Fans furious at speedway track fiasco

Speedway fans have slammed the shoddy condition of the Western Springs racetrack that forced the cancellation of races over the weekend.

The Saturday meeting was called off after the fifth race because holes had appeared and large clumps of dirt were being thrown up into the crowd.

One woman suffered a bruise to her head when hit by flying debris.

But speedway organisers say Environment Court orders limit track preparation time, and hot weather was a further problem.

Posts on internet forums were full of complaints, with one fan calling Western Springs the "laughing stock of speedway". Another fan could not understand how cars managed to avoid flipping or crashing because of the holes.

Many noted that such bad track conditions had not been seen in decades.

Birkdale resident Jennifer Nicholson said she would not be going back this season. She said at one point the big screen showed two children holding up a clump of dirt that had gone over the fence.

"It was just a huge piece of dirt. It was shocking. Hard solid dirt. Stuff does come over, but not like that. That was ridiculous."

Top midget driver Michael Pickens said the track was too dry and he had never raced in such conditions.

The organisers had called the drivers together before the sixth race to decide whether to continue. Pickens said most voted to race on, but crowd safety prompted the decision to call it off.

"The right thing was done, but I guess the fact is that it shouldn't have been like that in the first place."

Springs promoter Dave Stewart blamed the conditions on a long break between meetings and hot, windy and dry weather last week when contractors were preparing the track.

They were hampered by an Environment Court order which limits track grading and preparation to 12 hours a week.

The restriction remained a "significant" issue, and the speedway had sought a review.

Mr Stewart said spectators did sometimes get hit by dirt, but the woman was well enough to drive back to Katikati.

"You always get clay coming off the track and into the crowd. We try to minimise it, but there's not a lot we can do about it. It's the same with every speedway track around the country. It happens with dirt tracks all over the world."

Ticket holders have been offered free admission to one of the last two meetings of the season, but a small number who will not be able to attend have got their money back.

Western Springs' future as a speedway venue was in doubt last year after some residents went to the Environment Court to enforce noise restrictions. Racing resumed only after an agreement among speedway organisers, residents and the Auckland City Council.