It’s all downhill from here
By Dan Hutchinson
Open Class silver medallists 2024 MB Century A Team
It’s the most fun you can have on four wheels and it’s rolling up fast on the calendar.
Rangatahi are busy putting their go-karts together, while adults scheme up new ways to foil their opponents in the upcoming Blue Light Trolley Derby at Spa Park on November 15.
Blue Light coordinator and youth mentor Della-May Vining says the derby is a family-friendly event split into two different competitions.
The first is split into five age categories ranging from 5-years-old to 16+. Rangatahi (youth) buy a standard $30 kit from Mitre 10 and assemble their own kart, with all proceeds donated to Blue Light.
The second – The Open Class which includes Battle of the Brands - involves private or company teams who pay $250 to enter a machine they have designed and built themselves.
“They can do whatever they want, they use their own initiative to build it.
“Last year, MB Century entered two teams. They had the engineers’ department, it was amazing, all welded and strong and they got second.
“And the pen pushers, they came down there, their wheels were a bit spindly, and they went down the ramp and the wheels fell off, it was hilarious.”
There are a few inter-company rivalries this year with Taupō Police taking on Taupō Fire Brigade, Mitre 10 challenging Placemakers and ITM. Morrell Motors will take on Inghams and a battle of the builders is shaping up too between VB Builders and Beck Building.
The youth and children’s divisions are designed to be “a little bit scary, but it’s managed risk” and the course is an undulating slope at Spa Park, lined with tyres.
She says the event is open to everyone to take part, but it also fits in with the theme of Blue Light and is one of several fundraisers they do throughout the year.
“Because one of the things that we have noticed with youth is that we've got our youth that are going potentially a little bit off the track that we try and pull back in and go with community things. But we've also got youth that are wrapped in cotton wool, and they don't do managed risk, and they don't do challenges and scary things.
“This is a little bit scary, but it's managed and it's quite brave to go out there and do three time-trials in front of a whole lot of people.”
Taupō Police Senior Sergeant Roger Whale says Blue Light is about empowering youth and getting rangatahi into different things.
Proceeds from this year’s derby will go to Blue Light including getting a young person down to Outward Bound. Nominations are also open for someone who would benefit from that experience.
Sponsors include Mitre 10, and Taupō Motorsport Park who provide prizes and Taupō Car Club which does all the timing and provides a full pit crew, helping anyone fix their kart in between races.
For more information or to enter, visit www.taupobluelight.co.nz
