Milestone Homes Top of the South Speedway has welcomed a fresh wave of Youth Ministock drivers this season, injecting new energy into the Nelson club’s largest and most competitive grade.
The Youth grade is considered the backbone of the club, with many top adult drivers having started their careers in the class, including former New Zealand Stock Car Champion Ben Smith, Tigers captain Blake Hearne and War of the Wings Sprint Car champion Connor Rangi.
With 25 registered drivers, the grade requires four races each night to accommodate the numbers. There’s an even split of boys and girls, and drivers can begin racing at age 12, ageing out on their 17th birthday. The roster is constantly evolving as new drivers join and others move on, creating a dynamic and competitive environment.
New drivers enter through a mentor programme. They run a high-vis flag on the rear of their car to signal their newcomer status and start at the back of the grid. Senior club members observe their performance and offer guidance on race lines and track procedures. Once they show enough speed and confidence, they’re allowed to grid up with the rest of the field and travel to other tracks. About 90 per cent of speedway venues across the country run Youth Ministocks.
The pinnacle event for the grade is Rotorua’s M.I.P. (Ministocks in Paradise) meeting in February, which attracts around 170 drivers each year.
This season’s newcomers include Waimea Intermediate pupils Indi Fallen, Ava Hogarth and Kailey Wilson, Wakefield School’s Mason Roberts, Garin College student Indi Taylor and Nayland College’s Reuben McGregor.
Two drivers have also stepped up from ¼ Midgets – Darcy Rasmussen and Taylor Martin – with Darcy already picking up a race win.
Family connections run deep in the grade, with siblings often racing together and cars passed down through generations. Some parents also race on the same night.
The Youth grade has proven to be a strong foundation for future champions – the past 13 New Zealand Stock Car and Super Stock champions all began their careers in Youth Ministocks.
