Speedway rocks

I happened to notice this painted telecommunications box not long before we headed out of Auckland for the last few weeks (other than short visits). First morning back in the city, and I discarded my running courses. and went past here to get a picture.

The box is in Great North Road almost outside the Council flats which underwent major refurbishment through last year. On the other side of Great North Road are the outer playing fields and beyond them the Western Springs Stadium. The stadium was built on waste land contaminated by the Auckland City Council abattoir. Associated industries (tallow works, tanneries and fell mongeries) polluted the local streams and Motions Creek. Furthermore, the site was used to dispose of the city's night soil.

Not the most salubrious origins. The visionaries won support from the council and the stadium was constructed over a two year period being completed in November 1929. The first meeting was held on 30 November 1929. This box was painted in November 2011. The first midget car race was held in 1935.

After many years of speedway and a period between 1963 and 1972 when the cars were extremely noisy (110dB plus), self regulation saw the maximum reduced to 95 dB. There were no complaints about the noise until 1994, when a neighbouring resident started a single person campaign to close the speedway. It is said that since she moved away to the country (to a life style block) she has campaigned to quieten farming activities.

The campaign was subsequently taken up by a group of concerned citizens. It is notable that this occurred after the nearby small cottages built for the abattoir workers had become popular and highly sought after. Speedway continues, and the painting of this box suggests no intention to cease.

The stadium is also used as the home ground for the great Ponsonby Rugby Football Club, and used to host international track and field meetings on the quarter mile cinder track. On 17 November 1964, on the soft cinders, Peter Snell ran a world record of 3:54.1 for the 1 mile. Second and third placegetters (Odlozil and Davies) were spattered with cinders. What could Snell have run on a modern track? Rock concerts also were held here for many years.