Self-control sought by speedway officials

Press, 30 January 1982, Page 18

Self-control sought by speedway officials

New Zealand speedway racing might get an administrative shake-up this year. Proposals which would give the sport autonomy are to be put to the New Zealand Auto Cycle Union, which now has ultimate control over the sport. And the six-times world speedway champion, Ivan Mauger, will ask the board next month to withdraw from the British Auto Cycle Union and seek direct affiliation with the world controlling body of motorcycle sport, the Geneva-based Federation Internationale Motocycliste. Promoters and competitors from throughout New Zealand recently agreed unanimously at a meeting in Wellington that speedway

should control its own affairs. And they decided to seek a meeting with the Auto Cycle Union to put their case. The union now controls all motorcycle sport and has been given jurisdiction by the Motorsport Association of New Zealand over midget, saloon and other car racing on tracks less than 400 metres long. The board in turn has delegated control of speedway to the Speedway Control Board, but the board includes ACU appointees. 'The competitors and promoters feel the sport would best be served if it was controlled independently of the other motorcycle sports. Mr A. G. Nesbitt, who, until last week, promoted

speedway in Wellington, says the Speedway Control Board is top-heavy with ACU appointees. Mr Nesbitt said this meant some of the people controlling speedway were not connected with the sport but with some other form of motorcycling, such as road racing. The promoters and competitors did not want to “point a gun at anyone’s head,” Mr Nesbitt said, or to “get into a punch-up situation.” That was why a subcommittee had been formed to discuss reorganisation with the union. Mauger is to put his case for direct affiliation to the FIM at a meeting next month. At present, the British

Auto Cycle Union acts on New Zealand’s behalf in dealings with the international body but some riders and promoters feel the country has been ill-served by this system. The secretary of the union, Mrs Sandra Miller, says that one of the benefits of affiliation is direct access to the FIM and a right to attend the federation’s six monthly conferences. But one disadvantage, Mrs Miller said, was that such meetings were held in many different countries — the last was held in Tokyo, the one before that in Geneva — and the costs involved would probably mean fees for licences issued by the union would have to be raised.