Speedway: (from left) Caleb, Kyle, Flynn, and Brendon Ashton are competing in the New Zealand Superstock Championship this weekend. It's a rare occasion to have four siblings compete in the same event.
Speedway: (from left) Caleb, Kyle, Flynn, and Brendon Ashton are competing in the New Zealand Superstock Championship this weekend. It's a rare occasion to have four siblings compete in the same event.
A Hamilton racing dynasty will make history in Wellington this weekend as four brothers compete in the New Zealand Superstock Championship.
It will be a rare third-generation family entry and the first time that four siblings have been in the same superstock championship.
Brendon, Kyle, Caleb and Flynn Ashton representa lineage that began with their grandfather, Colin, racing at Hamilton’s Forest Lake Stadium, which closed in 1980, followed by their father, Lance “Lala”, and uncle Blair.
Adding to the family’s racing pedigree is Brendon, Kyle, Caleb and Flynn’s sister, Kendyll, who is married to current NZ Superstock champion Todd Hemingway.
Kendyll won’t be competing, with her brothers saying she is “sidelined” for now due to being pregnant.
The four brothers carry the family colours into one of the biggest events on the Speedway calendar, also trying to get close to Hemingway, who will be in Wellington to try to defend his title.
All for one, one for all
Between the four Ashton brothers, they have a spread of championship experience: Brendan enters his sixth New Zealand title, Kyle has competed in both stockcars and superstocks, Caleb lines up for his third, and Flynn makes his debut.
Eldest brother Brendon started racing more than 20 years ago in the ministocks class.
He said the novelty of four siblings now racing at the same event isn’t lost on them, even if they rarely end up in the same qualifying groups.
“It’s good fun when we’re all on the track together,” he says.
“But at the big meetings we’re usually split into different groups. When we do get out there together, that’s the good part.”
Kyle, the team’s signwriter and designer, said the brothers operated as a tight unit when travelling.
Lance Ashton used to race Speedway. Now he is helping his kids succeed.
“Pick on one of us, pick on all of us,” he laughs. “If one of us needed a hand to qualify, we’d be there.”
Family business
All four brothers work within the wider TWS McLeod Sheetmetals and King Signs family businesses, meaning they also have easy access to the equipment needed to keep the cars in top shape.
Flynn, the youngest, jokes that he contributes the least.
“I just race the car … or try to. [My brothers have] got to teach me everything, and I don’t listen that well.”
Despite the banter, he’s clear about what Speedway means to them: “Everything. It’s what we’ve done all our lives.”
Fast cars, fine margins
The Ashton fleet runs engines in the 450–500 horsepower range with the brothers saying the cars are getting faster as set-ups evolve.
With three heats per group and front-middle-rear grid draws, qualifying remains the biggest hurdle for the Ashtons.
The weather will also play a role, with forecasts ranging from heat to possible rain.
Inside the cars, temperatures can reach 60–70°C, although the brothers say the heat is only noticeable when stationary.
Prepared for anything
The Ashton team has arranged access to workshops in Wellington should repairs be needed, but they hope to limit work to washing and cleaning between races and a full car check in between the two nights.
The four brothers are also entered into the World 240s race in Rotorua, but they will reassess after the weekend dependant on how the cars come through the national title chase.
For now, the focus is on Wellington, and on continuing a family tradition that shows no sign of slowing down.
Graeme “Mintie” Mead is a sports commentator, the host of the radio showWaikato All Sports Breakfastand a Newstalk ZB overnight host. He is also a Hamilton City Councillor.
