Tracks
Meeanee Speedway
Last Visited - 2015
Track Distance - 1/4 mile
Facilities - Limited
City/Town - Napier, North Island, New Zealand
Website - www.meeaneespeedway.co.nz
Location - The speedway is south of the Napier central city. From
the Napier-Hastings highway it's towards the coast, although the
speedway itself is in a reasonably rural area. For exact instructions
see the website. When Percy visited for the first time there was no
EFTPOS. I believe this has since been rectified but take cash just
in case.
Parking - Parking was alongside the racetrack. At the time of
my first visit it was directed by a local group but for most meetings
it's park where you want. If directed a quick
getaway is pot luck but you would want to be near the entrance.
Premiere Meeting - The Autumn Nationals is one of the big
end of season events. The event typically attracts quality drivers
across the board at a time of year when there are plenty of cars on
track.
Also worth attending - The Peter Barry Teams Champs have quickly
developed a reputation for action. Meeannee is a great teams racing
track, narrow with a wall that slants outward. From the footage I've
seen the event is poorly attended for the amount of action on the track.
Best spot to sit - Much of the seating is perilously close to the
track. Spectators need to be constantly aware of flying mud. Your
best bet is to get there early and get a spot in the back row of
the grandstand. Families are not well catered for. There
is nowhere for the kids to run around and toilet facilities are outside
the stadium and of a poor standard.
Classes run - Youth Ministocks, Streetstocks, Stockcars,
Superstocks, Saloons, Super Saloons, TQ's, Solo's,
Sidecars.
Uniqueness - The track itself is a fairly regular NZ Stockcar
quarter mile. The unique aspect was the wall. Angled slightly to
the outside of the track, it's easy for cars to go up the wall. This
aspect certainly adds to the excitement of the contact classes. Also
unique is a mobile Hell's Pizza outlet in the pit area. Just be prepared for
a level of service lower than a brick and mortar restaurant.