The Canterbury Auto Cycle Club(now Motorcycling Canterbury Inc) held the NZGP during Easter weekend from 1936 to 1963, alongside the North Canterbury Township of Cust.
Pre-war, many competitors rode their machines to the meeting with the expectation of a day’s racing. Racing ceased during the war years 1941 – ’46 and resumed in 1947. In the decades that followed the NZGP gained Dominion-wide notoriety as a test of rider skill. Hardcore competitors rolled in from all corners of the North and South Islands. On the day riders frequently endured gashes to the face and hands, as the bike in front would flick up stones with gunshot-like ferocity.
For spectators the annual pilgrimage to Cust could not be resisted. Entire families would flock to North Canterbury, to cheer on the very finest of NZ’s motorcycle racing fraternity. Arriving on road and rail, the crowds could be seen streaming out across the fields, to take up vantage points around the 6.1 mile circuit.
One of the early identities was Christchurch milkman Jim Swarbrick. Jim’s big success was winning the 1949 500cc Senior GP on a Norton. From a field of 38 starters Jim (‘The Flying Milkman’) finally won-out after a titanic scrap with Gordon Haggitt. Swarbrick’s exploits continued at Cust in Easter 1955, before a crowd of 25000 he duelled with Leo Simpson of Edgecumbe. It was one of the most thrilling races that year, for laps they tore at each others tails. First Swarbrick hitting the front then Simpson. Once Swarbrick added a neat touch of humour when he held out his hand, to offer Simpson as he passed him on the back straight. Jim, who was riding a 500cc Manx Norton, swept on to his record setting third victory.
Gordon Haggitt was a prominent Dunedin rider. In the early 30’s Gordon and a friend started a motorcycle business, adding impetus to his illustrious riding career at Cust.
Gordon soon became a regular entrant at what was reputed to be one of his favourite venues. He competed in 1939 and 1940 on a 500cc BSA, returning after the war on a Triumph. Gordon finally achieved his ambition at Cust 1950, winning the Senior Event on a Triumph GP machine. Gordan’s exploited earned him nomination and acceptance to represent NZ at the Isle of Man in 1952, by which time was working for Mclver and Veitch in Dunedin.
The end for Cust cicuit came in 1963, for after 30 years times had changed. Assembling the band of volunteers for the month long task of track preparation had become increasingly difficult. Tending the pot-holed rural roads, cutting back gorse,spraying the circuit with oil, and roping in the army of officials and flag-marshals was losing ground to the demands of modern day living. Cust and other public road events had served motorcycling extraordinarily well but their retirement as venues signalled an end to the early racing era.
Looming in the background, change was rapidly advancing. During 1963 dozers and graders had been scratching away in the fields of Templeton, south of Christchurch. An artificial track was being built.Sprayed this time with tar and overlayed with bitumen rolled smooth, Ruapuna Park Raceway was opened on the 24th November, 1963. In 1964 The Canterbury Auto Cycle Club moved the NZGP event to Ruapuna and a new chapter in Mainland motorcycle racing commenced.
The current Ruapuna circuit is a long way from the original "Hacksaw" shaped circuit . It is now regarded by many as the best race track in New Zealand. Safe and Technical and can be used in several configurations.
(Some words of history courtsey Cams Racing Christchurch)
