Clutch drops on $3m drag strip

New national speed records are likely once Masterton's $3 million drag strip - now under construction - is finished, says project manager Bob Wilton.

Earthworks began on Friday to smooth the way for the project, a drag strip purpose-built to international standards, just east of Hood Aerodrome where races have previously been held.

Mr Wilton, chairman of drags host Masterton Motorplex, said the new strip's quality tarseal "should not be underestimated" as a factor in the speed of the vehicles.

"There could be some new national records set. We should be able to get some really good times there."

Five years after planning began and the expiry of an agreement with Hood Aerodrome, Mr Wilton said he was glad to see the new site now crawling with earthmoving machinery belonging to main contractor Oldfields.

"The main thing is we've started the project. We're up and running."

Planners are hopeful the facility will be available for use in April, when stage one, the strip itself, is due for completion at a cost of around $1.5 million.

In April, Mr Wilton said Masterton Motorplex had $500,000 of support from businesses, was seeking another $500,000 from lottery grants, and was also applying to Trust House.

Sale of pit passes has also proved a fundraising success.

The racing strip will be 400m long, with a 400m run-off area at a slight upward slope of one or two degrees to assist the vehicles in slowing down.

The higher grade dragsters use parachutes and these "stop tremendously quickly" because of their light weight and the drag of the chutes, Mr Wilton said.

For extra safety, a 100m sand area will be constructed at the end of the run-off area.

Another feature will be crash barriers on both sides of the track, allowing for spectators on both sides.

Drags have been in Masterton for 12 years since the closure of a track at Hawke's Bay, which had by then been operating for 35 years.

A high point was hosting the National Drag Racing Championships in 2008.

Mr Wilton and fellow Motorplex members are looking forward to having a ready-to-race venue, instead of needing forklifts and four-wheel drives to set up temporary crash barriers and grandstands the night before - requiring 25 to 30 people and forklifts and four-wheel drives putting up barriers, grandstands and timing equipment.

Stage two of the project will include pits, a timing tower, toilets and showers.