17/06/2026
Thunderpark 1976-1997: Gone, But the Legend Remains
Today, Gimblett Gravels alongside State Highway 50 at Roy's Hill, Hastings, is recognised as one of New Zealand's premier wine-growing regions. But there was a time when this former Ngaruroro River bed, covered in endless shingle, was considered worthless land.
In 1973, a group of determined young enthusiasts from the Hawke's Bay Hot Rod and Custom Club saw something different. They had a bold vision: to build a world-class drag strip on this flat, well-drained landscape.
Armed with little more than determination, they persuaded an earthmoving contractor and an asphalt company to help turn that vision into reality, while somehow finding a way to pay for a project that would cost well over a million dollars in today's terms.
The result was Thunderpark.
Its quarter-mile strip earned a reputation as not only the finest drag strip in the Southern Hemisphere, but one of the very best outside the United States. It became the stage for countless memorable battles and historic achievements, including the first time a New Zealander exceeded 200 mph on the drag strip.
This is the story of Thunderpark, its people, its racers, and the volunteers who built, maintained, and supported one of New Zealand motorsport's most iconic venues. It is a story of ambition, innovation, friendship, and speed. A place where legends were made and records were set, broken, and set again.
PRE-ORDER YOUR COPY NOW
Would you like your own copy of this remarkable piece of New Zealand motorsport history?
Thunderpark 1976-1997: Gone, But the Legend Remains is due for release on 21 November, and pre-orders are now open.
Visit www.thunderpark.co.nz to secure your copy today.
