Local Motorsport enthusiasts are celebrating this year after establishing the Central Otago Motorsport Club back in 2011, thriving for a decade and encouraging those interested in motorsport to have a go.
Founding member and current club secretary Matthew Shand is thrilled to see the club grow from strength to strength over the last decade; after an ad was placed in the local paper ten years ago, calling for interest in establishing a club.
“We had around 25 or so people respond to the ad in the paper and from that initial meeting in May, we incorporated the society and became affiliated with Motorsport New Zealand.
“We now have 150 members across the Central Otago region and continue to get new members each year.”
The club focuses on grassroots motorsport. They don’t race against each other, but rather against the clock. Whether it’s the annual Street Sprints event held in Cromwell, track days, gravel hill climb events or auto-crosses held in paddocks, the club put drivers against the clock.
The club also offers the hire of a club car, a 1.8-litre front-wheel drive Subaru Legacy decked out with race seats, belts and a full roll cage. “It’s great for new members to have a go and see if motorsport is for them before committing to a car of their own,” Matt explains.
Current club president Corey MacAskill is pleased to be seeing the club through its first decade and is looking forward to celebrating alongside other members in July by hosting a social day out to Walter Peak Station and trip on-board the Earnslaw giving club members an opportunity to get-together and enjoy the past decade of Motorsport in Central Otago for the club.
The Central Otago Motorsport Club meets in Cromwell (and occasionally in Alexandra) on the second Tuesday of each month, except January.
Contact Central Otago Motorsport Club on Facebook or email if you would like to find out how to be a part of this fast-paced, adrenaline-pumping, action-packed club. The club is open to anyone interested in motorsport and Matt encourages those who are interested, to get in touch at www.centralotagomotorsport.co.nz or visit Central Otago Motorsport Club at www.facebook.com
