Vintage karts grand fun for families

Shona Jenkinson, of Hastings, will be ably supported by father Mark this weekend. Photo / File

The NZ Vintage Kart Grand Prix will see 130 karts and six Australians competing at the CHEMZ Raceway in Fern Hill over the weekend.

Vintage Karting NZ president Mark Jenkinson said vintage karting was leading a resurgence in the sport by drawing people back to it "in a fun, social manner".

"I've been the national steward and I've been the national president, but karting was the last thing I would get my daughter into because it is too intense," he said.

"Karting was marketed as the stepping stone to Formula One racing and still the majority of Formula One racing drivers come through karting.

"The sport has evolved in that direction. They have computerised dashes just like the V8 Supercars or Formula One. They can show you everything from your lap times to your heart rate to your G-forces.

"It has gone beyond, unfortunately, the weekend family activity."

Vintage Karts must be at least 25 years old and without plastic bodywork. While they are low-tech they are not for the faint-hearted.

"They usually run more powerful motors than the average karts of today and being lighter many produce faster laps times than most modern karts."

He said the Australian competitors were supporting the Hawke's Bay event after a New Zealand team won the Trans-Tasman Shield in Australia last year.

On display will be the 1973 World Championship winning kart, a replica of the first Go Kart ever built, the first kart imported into New Zealand, a class winner from the Hong Kong GP in 1972 and an example of the first commercially produced kart in NZ.

Most will take the track in parades and demonstrations during the weekend.

V8 Supercar race driver Greg Murphy will be one of the big names in action.

The main feature will be the Trans Tasman Teams race at 2pm on Sunday. Public entry on Saturday and Sunday is from 10am to 4pm and $5 per car.