Ron Spriggs Memorial Meeting 2019-20 Season

Join in celebrating the memory of Ron Spriggs, the Invercargill panelbeater whose vision and tenacity created Heavy Trax Hire Central Motor Speedway. Ron felt that as much as he enjoyed holidaying in Central Otago, the region lacked family entertainment, namely a speedway. His search for a suitable location took him to council-owned marginal land off Cromwell’s Sandflat Road that offered a natural amphitheatre embankment.

Cromwell's central location also helped Ron achieve his ambition for a speedway that the whole of Central Otago could call their own. With support from his partner Valerie and willing helpers, ‘Golden Central Speedway’, as Ron named it, was ready to host its first meeting over Christmas,1980. Cars were backed up well into the Kawarau Gorge but unfortunately, terrible weather meant a last-minute postponement of that first meeting. Winds were so fierce, portaloos blew over – one with a man in it.

From the now-demolished caretaker’s house he built beside the track, Ron ran the speedway for 11 years until terminal illness forced him from active involvement. He died in March, 1996 just days shy of his 54th birthday.

Sprintcars, saloons and super saloons, six shooters, productions and youth mini-stocks will be racing foot to the floor for the honour of winning the Ron Spriggs Memorial Trophy for their class.

Be sure to diary, Saturday, November 9, gate 4pm and racing at 6pm for Central Otago's Fastest Family Show on Earth.