October 30, 2024 • 6 mins
Recognition, Auckland Speedway's time was limited at Western Springs.
This summer season will be the last raced at the venue, after 95 years.
Councillors voted 11-to-eight in favour of an 11-million-dollar upgrade to Onehunga's Waikaraka Park.
Western Springs Speedway Promoter Bruce Robertson says the move will be a fresh start.
He says just like Rome's Colosseum, good things can't last forever.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Motorsport on the country Sport Breakfast powered by CRC five
five six made right here in New Zealand.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
Well. Racing at Western Springs Stadium began way back in
nineteen twenty nine. It's become, I guess in a way
part of Auckland and over the years there's been some
amazing racing. Well. After a fiery meeting at Auckland City
Council last night, speedway is going to be ending at
the Springs after ninety five years, joining us A speedway
(00:31):
promoter Bruce robertson.
Speaker 1 (00:33):
Morning, Bruce, good morning.
Speaker 2 (00:35):
Ye very sad day really for Western Springs Speedway fans,
isn't it.
Speaker 1 (00:39):
It is for the fans, that's for sure. But then
the riding has been on the wall unfortunately for about
ten years now that they've been intending to try and
move speedway out of Western Springs and started at about yeah,
ten years ago, and Bill Buckley and Greg Mose and
put Up I got to fight to have it continue
(01:01):
for a while and then they had their final meeting
about five years ago, which was just over four years
ago now, the final meeting ever at Western Springs, and
I managed to secure another four years for the fans
and told at the end of that four year that
would be absolutely the end of it, the final and
(01:26):
they've said an uncertain terms and I guess the councilors
voted that way, that that's the end of it at
the end of the season in March.
Speaker 2 (01:38):
So as a promoter, how do you feel about that?
Speaker 1 (01:42):
Well, I'm a little bit sad about it, of course,
because that's the reason I came and promoted at Western
Springs was to keep it going, because I've heard that
there's no interest from anybody else to keep going, and
I just want to see a track close down. Obody does,
and that's why I stepped up. And but hey, the
(02:05):
I knew it wasn't gonna last for ever, unfortunately, and
I've sort of resolved for that. But I guess the
best thing of it is that the council have put
up money to resurrect an alternative venue to the Open
Veld guys, which the Open Wheel of the Spring Chasm
Midge's basically, and they're going to be a eleven million
(02:26):
polor Development ACACER pact to accommodate them, which will include
a new track, a new wall, new safety fense on
the new new lighting and a much improved petty area,
so that Western Springs is almost impossible to operate under
because of the unitary plan which was picture every year
(02:48):
to two meetings to excuse me, two meetings some years
and three three months, I mean in three some other months.
And then there's conference come along and we've pull the
st fifty fence down and put it back up and
there up again, which is a forty fifty thousand dollars
job every time, and then the pet's a hopeless You've
(03:09):
got the competitors have got to bring all the gear
and their cars and their spears and and unload them,
go back out into the public car park and pack.
They've been transporters there, whereas under the new scheme they'll
be able to just drive up and unload out of
the back of their out of their trainsporters or trailers
or whatever they're using to accommodate the race vehicles.
Speaker 2 (03:34):
So the alternative to white cracker pack does seem reasonably positive,
then does it? Has it gone down with the with
the midged races and the sprint car races and so.
Speaker 1 (03:42):
On, Well, the majority of them have accepted, I guess,
like me, have seen the riding on the wall for
quite a few years, and I guess that's the next
best alternative. It's in Western Springs is a certainly an
iconic venue, and some of the councilors were very vocal
about wanting to try and keep it going. But it's
(04:06):
been costing the city, I guess money to be able
to run at Western Springs. Every year it runs at
a loss. So I guess. You know TAU which is
a branch of the council which operates the stadium Mount
Smart and I think Western Springs and North Harbor Stadium
(04:31):
of course, which is in a lot of controversy over there,
and they run the zoo I think in bat and
it's it's in their big long term plane. The moved
ort to got rid of speedway out of Western Springs
for an alternative. I don't know what they're going to
(04:54):
put in there, but there will be an for an
alternative and stuff sort to try and get liable.
Speaker 2 (05:02):
So the final meeting, what is it, March next year.
I imagine that's going to be.
Speaker 1 (05:06):
An much It'll be huge year. We'll have some huge
celebrations and it's just one of those things that you know,
things I guess don't last forever. We'd like to think
they would, but you know, I've just been to Rome
and there's a colise in there, and there's a where
there's public entertainment for many years, and the Circus Maximus
(05:29):
where they carry it raced and that sort of thing
that now sitting there and ruins things. Things do move on, unfortunately.
Speaker 2 (05:37):
Absolutely. Will you still remain as the promoter when it
moves to Wikareca Park.
Speaker 1 (05:42):
Yes, well, I'm currently a promoter at Wikahraka Park for
the club there and I've said I'll continue on with
the promotion and certainly look after the overwheel side of it.
Speaker 2 (05:55):
Bruce, thank you for joining us today. In a way,
it's a very sad day and I'm sure there'll be
a lot of sad drivers out there.
Speaker 1 (06:01):
Yeah, there are drivers that will you know wi Iraker,
I guess, but the majority of them keen to see
some positive happening out there for them. Yeah. And that's
a huge investment from the council to put the money
into Wikerracker Park, which is not restricted like Western Springs.
(06:22):
We can only run TLVE meetings a year Waykeraka we
can run thirty five, so that's the difference and we
don't have the problems have been up and down or
concerts in a fearing and that sort of things. It's
an alternative.
Speaker 2 (06:39):
Fantastic Bruce. Thanks thanks for joining us and explaining it today.
Thank you so much.
Speaker 1 (06:43):
Yeah, that's all right, no problem.
Speaker 2 (06:45):
Bruce Robertson Western Springs promoter who will soon be the
Whykeraka Park from well, he is the Wikerreca Park promoter
as well, but it's still after ninety five years, a
very sad, sad day for speedway at Western Spring State
Motorsport on the country Sport Breakfast powered by CRC five
five six made right here in New Zealand.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
Well. Racing at Western Springs Stadium began way back in
nineteen twenty nine. It's become, I guess in a way
part of Auckland and over the years there's been some
amazing racing. Well. After a fiery meeting at Auckland City
Council last night, speedway is going to be ending at
the Springs after ninety five years, joining us A speedway
(00:31):
promoter Bruce robertson.
Speaker 1 (00:33):
Morning, Bruce, good morning.
Speaker 2 (00:35):
Ye very sad day really for Western Springs Speedway fans,
isn't it.
Speaker 1 (00:39):
It is for the fans, that's for sure. But then
the riding has been on the wall unfortunately for about
ten years now that they've been intending to try and
move speedway out of Western Springs and started at about yeah,
ten years ago, and Bill Buckley and Greg Mose and
put Up I got to fight to have it continue
(01:01):
for a while and then they had their final meeting
about five years ago, which was just over four years
ago now, the final meeting ever at Western Springs, and
I managed to secure another four years for the fans
and told at the end of that four year that
would be absolutely the end of it, the final and
(01:26):
they've said an uncertain terms and I guess the councilors
voted that way, that that's the end of it at
the end of the season in March.
Speaker 2 (01:38):
So as a promoter, how do you feel about that?
Speaker 1 (01:42):
Well, I'm a little bit sad about it, of course,
because that's the reason I came and promoted at Western
Springs was to keep it going, because I've heard that
there's no interest from anybody else to keep going, and
I just want to see a track close down. Obody does,
and that's why I stepped up. And but hey, the
(02:05):
I knew it wasn't gonna last for ever, unfortunately, and
I've sort of resolved for that. But I guess the
best thing of it is that the council have put
up money to resurrect an alternative venue to the Open
Veld guys, which the Open Wheel of the Spring Chasm
Midge's basically, and they're going to be a eleven million
(02:26):
polor Development ACACER pact to accommodate them, which will include
a new track, a new wall, new safety fense on
the new new lighting and a much improved petty area,
so that Western Springs is almost impossible to operate under
because of the unitary plan which was picture every year
(02:48):
to two meetings to excuse me, two meetings some years
and three three months, I mean in three some other months.
And then there's conference come along and we've pull the
st fifty fence down and put it back up and
there up again, which is a forty fifty thousand dollars
job every time, and then the pet's a hopeless You've
(03:09):
got the competitors have got to bring all the gear
and their cars and their spears and and unload them,
go back out into the public car park and pack.
They've been transporters there, whereas under the new scheme they'll
be able to just drive up and unload out of
the back of their out of their trainsporters or trailers
or whatever they're using to accommodate the race vehicles.
Speaker 2 (03:34):
So the alternative to white cracker pack does seem reasonably positive,
then does it? Has it gone down with the with
the midged races and the sprint car races and so.
Speaker 1 (03:42):
On, Well, the majority of them have accepted, I guess,
like me, have seen the riding on the wall for
quite a few years, and I guess that's the next
best alternative. It's in Western Springs is a certainly an
iconic venue, and some of the councilors were very vocal
about wanting to try and keep it going. But it's
(04:06):
been costing the city, I guess money to be able
to run at Western Springs. Every year it runs at
a loss. So I guess. You know TAU which is
a branch of the council which operates the stadium Mount
Smart and I think Western Springs and North Harbor Stadium
(04:31):
of course, which is in a lot of controversy over there,
and they run the zoo I think in bat and
it's it's in their big long term plane. The moved
ort to got rid of speedway out of Western Springs
for an alternative. I don't know what they're going to
(04:54):
put in there, but there will be an for an
alternative and stuff sort to try and get liable.
Speaker 2 (05:02):
So the final meeting, what is it, March next year.
I imagine that's going to be.
Speaker 1 (05:06):
An much It'll be huge year. We'll have some huge
celebrations and it's just one of those things that you know,
things I guess don't last forever. We'd like to think
they would, but you know, I've just been to Rome
and there's a colise in there, and there's a where
there's public entertainment for many years, and the Circus Maximus
(05:29):
where they carry it raced and that sort of thing
that now sitting there and ruins things. Things do move on, unfortunately.
Speaker 2 (05:37):
Absolutely. Will you still remain as the promoter when it
moves to Wikareca Park.
Speaker 1 (05:42):
Yes, well, I'm currently a promoter at Wikahraka Park for
the club there and I've said I'll continue on with
the promotion and certainly look after the overwheel side of it.
Speaker 2 (05:55):
Bruce, thank you for joining us today. In a way,
it's a very sad day and I'm sure there'll be
a lot of sad drivers out there.
Speaker 1 (06:01):
Yeah, there are drivers that will you know wi Iraker,
I guess, but the majority of them keen to see
some positive happening out there for them. Yeah. And that's
a huge investment from the council to put the money
into Wikerracker Park, which is not restricted like Western Springs.
(06:22):
We can only run TLVE meetings a year Waykeraka we
can run thirty five, so that's the difference and we
don't have the problems have been up and down or
concerts in a fearing and that sort of things. It's
an alternative.
Speaker 2 (06:39):
Fantastic Bruce. Thanks thanks for joining us and explaining it today.
Thank you so much.
Speaker 1 (06:43):
Yeah, that's all right, no problem.
Speaker 2 (06:45):
Bruce Robertson Western Springs promoter who will soon be the
Whykeraka Park from well, he is the Wikerreca Park promoter
as well, but it's still after ninety five years, a
very sad, sad day for speedway at Western Spring State
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