KEY POINTS:
The estimated 1850sq m warehouse sits at the end of a long driveway on Scenic Drive as it winds its way out to Piha.
There is space for trucks to drive in, mechanical equipment like hoists and living quarters.
It is monitored by closed circuit cameras and police
believe it may have an escape route - possibly even a tunnel. It was so quickly deserted during one recent raid that fresh butter was found on plates.
A gun and crossbow were also found, as were regalia of the Head Hunters gang.
Police have taken possible victims through the warehouse - described as "like a scene out of Mad Max" - to identify any remnants of their vehicles or other stolen equipment.
There were entire bodies or parts of as many as 30 mainly high-performance cars inside. While it is not known what is stolen and what is legitimate, police believe most have been obtained by "dubious means". Fishing gear, parts to a Korean tourist's $70,000 Harley Davidson and a portable shower were also among the items cluttered inside.
A Weekend Herald investigation has found there has been a series of motorsport thefts this year, raising fears among the fraternity that they are being done to order.
Some of this year's thefts can be linked to the warehouse - parts to a $280,000 Holden V8 and to privately-owned racing go-karts taken from the Toyota racing compound were found there.
Police also believe a van taken in the Toyota break-in was used in a later raid on a motorcycle shop. One of the stolen bikes, a $23,000 Ducati Monster, was dumped after a police chase. Although the thief escaped, officers found Head Hunters regalia left behind.
Henderson Police would not comment yesterday, saying investigations were ongoing. One man has been arrested in connection with some of the thefts.
The owner of the property said he did not know what his tenants did behind closed doors.
The Weekend Herald investigation found the motorsport thefts have shared a number of similar characteristics.
The thieves are able to beat sophisticated alarm systems - such as disabling electric fences without triggering the alarm.
They are able to start racing vehicles that have custom-built ignitions and can target specific parts or tools from among the clutter of workshops, often surprising the owners with what they take and leave.
Motorsport insiders are reluctant to speculate publicly about the thefts, although privately there are concerns that "a mole" is giving tip-offs, or that people prepared to pay for stolen parts are creating a market for the thieves.
Other theories have the stolen vehicles and parts being shipped overseas, or used to "soup-up" normal passenger cars.
The Weekend Herald was also told of one instance where a victim was given the opportunity to "buy back" a stolen engine but chose not to because of the people involved.
The latest theft was a fortnight ago of two go-karts belonging to former New Zealand Formula 1 champion David Oxton and his sons.
Mr Oxton said the go-karts, which his sons race at up to 160km/h, were worth more than $40,000 "on paper", but had been painstakingly built-up over three years. The purpose-built tow vehicle, three spare engines and 30 wheels were also taken in a "highly selective" way after thieves beat their security system.
Grand theft motorsport
* August: Oxton go-kart racing team. Go-karts, parts and wheels worth $40,000 taken; $70,000 Harley Davidson touring bike taken from locked cage in downtown Auckland apartment. Bike recovered; 14 off-road quad-bikes and truck taken from Avondale importer. Truck dumped, bikes still missing.
* June: Haldane's motorcycles. Seven bikes loaded on to a truck. Electric fence with trip-wire disabled to keep alarm from going off.
* May: Toyota racing. Private go-kart collection and transporter stolen; Rob Steele racing. Porsche GT3 worth $140,000 loaded on to covered truck after ramraid. Dumped and recovered.
* April: Ian Spurle. Holden V8 worth $280,000. Vehicle believed to have been "chopped"; Simon Richards. $8000 worth of tools for Ford V8 taken after steel grill removed.
* January: Tracer motorsport. Tools. and parts belonging to V8 team stolen.
