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TUCKED into a three-wheeled chair and strapped to a sail, adrenaline and excitement run through the veins of blokart enthusiasts.
There are between 50 and 80 members of the Bay Blokart Club, each of whom are either addicted to the social scene or zipping around the racetrack competing against other like-minded fanatics.
Age is not a factor and the club currently includes members ranging in age from 10 to 70.
The Bay Blokart Club established about 10 years ago and was the first blokart club in New Zealand and the world.
The sport developed in late 1999 by Bay inventor and Blokart International managing director Paul Beckett.  Mr Beckett was inspired to build a serious wind-powered toy that was fun, fast and compact. One year on, his son, Matt Beckett, joined the crusade and assisted with product development and introduced the blokart to the market. Interest rapidly grew and the sport developed around New Zealand.
The official Bay Blokarting Club track is based at Baypark Stadium and the track at the home of Blokart International is operated on a commercial basis at Parton Rd, Papamoa.
The facility at Baypark was possible thanks to the support of Pub Charity, which backed the implementation of the racetrack.
Bay Blokart Club past president and now committee member, Don McKenzie, said blokarting was something  anyone could do. He got involved about seven years ago when his son, who was in a wheelchair, wanted something to take part in.
"You don't need to use your legs in blokarting, so this was something perfect we could do together," said Mr McKenzie.
"He just likes the quiet sailing but I am more competitive," he said.
"When you get two karts out there on the track, it's hard not to get competitive."
Blokarting has given Mr McKenzie and other club members a number of  opportunities.
Mr McKenzie has taken part in international races in Las Vegas, Australia and Asia, where he crossed the Gobi desert during a 10-day excursion.
He said the experience was something he would never forget and he was in the process of planning his next adventure.
If all goes to plan, Mr McKenzie and a group of club members will cross one of the driest places on Earth - the Atacama desert, South America - in February.
Blokarting offers members the opportunity to travel and compete on an international level and in October,  a group of Bay Blokarting Club members will travel to Europe and compete in the World Champs.
Another club member, Tom Scott, has been involved in blokarting for about five years.
Mr Scott is paraplegic and enjoys blokarting because it is a sport where he was equal with able-bodied people.
"There's a great camaraderie at the club and we all have such a wonderful time," he said.
Mr Scott enjoys travelling at speed.
"Whether it be on a track or racing down an empty beach doing 80km/h, the thrill is exhilarating," he said.
WHO AND WHAT
Name: Bay Blokart Club.
Number of members: Between 50 and 80 members.
How long it's been going: About 10 years.
How often it meets: Once a month.
If interested to join: Visit the club website - www.bayblokartclub.org.nz