Levin and Cabbage Tree Corner

[jellywrestler]

Ron Frost created New Zealand’s first permanent international car racing track here in 1956, foreseeing the need to move on from our temporary circuits on open roads and aerodromes.

(Ken H)

not quite correct Lake Brndwyr was australasias first purpose built fully sealed circuit in 1949. Levin may have been built in 1956 but before it was accepted as an international circuit it had to be extended and it was also widened at the same time a few years later

[Ray Bell]

Looks pretty good in the photos in the other thread...

But was it built as a circuit, or was it built (like Bathurst) as a community project or park drive which could be used as a circuit?

If that were the case, then Bathurst would pre-date it.

[khyndart in CA]

I guess I was loose with my wording but I have read in some sources that Levin was "New Zealand's first permanent motorsport facility."

(Ken H)

[Trevor Sheffield]

Henning's Speedway located in Mangere lays claim to this title, as a "Google" will confirm. However, I would agree that it was the first sealed track venue in the form of a true motor racing circuit.

[jellywrestler]

Henning's Speedway located in Mangere lays claim to this title, as a "Google" will confirm. However, I would agree that it was the first sealed track venue in the form of a true motor racing circuit.

what title? Hennings I beleive was NZ's first purpose built facility and while it was called a sppedway it was 1.4 miles long and not in the spirit of what we know as speedway. On top of this I have photos of esses through 44 gallon drums among it, making it a road race. Lake Bryndwr was australasias first fully sealed Road Racing Circuit, over six years ahead of both Levin Motor Racing Circuit and Teretonga par.



Check out this book, 160 Road Racing Circuits covered in NZ


http://www.theroaringseason.com/showthr ... the-market

[jellywrestler]

I guess I was loose with my wording but I have read in some sources that Levin was "New Zealand's first permanent motorsport facility."

(Ken H)

poorly researched sources.

[jellywrestler]

Looks pretty good in the photos in the other thread...

But was it built as a circuit, or was it built (like Bathurst) as a community project or park drive which could be used as a circuit?

If that were the case, then Bathurst would pre-date it.

Lake Bryndwr was Australasias first purpose built circuit, Bathurst is a Road Race/Street Circuit so not comparable

[khyndart in CA]

poorly researched sources.

So this source is a poor research ?
https://www.racingcircuits.info/austral ... levin.html
" The Levin Motor Racing Circuit was New Zealand's first permanent motorsport facility, small in scale but massively important for the development of the sport in the country, which had previously relied on temporary street and airfield circuits.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"It was the first purpose-built car racing circuit
in New Zealand to compare with the major temporary tracks laid out on the
airfields of Ardmore and Wigram." ; https://www.hh.org.nz/horowhenua/profil ... %20Ron.pdf

Graeme; To say I had poorly researched Levin is a poor choice of words.

Ken

[Ray Bell]

Jelly wrestler, your research on Bathurst is poor...

It was built to double as a scenic road and as a racing circuit, sealed in time for the 1939 meeting. It's been in use ever since as a motor racing circuit, with the exception of the war years, and has been equally important in the development of both car and motorcycle racing in Australia.

[khyndart in CA]

Speaking of Bathurst and Tom Clark, this is what happened to Tom two years later at the Mount Panorama Circuit, near Bathurst in New South Wales, Australia on 6 October 1958.
As described in Eoin Young's "Classic Racers" book.

(Ken H)

[Trevor Sheffield]

what title? Hennings I beleive was NZ's first purpose built facility and while it was called a sppedway it was 1.4 miles long and not in the spirit of what we know as speedway. On top of this I have photos of esses through 44 gallon drums among it, making it a road race. Lake Bryndwr was australasias first fully sealed Road Racing Circuit, over six years ahead of both Levin Motor Racing Circuit and Teretonga par.



Check out this book, 160 Road Racing Circuits covered in NZ


http://www.theroaringseason.com/showthr ... the-market

Henning's Speedway was also referred to as the Mangere Speedway and was in no shape or form designed, built or intended to be used as a road racing circuit. I have had lengthy, detailed conversations with four who raced there, i.e. Gerry Matherson, Merv Hardy, George Smith and Bert Batty. I recall their many recollections of the place, which was intended to hopefully replicate a full size American speedway, as opposed to a quarter mile midget car track. At the time motor sport tended to be very much US inspired and the cars raced followed this trend. Furthermore, midget cars as such, were yet to arrive on the scene.

By the way and on top of this, the traditional 44 gallon drum was a significant item in respect of the construction and death of the place. LOL.

[jellywrestler]

Jelly wrestler, your research on Bathurst is poor...

It was built to double as a scenic road and as a racing circuit, sealed in time for the 1939 meeting. It's been in use ever since as a motor racing circuit, with the exception of the war years, and has been equally important in the development of both car and motorcycle racing in Australia.

It is not an exclusive circuit, it is also a public road.

[jellywrestler]

Henning's Speedway was also referred to as the Mangere Speedway and was in no shape or form designed, built or intended to be used as a road racing circuit. I have had lengthy, detailed conversations with four who raced there, i.e. Gerry Matherson, Merv Hardy, George Smith and Bert Batty. I recall their many recollections of the place, which was intended to hopefully replicate a full size American speedway, as opposed to a quarter mile midget car track. At the time motor sport tended to be very much US inspired and the cars raced followed this trend. Furthermore, midget cars as such, were yet to arrive on the scene.

By the way and on top of this, the traditional 44 gallon drum was a significant item in respect of the construction and death of the place. LOL.

and yet it was used for road racing as we know it, at least for motorcycles

[jellywrestler]

So this source is a poor research ?
https://www.racingcircuits.info/austral ... levin.html
" The Levin Motor Racing Circuit was New Zealand's first permanent motorsport facility, small in scale but massively important for the development of the sport in the country, which had previously relied on temporary street and airfield circuits.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"It was the first purpose-built car racing circuit
in New Zealand to compare with the major temporary tracks laid out on the
airfields of Ardmore and Wigram." ; https://www.hh.org.nz/horowhenua/profil ... %20Ron.pdf

Graeme; To say I had poorly researched Levin is a poor choice of words.

Ken

what words would you use then as it's simply not at all correct?

[jellywrestler]

So this source is a poor research ?
https://www.racingcircuits.info/austral ... levin.html
" The Levin Motor Racing Circuit was New Zealand's first permanent motorsport facility, small in scale but massively important for the development of the sport in the country, which had previously relied on temporary street and airfield circuits.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"It was the first purpose-built car racing circuit
in New Zealand to compare with the major temporary tracks laid out on the
airfields of Ardmore and Wigram." ; https://www.hh.org.nz/horowhenua/profil ... %20Ron.pdf

Graeme; To say I had poorly researched Levin is a poor choice of words.

Ken

https://www.racingcircuits.info/austral ... ganui.html this is incorrect too, it wasn't run 2021

[Trevor Sheffield]

and yet it was used for road racing as we know it, at least for motorcycles

Please be very certain that I am not among those who you advise are confused in respect of what constitutes a road race, i.e. on foot, a bicycle, motorcycle, motor car or whatever. LOL

[GregT]

So this source is a poor research ?
https://www.racingcircuits.info/austral ... levin.html
" The Levin Motor Racing Circuit was New Zealand's first permanent motorsport facility, small in scale but massively important for the development of the sport in the country, which had previously relied on temporary street and airfield circuits.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"It was the first purpose-built car racing circuit
in New Zealand to compare with the major temporary tracks laid out on the
airfields of Ardmore and Wigram." ; https://www.hh.org.nz/horowhenua/profil ... %20Ron.pdf

Graeme; To say I had poorly researched Levin is a poor choice of words.

Ken

I would describe the first website as incomplete. If they're going to list now unused circuits, then list them all.

The second website is as I'd expect, parochial toward the local view of history. Not uncommon in NZ.

I suspect Graeme meant the website was poorly researched. Without Graeme's book to hand to supply the correct answers, it's a bit of a trap.

[khyndart in CA]

October 1956. Second meet at Levin.
Some photos of Jim Boyd driving his Buckler-Ford # 23.
The first one is on practice day before the crowds arrived, coming around "Cabbage Tree Corner". The cabbage tree is on the inside.

On race day and the crowds have arrived, same corner showing the cabbage tree on the outside of the corner.

Jim having some problems at the Hairpin when a shower passed through.

Battling it out with a Cooper Bristol and a 500 cc Cooper

The handling was much better coming around the Hairpin in the dry !

(Harold Plimmer photos )


(Ken H )

[jellywrestler]

the old grandstand has lost it's roof but still there

[jellywrestler]

begs the question why 10 months between meetings on a brand new circuit, i know they had sealing issues, must have taken time to resolve?