Motor Sports in New Zealand: More than Just Car Races

Since the first car hit the market, somebody came up with the idea for car racing. Indeed, the first ever car race was held a decade or so after the invention of the car, and was held in France. So popular was the event, that pretty soon it became an annual phenomenon, and eventually the practice spread throughout Europe, and the world.

Eventually, motor sports would reach New Zealand’s shores. However, many people make the mistake of thinking that “motor sports” refers to two kinds of races only: automobile races and motorcycle races. In truth, the phrase encompasses so much more. In this article, we would like to talk about the ever expanding world of motor sports in New Zealand.

Motor Sports Inspired Games

The first thing we have to talk about is video games and online games inspired by motor sports. Anyone who has ever held a controller is already familiar with a franchise called “Mario Kart.” The game series sees the infamous plumber in red shift into high gear, and race down an increasingly complex series of tracks, all the while competing with classic characters from the franchise.

Similar games inspired by motor sports have attained incredible degrees of success. Many of these games are staples of eSports, and a lot of them are quite popular to bet on. That is right, in 2024, gamers can actually wager on the outcome of professional video game competitions. It is mostly online sportsbooks that cover eSports events. And speaking of online sportsbooks, we would be remised if we didn’t bring up iGaming.

For those who don’t know, iGaming is a term that describes any and all aspects of the online gambling market. This means slots, poker, bingo, and sports betting all fall under the umbrella of iGaming, as long as it is done online. But, what does iGaming have to do with motorsports? Well, how about the numerous slot games across casinos.com and its numerous top gambling sites?

Slot games in 2024 have taken on a whole new life. Developers incorporate inspirations from sports, anime, films, and more. One of the most popular themes for slot games online is car racing. So, if you are a fan of both slots and car racing, you have a lot of options to go over. But, enough talk about games. Let us actually focus on some motor sports in New Zealand that don’t involve an automobile.

Motorbikes

Of course, motorbike racing is the second biggest sub-category of motor sports. In New Zealand, the first ever motorcycle races took place on various horse racing tracks across the country. One of the oldest bike races took place in New Brighton in the summer (January) of 1917. The race was organized by the Pioneer Motorcycle Club, and won by Ernest Hinds, who drove a Harley-Davidson bike.

One of the most notable, historical New Zealand races was the Castrol Six Hour race. An endurance race that was held for a decade and a half in Manfeild. Held between 1974 and 1988, the Castrol Six Hours competition is still fondly remembered by many fans of motor racing. However, both the Australian and New Zealand version of the race were cancelled, simply because Castrol pulled out of racing.

Though the Castrol Six Hour may be gone, there are still quite a lot of motor races being organized in New Zealand. The Motorcycle Speedway and the New Zealand Solo Championship are two examples of high-profile motorbike competitions that are still being held and wagered on to this day. For those who are interested in events like Formula 1, and want to check out something similar, these are the best ways to go.

Speed Boats

There are a lot of benefits to having a coast. Gorgeous beaches, delicious sea food, sea trade routes, and of course, boat travel. Anyone who has ever been on a speed boat knows that it can be as fun as it is exciting, and even a bit scary. For those seeking thrills, just riding a speed boat can give you what you need. So, imagine racing one.

Well, in New Zealand, you don’t have to imagine what a speed boat race would look like. Speed boat racing is an often underappreciated, yet incredibly fun sub-category of motor racing. Many might believe it is some new phenomenon, only discovered in recent years. However, that couldn’t be further from the truth.

Derived from steamboat races, speed boat racing has been done pretty much since the invention of the speed boat. In New Zealand at least, the practice has endured since 1917. There are two different categories of speed boat racing, which new fans might want to be aware of:
• Closed-sea Racing: often called “beach” racing, closed racing entails the racers pilot their boats around a beach, never once straying too far from the coast. It is much safer than open-sea racing.
• Open-sea Racing: in this version, the racers pilot their ships on a track set up on the open sea, and stray away from the coastline.
Speed boat racing might be fun, but it is nowhere near as popular as car or motorbike races. Therefore, many people don’t hear much about it, and are unaware that it even occurs. Of course, this is also the reason why you won’t often hear sportsbooks cover speed boat racing odds.

Some Last Thoughts

Motor sports are an incredibly popular genre of sports in New Zealand. According to recent polls, hundreds of thousands of people watch racing events in some form or another, whether they stream them online, watch them on TV, or buy tickets to see them in person. There are also some incredible auto race tracks in the country, that are worth experiencing at least once in person.

What many may not know is that the genesis of all motorsports in the country can be traced back to 1901, when the Pioneer Cycle Club held a three-mile, mixed-vehicle race which comprised both cars and motorcycles. For a long time, this was the only event in the country. So, New Zealand’s motor racing culture has certainly come a long way.