'Blood sport' racing upsets Speedway NZ

The weekend event involves cars hurtling into one another. Picture / Wanganui Chronicle

Speedway New Zealand has refused to back a demolition derby event being held at Waikaraka Speedway this weekend, saying it caters to people who still like an element of blood in their sport.

The New Zealand Demolition Racing Association is running the event, which involves two teams of five cars racing around the track for 10 laps smashing into one another.

Waikaraka Speedway is a Speedway NZ track but the association has hired it for the weekend.

Speedway NZ says the race and types of cars used do not comply with its rules so it will not permit the event.

Chief executive John Cleaver would not say the event was unsafe but said it catered to people who liked an element of blood in their sport.

"It's all about destruction, smashing and damage and all of that," he said. "We wholeheartedly believe that they should not be running this event."

The racing was outside Speedway NZ rules, which aimed to create the safest possible way for people to take part in the sport of speedway.

Speedway NZ knew the potential damage and possible dangers.

"For this reason the national body and its members do not include these events in their rules."

Mr Cleaver said Speedway NZ would look at possible action against Waikaraka Speedway for allowing the event to go ahead.

Demolition association president Bevan Johnston said the speedway body was trying to force them out.

"They've just banned our racing and we've continued to do it despite the ban and we've continued to do it for 10 years."

He said the racing was safe and the cars, although not as expensive as some speedway cars, had safety features to protect the drivers.

"We're just people having fun and entertaining people. We're far from the image they are trying to portray of us."

Mr Johnston said Speedway NZ had a bee in its bonnet.

"Our racing looks very dangerous and looks very spectacular, but we've not had anyone seriously injured."

Mr Johnston said he went as far as trying to take Speedway NZ to court to try to get the racing covered by that association, but had been unsuccessful.

"They weren't interested in talking."