Paradise Valley Raceway's popular fireworks display ignited Martin van Tiel's life-long interest in pyrotechnics.
Dr van Tiel regularly attended the Rotorua Stockcar Club's opening meetings when he was at school.
"I used to come over and watch the racing and there was always a spectacular fireworks display," he said.
The Taupiri-based businessman, who has been lighting up festivals and sports stadiums with fireworks for more than a decade, is back in charge of the club's annual fireworks display tomorrow night.
The 15-minute show will fill the night sky with a colourful cluster of explosions - ignited from about 200 'shells' - depicting 150m high "glittering" white waterfalls and butterfly and octopus formations against the black backdrop, he said.