KartSport Rotorua

History of Rotorua Karters Inc. 1990 Invitation Street Sprint

Rotorua Karters inc. was formed in 1990 by a group of interested kart racing people from Rotorua to run a street sprint event to be held at the old railways yard.

The first “committee” meeting took place on the 4th of April 1990 at the home of Brian and Sue Williams. There where 14 people in attendance. Danny McCort was voted in as the first Chairman. A date of the 28th of July was set for the street sprint.

The inaugural AGM was held on 30 of January 1991, Danny McCort was again voted in as Chairman.Rotorua Karters became an affiliated to The New Zealand Kart Federation (now Kartsport New Zealand) in about March 1991. The Club has since become an incorporated Society.

The Club ran the “Railway Yard” street sprint successfully for many years. Among those of note that raced at this event, were Scott Dixon, Greg Murphy, Fabian Coulthard and current club member, Darren Aislabie.

” Lets build a track… “

RKI got serious about building their own track around 1998. A track committee was formed and looked at land at Lake Okareka, Ngakuru, Waikite Valley, Horohoro, many sites looked promising, but we either couldn’t get the land, or it was just too expensive.

In 2001 Graham Foote offered RKI suitable land at Off Road New Zealand. The track committee set about getting a lease drawn up and Resource Consent was granted in November 2002.

In 2001 Graham sold his operation to Ian and Carol Tew, who were keen for the track to go ahead. A track management committee was set up and RKI set about getting funding. A Charitable Trust was formed in 2004 and a decision to build an International size track was made. The first bit of funding from the Lion Foundation enabled preliminary ground works and RKI members set about designing a track layout.

At this time the Track Management Committee started weekly breakfast meetings at McDonalds. They are still meeting to this day.

The Rotorua Kartsport Development Trust (RKDT) was set up in May of 2004 with the skills of the late Warwick Kay who, it must be said, really got the project underway with his ability to make business plans and lease agreements.RKDT and RKI have worked hard fund raising and getting the track and facilities under way to where it is at the moment.