The Speedway Insider

This week’s guest is Tim Savell. Tim is one of Speedway’s leading administrators in Australasia, being CEO of Speedway New Zealand from 2008 to 2015, CEO of Speedway Australia from 2015 till 2021 and sitting on the SNZ Board from 2018 until 2024.Tim has been heavily involved in transforming the sport at so many different levels in many different ways. We talk everything from administrating the sport, to governing the sport, to being a fan, and everything in between. We also talk about the books he has written about the Superstock Teams Champs, NZ Superstock Championship, and most recently, supported the creation of a book for Woodford Glen's 50th Anniversary. This episode is brought to you by Auto Super Shoppes - New Zealand's mechanic: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.autosupershoppes.co.nz⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠And by Fastmaster, your home for Marina Racewear, Arai Helmets, Ibex Tyre Conditioner, Dirt Slayer Tear Offs, and everything you need to perform at a high level behind the wheel: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://fastmaster.co.nz/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠And by System Decal - for all your racing graphics, posters, liveries, socials - see Josh from System Decal: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.systemdecal.com/⁠⁠⁠Episode cover photo: the brilliant Matt Dwen from ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Dirt on the Lens⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Make sure you're following The Speedway Insider everywhere so you don't miss anything: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/hermo48⁠

We're back for 2026! A recap of what we've been up to, the NZ Sprintcar Champs, the NZ Midget champs, plus a preview of the year ahead!This episode is brought to you by Auto Super Shoppes - New Zealand's mechanic: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.autosupershoppes.co.nz⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠And by Fastmaster, your home for Marina Racewear, Arai Helmets, Ibex Tyre Conditioner, Dirt Slayer Tear Offs, and everything you need to perform at a high level behind the wheel: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://fastmaster.co.nz/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Episode cover photo: the brilliant Matt Dwen from ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Dirt on the Lens⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Make sure you're following The Speedway Insider everywhere so you don't miss anything: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/hermo48⁠

Possibly the one you've been waiting for. Sound checks, sanity checks, resigning, how would we fix it in a perfect world, being suspended for 22 days, rule changes, and more. Get your questions in for us to answer. This episode is brought to you by Auto Super Shoppes - New Zealand's mechanic: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.autosupershoppes.co.nz⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠And by Fastmaster, your home for Marina Racewear, Arai Helmets, Ibex Tyre Conditioner, Dirt Slayer Tear Offs, and everything you need to perform at a high level behind the wheel: ⁠https://fastmaster.co.nz/⁠Episode cover photo: the brilliant Matt Dwen from ⁠⁠⁠Dirt on the Lens⁠⁠⁠Make sure you're following The Speedway Insider everywhere so you don't miss anything: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/hermo48⁠

Episode 15 is a tribute and a Goodbye (?) to Western Springs, the iconic venue that has (maybe) had it's last hurrah. We're joined by winner of the last feature and 11x NZ Champion, Michael Pickens, qualifier for the 96 lapper and long time "crew guy", Fergus Managh, plus clips from Jeremy Webb, Kevin Clive, Dylan Forsey, Liam McCoubrey, Mike Glover, and Kaz Townsend.This episode is brought to you by Auto Super Shoppes - New Zealand's mechanic: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.autosupershoppes.co.nz⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠And by Fastmaster, your home for Marina Racewear, Arai Helmets, Ibex Tyre Conditioner, Dirt Slayer Tear Offs, and everything you need to perform at a high level behind the wheel: https://fastmaster.co.nz/Episode cover photo: the brilliant Matt Dwen from ⁠⁠Dirt on the Lens⁠⁠Make sure you're following The Speedway Insider everywhere so you don't miss anything: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/hermo48

We're joined by Chris Cowling, multiple time New Zealand Champion in the Saloon and Super Saloon grade, to debrief his recent trip to race late models in the USA. Where did it all start, words of wisdom, being a second generation racer, and everything in between. This episode is brought to you by Auto Super Shoppes - New Zealand's mechanic: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.autosupershoppes.co.nz⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠And by Fastmaster, your home for Marina Racewear, Arai Helmets, Ibex Tyre Conditioner, Dirt Slayer Tear Offs, and everything you need to perform at a high level behind the wheel: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://fastmaster.co.nz/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠And by System Decal - for all your racing graphics, posters, liveries, socials - see Josh from System Decal: ⁠⁠https://www.systemdecal.com/⁠⁠Episode cover photo: the brilliant Matt Dwen from ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Dirt on the Lens⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Make sure you're following The Speedway Insider everywhere so you don't miss anything: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/hermo48⁠

Louise and Christian discuss awards and rule changes, what is big that changed and how does it affect you? Plus our first proper sound check!This episode is brought to you by Auto Super Shoppes - New Zealand's mechanic: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.autosupershoppes.co.nz⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠And by Fastmaster, your home for Marina Racewear, Arai Helmets, Ibex Tyre Conditioner, Dirt Slayer Tear Offs, and everything you need to perform at a high level behind the wheel: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://fastmaster.co.nz/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠And by System Decal - for all your racing graphics, posters, liveries, socials - see Josh from System Decal: ⁠https://www.systemdecal.com/⁠Episode cover photo: the brilliant Matt Dwen from ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Dirt on the Lens⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Make sure you're following The Speedway Insider everywhere so you don't miss anything: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/hermo48⁠

Driver of the 808c Superstock, Scott Tennant, joins us to talk about his racing career, our controversial opinions, and fulfilling a life long dream to race at the BriSCA World Finals in the UK later this year. Support Scott's fundraising efforts here: CLICK HEREThis episode is brought to you by Auto Super Shoppes - New Zealand's mechanic: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.autosupershoppes.co.nz⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠And by Fastmaster, your home for Marina Racewear, Arai Helmets, Ibex Tyre Conditioner, Dirt Slayer Tear Offs, and everything you need to perform at a high level behind the wheel: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://fastmaster.co.nz/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠And by System Decal - for all your racing graphics, posters, liveries, socials - see Josh from System Decal: https://www.systemdecal.com/Episode cover photo: the brilliant Matt Dwen from ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Dirt on the Lens⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Make sure you're following The Speedway Insider everywhere so you don't miss anything: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/hermo48⁠

It might be the off season in that we aren't racing but there is heaps going on in Speedway land. Updates and HOT TAKES from all over the show. Those links as promised:Give your feedback to Auckland Council: https://akhaveyoursay.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/western-springs-stadiumGive your feedback to Tauranga Council: https://bayparkspeedway.co.nz/21 Speedway at Meremere: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61552798862820This episode is brought to you by Auto Super Shoppes - New Zealand's mechanic: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.autosupershoppes.co.nz⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠And by Fastmaster, your home for Marina Racewear, Arai Helmets, Ibex Tyre Conditioner, Dirt Slayer Tear Offs, and everything you need to perform at a high level behind the wheel: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://fastmaster.co.nz/⁠⁠⁠⁠Episode cover photo: the brilliant Matt Dwen from ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Dirt on the Lens⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Make sure you're following The Speedway Insider everywhere so you don't miss anything: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/hermo48⁠

Professional racecar driver, crew chief, promoter, commentator, mental health advocate, great mate; from Blacktown, New South Wales to living the dream as a professional racecar driver around the world; Peter Murphy joins us to tell us his story. The highs, winning races as a driver or crew chief, to the lows, a career ending crash and the effect that had on his mental and physical health. Pete has been a professional driver, crew chief to the legendary Steve Kinser, a promoter, a track manager, commentator, and everything in between.This episode is brought to you by Auto Super Shoppes - New Zealand's mechanic: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.autosupershoppes.co.nz⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠And by Fastmaster, your home for Marina Racewear, Arai Helmets, Ibex Tyre Conditioner, Dirt Slayer Tear Offs, and everything you need to perform at a high level behind the wheel: ⁠⁠⁠https://fastmaster.co.nz/⁠⁠⁠Episode cover photo: the brilliant Matt Dwen from ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Dirt on the Lens⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Make sure you're following The Speedway Insider everywhere so you don't miss anything: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/hermo48⁠

I've always wanted to know what being the promoter of a major speedway track is like and had a list of questions I've been waiting to ask. Melissa Webb is the promoter of Baypark Speedway, in Mount Maunganui, and joins us to discuss everything that goes into running one of the best shows in the country.This episode is brought to you by Auto Super Shoppes - New Zealand's mechanic: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.autosupershoppes.co.nz⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠And by Fastmaster, your home for Marina Racewear, Arai Helmets, Ibex Tyre Conditioner, Dirt Slayer Tear Offs, and everything you need to perform at a high level behind the wheel: ⁠⁠https://fastmaster.co.nz/⁠⁠Episode cover photo: the brilliant Matt Dwen from ⁠⁠⁠⁠Dirt on the Lens⁠⁠⁠⁠Make sure you're following The Speedway Insider everywhere so you don't miss anything: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/hermo48⁠

Lucky 13! Louise is BACK and debriefs her trip to the USA - how she went viral on Skagit Speedway's TikTok, appearing on Flo Racing, and meeting her heroes! Christian debriefs the latest SNZ Board meeting and some insights from that! This episode is brought to you by Auto Super Shoppes - New Zealand's mechanic: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.autosupershoppes.co.nz⁠⁠⁠ Make sure you're following The Speedway Insider everywhere so you don't miss anything: ⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/hermo48

Who is the GOAT of NZ Speedway? Jason Hill from the NZ Speedway Almanack helps to answer this question with results, some spreadsheets, and a "sort of fancy clipboard". He's the man behind the article in the NZ Dirt Track, "the GOAT of NZ Speedway". We talk to him about this, being a speedway fan, and the New Zealand Speedway Almanack; his other project that's a complete wrap up of the previous season. Every result from every race of every major event from every speedway grade! Subscribe to the NZ Dirt Track here: https://nzdtr.co.nz/ Get your copy of the NZ Speedway Almanack here: https://www.superstocks.co.nz/ This episode is brought to you by Auto Super Shoppes - New Zealand's mechanic: ⁠⁠https://www.autosupershoppes.co.nz⁠⁠ Make sure you're following The Speedway Insider everywhere so you don't miss anything: ⁠https://linktr.ee/hermo48

This episode is brought to you by Auto Super Shoppes - New Zealand's mechanic: https://www.autosupershoppes.co.nz A complete wrap up of the AGM - everything you need to know and some things you don't! Christian talks about being elected and a wrap up of the other bits from a packed weekend at the AGM! Make sure you're following The Speedway Insider everywhere so you don't miss anything: https://linktr.ee/hermo48

In episode 10 we talk to Geoff Harper from HLR Racing. Geoff Harper is a name synonymous with open-wheel speedway racing in New Zealand. Often compared to the likes of Rick Hendrick or Keith Kunz, he is the Founder of New Zealand's biggest speedway racing team, HLR Racing. We talk everything from his own racing career, to starting the team, to where it is today - and everything in between. Geoff is also the co-founder of Auto Super Shoppes which is a chain of premium mechanic stores up and down the country. This episode is brought to you by Auto Super Shoppes - New Zealand's mechanic: https://www.autosupershoppes.co.nz Make sure you're following The Speedway Insider everywhere so you don't miss anything: https://linktr.ee/hermo48

David Turner is an absolute legend of the TV producing game. It’s likely that you’ve seen one of his productions on TV without even knowing it. The short story is that DT has produced a lot of extremely high quality TV in his days.  DT joins us to talk about his journey to some of the dizzying heights of sports in the world, his love of motorsport, and the path for promoting speedway to new and existing audiences. This episode is brought to you by Auto Super Shoppes - New Zealand's mechanic: https://www.autosupershoppes.co.nz Make sure you're following The Speedway Insider everywhere so you don't miss anything: https://linktr.ee/hermo48

It's a long one because it's all go here! It's a two-part episode in one convenient part. Christian talks about his motivations for running for the Speedway New Zealand Board and gives us the full sales pitch AND we are joined by the Fastmaster himself, Alastair Wooton. As well as a new voice on the poddy, Louise Smith! Check out Fastmaster here: https://fastmaster.co.nz/ The Podcast Page here: https://www.facebook.com/thespeedwayinsider

We go behind the scenes of New Zealand Speedway's number 1 fan page Sharns with Sparky with the man himself, Daniel "Sparky" Gibb. With over 12k followers on Facebook, Sharns with Sparky covers all things New Zealand Speedway. Follow the page HERE: Sharns with Sparky Follow the Speedway Insider on Facebook HERE: Speedway Insider Facebook Support ParkMate by downloading the app HERE: Download ParkMate

We're back! Former 3x NZ Super Saloon Champion and current 3nz, Mark Osborne, joins us to talk about his extensive racing career, his day job at Stealth Engineering, and everything in between!

This week we talk to experience stockcar and superstock competitors, Scott Tennant, Jordan Dare, and Lexi Hendrikse about a contentious topic within the contact grades: the Over Aggressive Attack and a new definition that was added to R12-3-34 in the rulebook which was passed at the AGM. What is over aggressive attacking? Why do we need a rule? And how can we police it fairly for everyone?

Surpriseeeeeee, I'm back! I talk about why it's been quiet around here for the last two weeks and the amazing opportunity I have to drive for Geoff Harper's team HLR Racing in the 99k Sprintcar this year.