Noise halts another speedway

Spectacular crashes and flying mud were not the only concerns for speedway enthusiasts at the Eastern States Speedway near Blenheim.

Noise control officers were called to shut down the speedway as the New Zealand Saloon Championships roared on until after midnight on Friday.

Eastern States Speedway president Matt Boulton said the racing was all but over when noise control officers arrived at the track on the outskirts of Renwick, but it was a concerning development, he said.

The New Zealand speedway fraternity has real concerns about the future of the sport since the furore regarding noise limits at the Western Springs Speedway in Auckland has threatened to close the 75-year-old motor racing venue.

The racing at the Eastern States Speedway, which attracted about 8000 spectators over the weekend, had gone on later into Friday evening because crashes and protests pushed back scheduled racing.

Most meetings were normally over by 10pm, Mr Boulton said.

"The noise wasn't any louder than it has been in the past, it was just the fact that it went on later than usual," he said.

All cars that race at the speedway must comply with a noise limit of 95 decibels and the next speedway meeting on January 29 was expected to run smoothly, he said.

Mr Boulton said it was disappointing for the sport that one or two noise complaints could shut down an event that thousands were getting enjoyment from.

"If I lived next to a rugby ground and I didn't like rugby and there was a game on and I rang up the noise control and said they should shut down the rugby game because the clapping and cheering meant I couldn't sleep, would I be able to shut down the game?"

- NZPA