoubrey, Mike Glover, and Kaz Townsend.
This episode is brought to you by Auto Super Shoppes - New Zealan...
Episode 14 we are lucky to be joined by the President of Speedway New Zealand, Lani Thompson! Lani tells us a bit about herself, the organisation in her own words, and the President's role.
This episode is brought to you by Auto Super Shoppes - New Zealand's mechanic: https://www.autosupershoppes.co.nz
Make sure you're following The Speedway Insider everywhere so you don't miss anything: https://linktr.ee/hermo48
Lucky 13! Louise is BACK and debriefs her trip to the USA - how she went viral on Skagit Speedway's TikTok, appearing on Flo Racing, and meeting her heroes! Christian debriefs the latest SNZ Board meeting and some insights from that!
This episode is brought to you by Auto Super Shoppes - New Zealand's mechanic: https://www.autosupershoppes.co.nz
Make sure you're following The Speedway Insider everywhere so you don't miss anyt...
Who is the GOAT of NZ Speedway? Jason Hill from the NZ Speedway Almanack helps to answer this question with results, some spreadsheets, and a "sort of fancy clipboard". He's the man behind the article in the NZ Dirt Track, "the GOAT of NZ Speedway". We talk to him about this, being a speedway fan, and the New Zealand Speedway Almanack; his other project that's a complete wrap up of the previous season. Every result from every race ...
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