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Writing RACING: A History of Motorsport in New Zealand was a labour of love for author Ross MacKay. The Auckland-based journalist has been involved in the sport since his early teens and says he jumped at the chance to write the sort of book he has always wanted to read - the tough task of covering 100 years of activity and endeavour in just 20,000 words.
"It was a bit like being at university again and cramming for the final exams," says the 48-year-old father of two, "or preparing a bike or car for the first big meeting of the season. You never have enough time and you end up just doing what you have to do to get the job done."
The profusely illustrated 144-page book takes readers on a roller-coaster ride from the first organised event at Christchurch's Addington Raceway in 1905 to circuits and speedways competitors and fans take for granted today. MacKay has put much effort into accuracy and authenticity and the book is full of previously unpublished information and photographs - such as the fascinating story of early motor industry magnate George Hennings' speedway at Mangere and how, from humble beginnings, karting produced New Zealand world champion Wade Cunningham.
Along the way, MacKay offers portraits of drivers, including Ron Roycroft, Bruce McLaren and Scott Dixon, and there are sections on drag-racing, truck racing and Team Kiwi.
By necessity, the book takes a broad-brush approach.
But any misgivings purists might have are mitigated by the stunning period photography.
Because he had to cover everything from beach racing in the 1920s to karting and drifting today, MacKay sought a common thread and found it in car control.
MacKay said right from the start, it was obvious there were drivers who stood out, drivers who could control their car better than others.
"They had a better feel for the car and the amount of traction available - and, if you consider Dixon in Indycars in the United States and Shane van Gisbergen in V8 Supercars in Australia, that is still the case today."
MacKay's interest in the sport was triggered by a family trip to a club race meeting at Teretonga Park, Invercargill, in the early 1970s.
"I must have been 8 or 9 at the time and it was like a Guy Fawkes night and going to the circus all rolled up into one."
Since then, MacKay has enjoyed the sport on almost every level - from fan to club member, to competitor on two and four wheels, and now historian and author.
When he is not writing about motorsport, MacKay plies a parallel trade in the two-wheel world, editing the motorcycle magazine Kiwi Rider and writing a weekly newspaper column.
* RACING: A History of Motorsport in New Zealand (Whitcoulls) $34.99
