Community Contributed

Levin Car Club

on Saturday 14 January 1956, the Levin Car Club (Inc.) held its Inaugural Motor Race Meeting in Levin. The club has a copy of the original program from this meeting and has shared it with us un Kete Horowhenua. Unfortunately the club no longer owns a racing circuit in Levin although the club is still in existence.

The Programme for the Inaugural Meeting on 14 january 1956:

Front Cover	Page 1
Pages 4 and 5

According

to the recently published history of the club:

Levin Summit meeting 17th January 1958.

"In the heady days of motor racing in the 50s and 60s, Levin race circuit was a magnet for competitors and spectators alike. It was an important

development ground for the likes of Bruce McLaren, Chris Amon and many others.

Like Pukekohe, the circuit ran in the centre of the local horse racing circuit but was closed in 1975. Murray Carkeek was among the enthusiasts who helped make the venue and the Levin Car Club a powerful force in the sport.

In 1988 he started work on putting together a Levin Motor Racing History, which after various false starts has now been published.

The book’s 496 pages cover 20 years of racing at the circuit. It includes all major race meetings (three each year) from 14 January 1956 through to the last meeting on 7 December 1975.

Included are comprehensive competitor entry lists, race results, lists of major officials, pre-event press releases and post meeting reports. There are also several memories from drivers who competed there over the years.

In Kete Horowhenua, R.S. Stewart remembersw- click here to read more:

Car Racing Track

The first meet at Levin motor racing track, a modified version of the famous Brands Hatch course, was in 1956. This circuit was anti-clockwise and it’s length originally 1.1 miles. Viewed from the air this track closely resembled a pair of goggles Formula One drivers of that era wore.
In its heyday, enthusiasts in thousands turned up to the racing, traveling by bus, train, and car to see four hours of motor sports.

Not long after the track opened my Dad was engaged in fencing on the horse race course when several saloon cars arrived at the car track to practice so he wandered over to look at them. Whilst viewing the machines a driver asked Dad if he would like to go for a ride with him. He readily agreed. It took no time to get around the track, this journey being the fastest Dad had ever traveled in a car and he was mightily pleased the driver didn’t suggest a second circuit.

We lived in Hokio Beach Road, the southern entrance to the meet at the time. On race day our two oldest sons were out bright and early, pads and pencils in hand to record racing car numbers as they passed.
One day as cars flowed by heading to the venue entrance a vehicle pulled to the roadside just past our house and a couple of young men alighted, went to the car boot and clambered inside. Non- payers I thought as the vehicle pulled out into the queue again.
The sequel to this incident was revealed in the Chronicle the following week.

Someone had seen what was happening and tipped off the gatekeepers who admitted the car charging was visable. As the vehicle headed to the parking area it was followed by an official who kept it under observation. That day was hot and the perspiring and red-faced pair soon emerged, were confronted - and paid up.

On race days we usually had afternoon tea on the front terrace of our house as at about 3;00p.m. the racing concluded and patrons headed home.
To ensure race traffic merged smoothly and quickly into the Main Road flow traffic officers were on point duty at the Hokio Beach and Mako Mako Road intersections but even so periodically there were slight delays for those leaving the races.
One afternoon while watching the passing cars we observed a friend going home. Bob’s side window was wound down and on seeing us he confidently gave a big cheeky grin and waved. In that split second distraction the traffic ahead was pulling up due to a holdup at the Main Road intersection and for a moment we thought there was going to be a pile up but fortunately our friend braked hard and stopped in time and all was well.

The book is in soft cover form in black and white and is available for $50.00 plus freight per copy from Terry Carkeek. Call 04 5264813 (evenings), or email terrycarkeek@gmail.com"

Lynn Shepherd wrote of her memories of the Levin Motor racing Circuit (in Kete Horowhenua - click here to read her memories.)

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