From across the Tasman Sea, we have a report of what is claimed to be New Zealand's first drag race meeting ever.

New Zealand's first drag meeting really brought the crowd to its feet as they saw what the hot rodders of this country have been doing in their spare time, when they piloted their modified street rods and specials down the 1320 for the first time. The crowd of about 1,000 lined both sides of the strip in glorious sunshine and at times burst through the barriers to watch their top stars vanish down the end of the ¼ mile.

People rubbed their eyes to see if it was true because after 5 years the N.Z.H.R.A. had at long last found a suitable place to hold a drag meeting. The site which was chosen was on the open cut coal mines at Kopuka, approximately 45 miles south of Auckland.

The actual strip, which is not tar sealed, but flint stone and coal dust which is packed down and as hard as concrete, runs on a slight down hill slope. Alas, nothing like the States or Aussie, but, a start.

Rob Campbell's Willys-powered V8 shutting down Richardsons Impala

The day's entries poured in and at my final count, totalled about 60; including top stars, Rob Campbell in his Mk.II Zephyr and Tim Sanders of Hamilton in a '36 Roadster, which was spinning at something like 6,000 r.p.m. with an ET of 17.5! Most courageous entry of the day must have been Pete Lodge in his '37 V8 coupe, complete with a full house flathead and GMC 671 blower! Lodge made a remarkable first run of 17 seconds then had the misfortune to blow a hole right through the side on the second run.

Rob Campbell, after being shut down in the Zephyr took his V8-engined Willys and showed he had just as much talent on the strip as on the grass track by bringing the crowd to their feet while shutting down Richardson in his Impala.

Walsh's JAP V-twin special shuts down Impala

Meanwhile, Walsh in a homespun Special, powered by a JAP V-twin, suprised all by also shutting down the Impala and turning in the second fastest time of the day with an ET of 17.4.

Only one accident marred the day, when Thexton of Hamilton, who encountered cars coming back up the shut-off area and had to take to the scrub, damaging the front suspension of his well prepared MkI Zephyr.

Mitchell's Ford dropped its flywheel after turning 18.5

Others suffering from gremlins, were Mitchell in the highly modified Ford 10, who turned in an ET of 18.5 before dropping a flywheel! Poor Merv MacDonald turned in an ET of 18.3, before expensive noises developed in the crankcase of his Flathead.

Doug Jordan's 58 Ford drove pefectly all day but was beaten in this run by the Dart		Hoskins' Model A Coupe shuts down Chris Moon's 39 Pickup

This then, was one of the greatest days in New Zealand rodding and although there was a little organisation, no proper classes for vehicles and no top eliminator run off, plus the fact that the communications broke down during the meeting, a lot was learnt and can be used to advantage in later meetings.

Unless the N.Z.H.R.A. does something soon to remedy the situation, Hot Rodding in New Zealand could die, as most motor racing at the moment is being dominated by the Car Clubs interested in other branches of motor sport.

Terry Furness of Tauranga in a Ford sedan was first home against AHRC Roadster		John Tredo's 39 Coupe beat Hoskins in A Model Coupe

Mini Cooper S's set some fantastic times with Mr. Manon on right coming out winner.		Katavich's Chev Pickup powered by GMC mill shuts down a Zephyr

Carbs Campbell's Willys was too good in this run for Paul Rose.		The overhead valves made several good runs but proved no match for the flatheads