September 24, 2025 • 9 mins
Roger Laird gives an insight into the southern motorsport scene and looks at events that are coming up on the racing calendar.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:14):
This is the master one Hakanui joined in studio this
afternoon by Roger Laird. Now Roger is involved with motorsport
down here in the South. Let's be honest. Motorsport isn't
something you really think a hell of a lot about
unless you're involved in it. But lest be honest about
the situation. Liam Lawson, Shane van Gisberg and Sean mcgoch
(00:34):
that all these names putting the sport up in light.
So I thought i'd get Roger to come in this
afternoon and just to give us a bit of an
understanding of what the scene is like down here in
the South joining us in studio. Roger, thanks for coming in.
It's great to catch up.
Speaker 2 (00:47):
It's a pleasure Andy, good to be along.
Speaker 1 (00:50):
Now. You're a bit of a legend and local motor
sport ranks by the sounds of it, So give us
a bit of a history of what you've actually done
with motorsport in Southwind.
Speaker 2 (01:00):
Maybe an old fart, not a legend, but you've sort
of been involved with Eastern South and Car Club for
fifty odd years and competing and administration, running events and
bits and pieces, and you get a big kick out
of getting people involved and sharing poverty like I have.
So yeah, it's very addictive.
Speaker 1 (01:20):
But yeah, now the East and South and Car Club,
what is that encompass exactly?
Speaker 2 (01:26):
So we have members nationwide rarely achieve even some from overseas,
and we run events mainly in eastern Southend just come
off very successful Bear Robertson Memorial Windham rarely and about
to kick off with an event and slope down the
(01:46):
eighteenth of October gravel Sprint there and then into Ladies
and News Autocross on the second of August, which is
the Order Cross. Is a great way to get driving skills.
They're basically skid in a paddock controlled environment. But we've
been really building that series over the last few years
and getting family groups along and it's really awesome.
Speaker 1 (02:07):
Would you say it's a sport that's gaining in popularity.
Speaker 2 (02:10):
It definitely is. I mean we're sort of around one
hundred and fifty members and that's been sort of annually,
as you know, stay come to that level and sort
of grown to that and sort of stayed around there now.
So it's good.
Speaker 1 (02:24):
I just think off for tough of me here, people
like Brian Bonish, I can imagine him being involved with
something like what you guys are doing? Will it be correct?
Speaker 2 (02:32):
Brian's more into the hot roddy side, but comes along
to a lot of events, takes parts and things. Here's
amazing behind the camera when.
Speaker 1 (02:39):
You're say absolutely Brian loves Brian, real good guy as well.
So as far as events, how many events would the
with the Car Club doing in a year for example.
Speaker 2 (02:48):
So we run sort of fifteen sixteen annually and they
vary from the club sport basic events right up to
the rally, which is at a major event each year.
Some years we've run two rallies, but they're a huge
event to put together. And yeah, just really we've got
a lot of people coming on in the committee now
(03:09):
that are newer to the sport or newer to the administration,
which is really good.
Speaker 1 (03:13):
So you're just seeing the health and safety in the
Orange Roco Brigade. What you guys have to do there?
Is it as bad as what I'd think it.
Speaker 2 (03:21):
Has its moments? The sport has some really good safety protocols,
safety planned templates and things that we use to run
events in a really good training regime for clarks of course,
and you know the people are involved in the actual
point the end of the making the events happen, if
you like.
Speaker 1 (03:40):
So when you're organizing a rally Roger, for example, how
long does the planning take?
Speaker 2 (03:45):
At least three months and two of that would be
basically there's not a lot of work done in my
little workshop.
Speaker 1 (03:56):
So the motor sport fraternity in New Zealand is reasonably close,
isn't it.
Speaker 2 (04:00):
Yeah, totally, really good conradship right through the ranks. Ralling especially,
I think because it's you're not usually don't see your
follow compared to during the stage because you're competing against
the clock. Where where's racing, you're battling wheel to wheel
if you like. But yeah, it's every pitches in to
(04:22):
make things happen and it's really awesome.
Speaker 1 (04:24):
Now. One individual I have a bit to do is
Brian Kelly. He's like one of the one of the
voices of New Zealand motorsport as such, he's been involved
with the industry for a very long time. He comes
down compares a targo rarely every year as well, and
he just talks about the passion for being involved for
everything for cars and we're looking at an era now
where EV's and everything coming to the equation. But the
(04:46):
combustion mode is always going to have a place, isn't it.
Speaker 2 (04:49):
Totally? And I think that hydrogen thing will be good
going forward, you know, so that that'll be interesting. And
EV's obviously have their place. It's it's going to be
an interesting couple of decades.
Speaker 1 (05:01):
I'm sure there'll be EV events for sure.
Speaker 2 (05:04):
Indeed, yeah, well there is. Now there's a single seater
championship for them. They sound a bit like a scleater
except probably but anyway, that's by the buy. And Brian's
a good bargetur, isn't he.
Speaker 1 (05:14):
Yeah, yeah, absolutely good on your VK. Now you're talking
about Kyla McDonald before Warren Ross, one of my regular correspondents,
talks about getting involved in the rallying scene, being involved
with a team behind a car. What's it like how
many man are as a woman als are going too
preparing a car for an event.
Speaker 2 (05:33):
I guess it depends car to car a little bit.
Colebs having an awesome run with his six this year
and tomorrow Earl Earlier on in the year we serviced
with him and my son Kevin's car as well sort
of as a team altogether. It was good. It was
a bit like servicing twenty years ago when I used
to be more on spenders than behind a computer. But yeah,
(05:54):
they're really good fun guys. And yeah we have a
couple of quite ales at the ends to d Street,
so as you would with that team.
Speaker 1 (06:01):
So absolutely, I mean it's half the fun of it
that way. It's all about connecting. And I suppose the
other thing is for people getting involved with rallying or
motorsports for the first time, what's some words of advice.
Speaker 2 (06:13):
I think, get out there, join a club, do some
wat crosses that you can do in a basic road
car or a cheap car that can't get a warrant
or something anymore, and just just enjoy it and find
the level of sport you want to compete at, because
it can be expensive or it can be you know,
you can get a lot of enjoyment out of those
(06:33):
club sport basic events too, and you don't need a
really expensive car, you know, something sub five hundred bucks
and you can win them easily.
Speaker 1 (06:40):
Five hundred bucks. Gee, what they used to do between
christ Church and Duned and the UNI rally, five hundred
dollars are under for account. Indeed, indeed for that's so
much a subject. Yeah, now events coming up with you guys,
what have you got what's happening?
Speaker 2 (06:55):
Yeah, So eighteenth of October the Cardi Strying Automotive Slope
down Hell Climb, which is just just in behind Windham,
So we are really grateful to rain here to let
us into the forestry there. And then the start of
our Audo Cross series just out past Warren's Place actually
(07:15):
or actually before going from the center at n and
Shoon of Forbes's our Ladies and Youth Grass Audo Cross,
which is a joint venture Eastern South and Car Club
Motorsport in New Zealand. Come and have a go, no
entry fee. We have some cars there you can use
if your road car isn't quite suitable. And also we
have you know, some of our local stars there to
(07:38):
help with driver training and the great fun days.
Speaker 1 (07:42):
Yeah, we'll find of show this driver training, what's available
for people.
Speaker 2 (07:46):
Well, we try and encourage people as much as we
can to at these sort of events, so that you know,
it's a dip in the water if you like a
foot in the water, a toe on the water, should
I say, just to you know, see what it's all about.
Get to meet people and you know they get well
hooked from there.
Speaker 1 (08:06):
Hey, good on you, Roger. Thanks for coming in studio
this after We'll catch up in due course as well.
I find it really interesting things like motor sport, which
you know about but you don't really know a lot
about as well. So just giving profile to a few
of these things that are coming up court more than
happy to do it, and appreciate your time this afternoon
on the muster as well.
Speaker 2 (08:25):
Most welcome. Thanks, Andy, appreciate the support. Laugh out loud
with ad proud because life on the land can be
a laughing matter.
Speaker 1 (08:36):
Brought to us by sheer Well Data working to help
the livestock farmer. Okay, so the word for today is
do hickey, the name for an object or a person
you either can't remember or never you in the first place.
Other variations are what's some I call it? And the
thing of a jigama. Roger's shaking his head. I'll take
(08:56):
that as a no, but that's all right. That's the
way it rolls. I'm away tomorrow, chuckle. Wilson is hosting
tomorrow in my place, so I'll catch you on Monday.
Remembering the best of the Master five Am on Saturday morning,
with today's podcast going up, Shirley Amandy Mieller, this has
been the muster on Hakanu. He thinks the Peter genetics
go to Staggs, go to ABS
This is the master one Hakanui joined in studio this
afternoon by Roger Laird. Now Roger is involved with motorsport
down here in the South. Let's be honest. Motorsport isn't
something you really think a hell of a lot about
unless you're involved in it. But lest be honest about
the situation. Liam Lawson, Shane van Gisberg and Sean mcgoch
(00:34):
that all these names putting the sport up in light.
So I thought i'd get Roger to come in this
afternoon and just to give us a bit of an
understanding of what the scene is like down here in
the South joining us in studio. Roger, thanks for coming in.
It's great to catch up.
Speaker 2 (00:47):
It's a pleasure Andy, good to be along.
Speaker 1 (00:50):
Now. You're a bit of a legend and local motor
sport ranks by the sounds of it, So give us
a bit of a history of what you've actually done
with motorsport in Southwind.
Speaker 2 (01:00):
Maybe an old fart, not a legend, but you've sort
of been involved with Eastern South and Car Club for
fifty odd years and competing and administration, running events and
bits and pieces, and you get a big kick out
of getting people involved and sharing poverty like I have.
So yeah, it's very addictive.
Speaker 1 (01:20):
But yeah, now the East and South and Car Club,
what is that encompass exactly?
Speaker 2 (01:26):
So we have members nationwide rarely achieve even some from overseas,
and we run events mainly in eastern Southend just come
off very successful Bear Robertson Memorial Windham rarely and about
to kick off with an event and slope down the
(01:46):
eighteenth of October gravel Sprint there and then into Ladies
and News Autocross on the second of August, which is
the Order Cross. Is a great way to get driving skills.
They're basically skid in a paddock controlled environment. But we've
been really building that series over the last few years
and getting family groups along and it's really awesome.
Speaker 1 (02:07):
Would you say it's a sport that's gaining in popularity.
Speaker 2 (02:10):
It definitely is. I mean we're sort of around one
hundred and fifty members and that's been sort of annually,
as you know, stay come to that level and sort
of grown to that and sort of stayed around there now.
So it's good.
Speaker 1 (02:24):
I just think off for tough of me here, people
like Brian Bonish, I can imagine him being involved with
something like what you guys are doing? Will it be correct?
Speaker 2 (02:32):
Brian's more into the hot roddy side, but comes along
to a lot of events, takes parts and things. Here's
amazing behind the camera when.
Speaker 1 (02:39):
You're say absolutely Brian loves Brian, real good guy as well.
So as far as events, how many events would the
with the Car Club doing in a year for example.
Speaker 2 (02:48):
So we run sort of fifteen sixteen annually and they
vary from the club sport basic events right up to
the rally, which is at a major event each year.
Some years we've run two rallies, but they're a huge
event to put together. And yeah, just really we've got
a lot of people coming on in the committee now
(03:09):
that are newer to the sport or newer to the administration,
which is really good.
Speaker 1 (03:13):
So you're just seeing the health and safety in the
Orange Roco Brigade. What you guys have to do there?
Is it as bad as what I'd think it.
Speaker 2 (03:21):
Has its moments? The sport has some really good safety protocols,
safety planned templates and things that we use to run
events in a really good training regime for clarks of course,
and you know the people are involved in the actual
point the end of the making the events happen, if
you like.
Speaker 1 (03:40):
So when you're organizing a rally Roger, for example, how
long does the planning take?
Speaker 2 (03:45):
At least three months and two of that would be
basically there's not a lot of work done in my
little workshop.
Speaker 1 (03:56):
So the motor sport fraternity in New Zealand is reasonably close,
isn't it.
Speaker 2 (04:00):
Yeah, totally, really good conradship right through the ranks. Ralling especially,
I think because it's you're not usually don't see your
follow compared to during the stage because you're competing against
the clock. Where where's racing, you're battling wheel to wheel
if you like. But yeah, it's every pitches in to
(04:22):
make things happen and it's really awesome.
Speaker 1 (04:24):
Now. One individual I have a bit to do is
Brian Kelly. He's like one of the one of the
voices of New Zealand motorsport as such, he's been involved
with the industry for a very long time. He comes
down compares a targo rarely every year as well, and
he just talks about the passion for being involved for
everything for cars and we're looking at an era now
where EV's and everything coming to the equation. But the
(04:46):
combustion mode is always going to have a place, isn't it.
Speaker 2 (04:49):
Totally? And I think that hydrogen thing will be good
going forward, you know, so that that'll be interesting. And
EV's obviously have their place. It's it's going to be
an interesting couple of decades.
Speaker 1 (05:01):
I'm sure there'll be EV events for sure.
Speaker 2 (05:04):
Indeed, yeah, well there is. Now there's a single seater
championship for them. They sound a bit like a scleater
except probably but anyway, that's by the buy. And Brian's
a good bargetur, isn't he.
Speaker 1 (05:14):
Yeah, yeah, absolutely good on your VK. Now you're talking
about Kyla McDonald before Warren Ross, one of my regular correspondents,
talks about getting involved in the rallying scene, being involved
with a team behind a car. What's it like how
many man are as a woman als are going too
preparing a car for an event.
Speaker 2 (05:33):
I guess it depends car to car a little bit.
Colebs having an awesome run with his six this year
and tomorrow Earl Earlier on in the year we serviced
with him and my son Kevin's car as well sort
of as a team altogether. It was good. It was
a bit like servicing twenty years ago when I used
to be more on spenders than behind a computer. But yeah,
(05:54):
they're really good fun guys. And yeah we have a
couple of quite ales at the ends to d Street,
so as you would with that team.
Speaker 1 (06:01):
So absolutely, I mean it's half the fun of it
that way. It's all about connecting. And I suppose the
other thing is for people getting involved with rallying or
motorsports for the first time, what's some words of advice.
Speaker 2 (06:13):
I think, get out there, join a club, do some
wat crosses that you can do in a basic road
car or a cheap car that can't get a warrant
or something anymore, and just just enjoy it and find
the level of sport you want to compete at, because
it can be expensive or it can be you know,
you can get a lot of enjoyment out of those
(06:33):
club sport basic events too, and you don't need a
really expensive car, you know, something sub five hundred bucks
and you can win them easily.
Speaker 1 (06:40):
Five hundred bucks. Gee, what they used to do between
christ Church and Duned and the UNI rally, five hundred
dollars are under for account. Indeed, indeed for that's so
much a subject. Yeah, now events coming up with you guys,
what have you got what's happening?
Speaker 2 (06:55):
Yeah, So eighteenth of October the Cardi Strying Automotive Slope
down Hell Climb, which is just just in behind Windham,
So we are really grateful to rain here to let
us into the forestry there. And then the start of
our Audo Cross series just out past Warren's Place actually
(07:15):
or actually before going from the center at n and
Shoon of Forbes's our Ladies and Youth Grass Audo Cross,
which is a joint venture Eastern South and Car Club
Motorsport in New Zealand. Come and have a go, no
entry fee. We have some cars there you can use
if your road car isn't quite suitable. And also we
have you know, some of our local stars there to
(07:38):
help with driver training and the great fun days.
Speaker 1 (07:42):
Yeah, we'll find of show this driver training, what's available
for people.
Speaker 2 (07:46):
Well, we try and encourage people as much as we
can to at these sort of events, so that you know,
it's a dip in the water if you like a
foot in the water, a toe on the water, should
I say, just to you know, see what it's all about.
Get to meet people and you know they get well
hooked from there.
Speaker 1 (08:06):
Hey, good on you, Roger. Thanks for coming in studio
this after We'll catch up in due course as well.
I find it really interesting things like motor sport, which
you know about but you don't really know a lot
about as well. So just giving profile to a few
of these things that are coming up court more than
happy to do it, and appreciate your time this afternoon
on the muster as well.
Speaker 2 (08:25):
Most welcome. Thanks, Andy, appreciate the support. Laugh out loud
with ad proud because life on the land can be
a laughing matter.
Speaker 1 (08:36):
Brought to us by sheer Well Data working to help
the livestock farmer. Okay, so the word for today is
do hickey, the name for an object or a person
you either can't remember or never you in the first place.
Other variations are what's some I call it? And the
thing of a jigama. Roger's shaking his head. I'll take
(08:56):
that as a no, but that's all right. That's the
way it rolls. I'm away tomorrow, chuckle. Wilson is hosting
tomorrow in my place, so I'll catch you on Monday.
Remembering the best of the Master five Am on Saturday morning,
with today's podcast going up, Shirley Amandy Mieller, this has
been the muster on Hakanu. He thinks the Peter genetics
go to Staggs, go to ABS
Popular Podcasts
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
The Joe Rogan Experience
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.