b'TRACKSPOTLIGHTIHRA Drag Racing Thrives inNEW ZEALANDIt is truly an international success as Meremere Dragway inmaintenance, improvements and running of all drag racing New Zealand is celebrating his fifth decade of operation. events at the facility. The Pukehoke Hot Rod Club is the The International Hot Rod Association (IHRA) sanctionedonly hot rod club globally who can lay claim to owning its track in Meremere, New Zealand is such a popular destinationvery own drag strip.that the road off the main State Highway 1 that runs into the2020 will celebrate Meremere Dragways 10th season facility has been aptly renamed Drag Way, although the signunder IHRA sanction.says Dragway Road. We would like to boast that we have grown up with New Meremere Dragwayformerly Champion DragwaywasZealands drag racing community and after 45 years in the opened in Easter 1973 by keen volunteers who saw thebusiness, we feel we have, Meremere Dragways Gary Bogart need for a permanent drag racing facility in the greatersaid. From the days when we marveled at 14-second cars to Auckland region.12-second cars to 10-second beasts and into single-digit times, Older drag racing fans will remember racing being held atnowadays, some racers are completing the 1/4-mile in under Ardmore, Kerrs Road, Manurewa and Kopuka in the latefive seconds. Thats over 300 mph in approximately 400 1960s and early 70s. These proved to be so popular, itmetres. Pretty awesome and quite a history really!was obvious the American sport was here to stay in theThe venue also plays host to other great motoring venues southwestern Pacific country.such as the Meremere Dirt Track, Ever Green Drift Park, The Pukehoke Hot Rod Club was instrumental in gettingthe Auckland Vintage Speedway and the Auckland the drag strip built and is still in charge of the everydayJet Sprint Track.Bogart has a message to the Kiwi people and others in the South Pacific region.10'