Of questions and undies

This month, I have questions. So many questions.

Shot down by Covid, the National Championship joined the NZ Enduro Championship, cancelled for this year. A forest race down Nelson way had to be canned due to a shortfall of entries coming out of Covid. The sport seems to be happy to cruise through the remainder of this virus-shattered year with little ‘push’ getting behind the clubs.

By contrast, MotorSport New Zealand has chosen to front-foot the situation and support clubs with a ‘restart’ fund and discounts on event fee costs.

All of this is a signal to event organisers that they need to deliver value to two sets of customers: the paying punters coming through the gate have their expectations; the racer in pit and paddock have theirs. 

Spectators are ‘time poor’ (that old cliché) and they want events that start on time, deliver non-stop racing excitement and do so over a short period of time so they can get the kids out the gate afterward.

So who will deliver that? A national championship half run in forests and on farms far from city centres and the general populace? Or a new national title delivering rapid-fire racing action on a sculpted course right on the edge of the  biggest city in New Zealand?

When you've dropped a cool hundy on your race whip -or even more - is it just about fanging through the forest or digging holes in farm paddocks? Or would you like to go wheel to wheel with ten or more similar race cars in a purpose-built stadium? Is the idea of being part of a million-dollar grid lining up in front of three thousand people attractive?

Teaser text for this month's Muddy Wheels column in NZ Petrolhead magazine. Kiwi offroad racing fans can get their free copy at quality auto outlets nationwide from October 17th or get it in the mail by subscribing (small cost applies to cover postage).