He first raced for the Hawkeyes in Palmy in 2014 when they finished third. Last year he raced for Bay Park in Palmy because he couldn't commit to the Hawkeyes schedule as he made assisting his daughter Dominique with her ministock commitments his speedway priority.
"We've got a pretty good team on paper for this weekend. We just have to click together on the track," O'Brien said.
The Napier Technical Old Boys Rugby Club club captain and former division three prop has an extra incentive to help the Hawkeyes retain their title.
"This year is the 20th anniversay of when I first started in speedway and it would be good to celebrate it with the most prestigious title up for grabs in this country."
The chassis on his car is the one used by Hawkeyes teammate Jason Long when he finished second in the national championship in Stratford last year.
"It's good to have a reliable car which Kairyn and I can share until I stop racing in three seasons time. That's the big thing I like about speedway ... there's three generations of our family involved because Dad [Chris] does a lot of the work. I know Kairyn is keen as to get me out of the seat permanently."
The pair not only speed a lot of time together at speedway they also work together for O'Briens Aluminium & Maintenance. Twenty one-year-old Kairyn has been a spectator at the Palmy event since he was a toddler and the third season driver in the superstock ranks after stepping up from the ministock class admitted it was a surprise when he got the call to be the sixth driver.
Four drivers race at a time and a reserve remains in the infield in case there is an injury. Should a driver be forced to withdraw Kairyn would become the reserve.
'It's no secret I want to be in the five in a few seasons time but this weekend I've got the opportunity to learn as much as I can so I'm ready when my turn comes. I have no doubt we've got the team to win if everything goes to plan," Kairyn said.
His biggest claim to fame in the superstock ranks is rolling fellow Hawkeye Tom Stanaway at the end of last season. Kairyn's humour is often as good as his father's too.
"I might have to take Dad out for dinner on Friday night and give him some medium rare chicken so he is too crook to drive at the weekend and then I might get a turn," he joked.
The O'Briens replace Quinn Ryan and Quintin Butcher who were both in last year's team which beat the Great Britain Lions in the final. Ryan has work commitments in Australia this summer and Butcher is unavailable with an injury.
Hawkeyes manager James Buckrell said Regan O'Brien's experience is a huge plus for the team and along with Mike McLachlan they are rated as two of the best blockers in the country.
"In Kairyn's case we're looking to the future. It's good to bring young drivers in to get a feel of what it is liked to be involved just as we have done with Quinn [Ryan] and Zach Lawrence during the last two seasons."
Buckrell agreed Adam Groome would rank as the unluckiest to miss out on selection but pointed out Groome will be racing for the Nelson Tigers so he will have an opportunity to push his case for Hawkeyes selection in the future.
"Regardless of who we get in the draw I'm confident we can retain the title," Buckrell added.
The full Hawkeyes team is:
Steve Jude (captain), Jason Long, Mike McLachlan, Tom Stanaway, Regan O'Brien, Kairyn O'Brien.
