PALMERSTON NORTH SLOT CAR CLUB

The origins of the Palmerston North Slot Car Club (formerly the Palmerston North Model Car Club) date back to 1967 when two brothers, Greg & Gill Andrews formed the club for the purpose of holding long-distance events.

Prior to this time the Manawatu Club had been holding regular club night racing on a small, privately owned 1.32^nd scale track.

With the advent of larger commercial tracks came the opportunity for a club to hire the facilities for an evening, afternoon of whole day to stage anything from club racing to open invitation meetings and endurance events. These types of events formed the nucleus of the club’s activities, initially using a hired eight lane 1/24^th scale commercial raceway before moving to a new five lane duel 1/32^nd and 1/24^th scale circuit in 1968.

This track had an unusually smooth fibreglass resin surface making it one of the best clubtracks in the country at the time. After being sold in 1970 it went on to serve at least two other clubs for over 10 years.

By 1971 the commercial raceways had disappeared and the Palmerston North Model Car Club found itself with no premises, no track and no money. Suitable accommodation was found and under the presidency of John Templeman, a successful racer from both New Zealand and in his homeland of Britain, a new track was built, financed by the sale of debentures to the club members. This circuit measured 150 feet in length (the longest track in New Zealand at the time) and had wide (4 ¼”) lane centres opening out to 6” in front of the drivers rostrum.

By 1972 the club had the permanent loan of the last series of 1/24^th scale commercial style tracks built by entrepreneur Athol Brown. The interior of the club rooms were extensively remodelled to accept the six lane 110 feet circuit. The efforts of long time 1/24^th scale enthusiasts Trevor Harrofield and Wayne Smith placed the club in the position whereby all slot car racing needs could be catered for under one roof.

The early to mid 1970’s was an exciting time for slot car racing in the region. Apart from the Palmerston North club’s two racing nigfhts per week, and open meetingson an average once a month, there were clubs in Hastings, Apiti, Marton, Wanganui, Dannevirke, Levin, Carterton, and Lower Hutt holding regular club night and interclub racing as well as NISDC (North Island Southern Districts Council) championship events.

From this environment emerged two local drivers who were each destined to make a big impact on all levels of racing and administration. Ian Drever who had grown tired of racing around his home track, was recruited in 1973 and fellow Palmerstonian Tim Tyler, a renegade of the model aircraft fraternity “discovered” slot car racing the following year. Within four years both were winning National titles and both went on to win multiple NISDC and NZSCA titles in both 1/32^nd and 1/24^th scale competition. Tyler making history becoming the first person to take slot car racing’s Triple Crown in winning the two NZSCA titles and the NISDC series in the same year. During the 1980’s both men gave much back to the sport that had adorned them with such success, by serving in various capacities (including the Presidency) on the Executive Committee of the National Controlling Body, the NZ Slot Car Association.

Other former club members who cut their competition teeth racing miniatures but gave it away to concentrate on full size racing pursuits include Alan De Latour who won many national motorcycle road racing titles between 1976 and 1984 and Philip Drummond who had a short but promising car racing career. Both are past NISDC champions.

Although other clubs in the district have come and gone over the past three decades, the Palmerston North Club survived, and, apart from the brief filtration with a neighbouring Feilding Club, it’s club rooms at 262 Cuba St were it’s home for twenty five years.

Following a name change in 1991 to the Palmerston North Slot Car Club, the club was forced to vacate its central city premises due to redevelopment five years later.

Suitable club rooms were subsequently found at 615 Featherston Street adjacent to the former brick works, providing ample of space for the three club tracks which by now included a portable 55 foot circuit used for promotional purposes.

Track up grading projects have seen the 1/24^th scale track completely refurbished and the 1/32^nd track rebuilt, lengthened to 174 feet and provided with copper pick up braid (a New Zealand first) instead of the usual copper tape.

In recent years the club has continued to breed national champions with Gill Andrews, Richard Andrews, Paul De Latour and Owen McKendrick holding national titles at one time or another.

Today’s members owe much to the dedicated bands of enthusiasts who, over the years have helped out at model club displays and other fund raising activities to secure the financial and ideological well being of the organisation.

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