There are strong fields in all four divisions, with entries from Christchurch, Nelson, Wellington, Manawatu, Hawkes Bay, Hamilton and the Bay of Plenty plus a big contingent from the host Auckland club. There are also two entries from Australia.
Registration and practice is on Wednesday, most of the visitors hoping for a decent wind to get used to the track before formal racing starts.
Over four days of good winds, each division will complete about 25 races.
World champion Wayne Osborne (Auckland) will once again seek to fight off Theo Vondervoort (Bay of Plenty) in the over-90kg class to retain his title.
"The competition with Theo is always very close," said Osborne.
The coming NZ Open is a chance to renew the rivalry and also a chance to prepare for the World Champs in January in Perth, where again they will be sailing in the same division.
"We're good friends off the track but there's plenty of action on the track between us and great rivalry."
These two have raced many times, Osborne just managing to stay ahead in last year's NZ Open and the 2012 World Championships in the US. They will be joined by two Australians who are always competitive.
The field is wide open in the 80kg to 90kg divisions with up to seven of the competitors capable of taking out the title.
The front-runners are Russell Harray, current New Zealand champion, John Nicholson and Barry Cole who have had the better results in recent racing.
Bruce Hales, who was recently in Britain where he finished second in the European Championships, Matt Beckett, general manager of Blokart International, Ross Vickers and Ross Ludwig are also expected to contend.
Hales is flying back home the day before the event so may suffer a bit of jetlag over the first race day.
The 70kg to 80kg division is headed by Grant Clark and Trevor Hookway, both of Auckland, who have had a close battle over the recent Auckland Winter Series.
Auckland president Graham Ingall is also in with a chance, plus some of the visitors may surprise depending on wind conditions.
The light-weight division, under 70kg, has an experienced look to it. David Heilbron will be chasing his first national championships after coming close last year. Dave Pearson from the Bay of Plenty is also a past place-getter at national level and expected to provide stiff competition.
And new national competitor Corri Stein from Nelson, the current South Island Champion, is very good in lighter winds.
Local sailor John Paverd had great speed at a recent teams race event and Marg Murray has come out of retirement for her first major event in some time. Both these competitors may surprise the favourites.
Racing is at the Airfield Rd entry to Ardmore Airport and spectators can drive in to watch the action.
Racing starts and finishes in front of the spectator area so it's an exciting way to spend a few hours and learn what makes these karts go as fast as an America's Cup catamaran.
NZ Blokart Open
When: October 10-13
Where: Auckland Blokart Club, Ardmore Airport, Airfield Rd,
Auckland.
For more information visit: www.abc.gen.nz
