Peter Chatteris: Speedway was there before them

Opinion

Almost seven decades ago in a backyard shed in Ponsonby, two working-class teenagers built something special. Working from a Popular Mechanics article, Harry Chatteris and Ron Roycroft created New Zealand's first midget racing car.

Using wheelbarrow wheels, an Austin 7 engine, and creativity, they began a revolution in Kiwi motor sport. Though this car never raced, it caught the eye of the one of the boys' fathers, Western Springs Speedway promoter A.J. Roycroft.

Western Springs Speedway, from its inception in 1929 through to 1937, had been a bikes-only affair. Characters such as visiting American, Lazy Lou and the first New Zealand champion, Alf Mattson, thrilled the crowds with their antics.

Everyone in Auckland knew of the speedway; everyone knew where it was. It was a new passion for Aucklanders and a new era for motorsport in New Zealand. More was to come.

On Christmas Day 1937, a crowd of 12,000 witnessed the first midget car race at the Springs. A.J. Roycroft had enticed four teams to come to New Zealand and, together with a small band of Kiwi drivers, introduced four-wheel racing to Auckland speedway.

Fast forward to 2004. We have a situation that a majority of Aucklanders and I find incredible; a situation that could see the demise of a fine Auckland tradition.

Western Springs Speedway is on the verge of extinction. Not because of the lack of crowd support, not because of violence, not because of the lack of competitors.

The Springs Speedway may be drawing its final breath as a result of 70 Aucklanders signing a petition.

Anyone living in this city knows of Western Springs Speedway. If you are an Aucklander, the speedway is part of your heritage. It is as Auckland as the harbour, as Eden Park, as One Tree Hill. It is an icon, a tradition, a passion. The Springs Speedway is part of what makes Auckland tick.

Motorsport by nature creates noise. The 85db limit imposed on the speedway is ridiculous. Your telephone can make a louder sound, barking dogs, mating cats, lawnmowers, the list is endless. Anyone who has had an association with the Springs Speedway for more than five minutes would also understand that the noise today is considerably less than that of a few years ago.

One irrefutable fact is that most of the 70 petitioners knew of the speedway before they moved to the area. I know of only one petitioner who was born in the area before the speedway began and still lives there.

Therefore, all bar one of the petitioners knew that they were moving to an area that had a speedway operating. They knew that the speedway produced a certain noise level for a few hours a week for a few months of the year. These petitioners made an informed choice to live in an area shared with an Auckland icon.

Twenty-first century New Zealand is all about choice. We enjoy arguably the most freedom of any country on the planet. We are relatively free to live the way we choose, earn what we choose, be who we want to be, express ourselves in the manner we choose, and within financial boundaries, live where we desire.

The anti-speedway petitioners made their choice and have settled where they knew there was a speedway. Their wish is now nothing more than to gain personally at the expense of an Auckland tradition. That, in a word, is selfishness.

I sat today with a brilliant, but tired and gaunt elderly man. The subject of Western Springs Speedway came up; he became alert, his mind active and his eyes alive. Harry Chatteris is upset that 70 people can be allowed to pull apart something that he had a role in starting.

He still has fight in him, he still has heart. His precious Springs Speedway could become extinct, all because of 70 people and their selfish desires.

The enjoyment of tens of thousands of people ruined by 70, all but one of whom - the pensioner who was born in the area before the speedway opened - are trying to change the world they accepted when choosing to move near the speedway.

The tired old man is my father. He was the teenager who built that first midget. He led me by the hand through the Springs Speedway gates to see the likes of Leo Vercoe, Ted Tracy, Barry Butterworth, A.J. Foyt, Sleepy Tripp, and all the rest of the legends as I was growing up.

He represents a huge majority who could have their fine tradition ruined by the desires of 70 people.

I appeal to those who oppose the speedway to take a long, honest look at what they are doing. Quite simply, the Springs Speedway was there first.

If they didn't like that, they should never have moved there.