Family honours its superfan son

Melissa Curran, 4, flies the flag for her brother Ryan and the Rotorua Rebels at Paradise Valley Raceway on Saturday. Photo/Stephen Parker

Rotorua's Paradise Valley Raceway is a special place for the Curran family.

Even though they are from Hamilton they have held a season pass for the track for the past seven years.

Kylie Curran said the family were huge fans of the superstocks, none more so than son Ryan, who sadly passed away from cancer last year.

The family still come and sit at the same spot each year to remember their son and his love of the sport.

"He's the reason we keep going, to remember him."

"Rotorua has some really great facilities, we always get a good view and the racing is awesome."

Mrs Curran said Ryan's sister Melissa was also a big fan of the racing.

"She came to her first meeting at two weeks' old," she said.

Rotorua Stockcar Club secretary and promotions officer Sonja Hickey said the weekend saw a record crowd of just over 8000 spectators on Saturday night and about 5500 on the Friday.

"It was just brilliant, we had a record crowd - it absolutely rocked.

"All the car parks were full and we had to go up the road and open up more space," she said.

"We're just into building a new corporate lounge and clubrooms up there so that's going to give us a bit of help."

Mrs Hickey said she was looking forward to the unofficial New Zealand junior championships being held on February 14 and 15, when about 170 drivers between the ages of 12 and 17 will head to Rotorua for the Ministocks in Paradise meeting.

For the record, the World 240s were won by Palmerston North driver Peter Bengston after fighting his way back through the repechage to make the finals.