Excerpt from historical Club Newsletter The Harrison Family. Johnny Harrison was our first president and obviously a driving force in the formation of the club. His brother Rex was a staunch member of the Waipawa club and with very little help ran that club for over a decade with his three sons and a daughter racing at Waipawa, Hawkes bay and at Goldstar events. Rex was made our third Life Member. Johnny passed away at age 35 and we honor him with the annual Johnny Harrison Memorial race in June each year. The Wright family. Reg took over when Johnny Harrison passed away and remained in the chair for three years guiding the club through the building and funding of the sealed track. Son Adrian, daughter Patsy and son in law Pat all raced. Reg and Joan were awarded our first ‘Honorary Members for Life’. Chris Scarrott and David Waugh. The terrible twins? With wives Nola and Gail they put a huge amount into the club in it’s formative years. Chris was our second ‘Honorary Member for Life’ and Dave was made a Life Member after serving his second term as president. Chris made a comeback in 1977 and served a year as president while Dave, (can’t leave it alone Waugh) is currently serving his third term. The pair were infamous for their foray into road racing with their “state of the art’ Can-Am bodied karts sponsored by White Horse Whiskey. While they looked the part results were few and far between and the team were better known as ‘White Elephant Racing’. Alan Pithie. A foundation committee member and the ‘go to guy’ for many early karters. I remember him on the end of a spade wearing only shorts and gumboots putting in fence post after fence post at the track. He built karts, kart parts and kept many of us going. He took over from Clyde Cunningham as President in 1972 when Clyde transferred to Palmerston North for work and then spent many years as a Steward. Alan was made a Life Member somewhat belatedly. The Cunningham Family. Sam spent years as pit marshal and later took over the job as grounds man for which he was awarded ‘Honorary Membership for Life’. Son Clyde was an early committee member and did a part year as President in 1972 before taking a job in Palmerston North and handing over the reins to Alan Pithie. Clyde raced the first genuine ‘Dart’ kart in the club then twin McCullochs and finally a Class IV 250 cc kart. The Grant Family. Kay and Russell were again early members who put a huge amount into the club over many years. Kay as secretary and Russell on the committee followed by a lengthy period as vice president. Russell was the ‘resident builder’ and the toilet block was his first major project with Brian Gutteridge doing the block work. The clubrooms were his largest project and they are still serving us today. Russell raced McCulloch’s and later 100 cc Rotary engine karts before many years in the 125 cc gearbox class. He was especially successful in later years road racing a 125 cc Rotax powered machine. Russell was and still is a very competent engineer and built most of the local Yamaha KT100’s for many years. Russell was a our fourth Life Member. Russell’s brother Colin perhaps, best known as a TQ driver in the Efficient Team with Steve Todd, also raced 125 cc gearbox karts. The Wilson Family. Ray Wilson did two stints as president and was a real quiet achiever. He spent hours setting up and then packing away after every club day practically on his own. Ray was well supported by wife Val and in his spare time built karts that were meticulously engineered. His son Mark raced McCulloch’s and then Komet K88 rotary engines. He finished up with a very potent Bishop Eagle chassis (built in what is now the Kiwi Kart factory in Palmerston North) running twin alky burning KT100’s built by Russell Grant. Ray passed away after his second term as president and is honored with the Ray Wilson Memorial race held in May each year. Peter Fraser. Peter brought one of the first KT100 engines in the club after the frustrations of running McCulloch engines with his son Scott. Pete was soon using his skills and influence in the contracting sector at the kart club with machinery and equipment from what previously had been the family firm of Fraser Shingle. Firstly the pits were shifted from the hairpin area to their present location and then the hairpin was extended into where the pits had been. Later the entire track was nibbed on both sides and then resurfaced. A long time committee member Pete had to wait until he had served 10 years in the club before being awarded Life Membership for his efforts. Bob Elliott. Bob started out in the kart seat but was soon replaced by sons Simon and to a lesser degree David especially after Bob suffered broken ribs in an accident and was never comfortable back in the kart. Bob took on the role of president and did an unprecedented four year term. Like others Bob used his influence in business to assist the club and was awarded Life Membership at the end of his term in 1988. The Lester Family. Nearly there at the start and still going strong. Laurie was a long serving committee member while his wife Jean was magazine editor, treasurer, worked in race control and was the ‘Lolly Shop Lady’ for many years later assisted by her daughter Carolyn (Richards) and then the grandchildren. Sons Michael and Brendon both raced with Laurie. Jean and Carolyn also did their stints behind the wheel and often fought out the annual ladies race on club trophy day. Laurie spent years on the KartSport executive with most of them as president and more recently doing a stint as national steward. Still traveling and stewarding … Continue reading Insight into some of our Life and Honorary members