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Western Springs is no longer: introducing Vodafone Speedway

5 August, 2016

It has been announced that iconic Kiwi motorsport brand and venue, Western Springs, will be rebranded this summer after partnering with telecommunications company, Vodafone NZ. The speedway will soon be transformed from Western Springs Speedway to Vodafone Speedway. 

“We’re very excited to have partnered with a globally recognized and successful brand like Vodafone, and look forward to hosting speedway at Western Springs for the next three years at least,” said Springs promoter Greg Mosen.

“Vodafone has a strong portfolio of existing sport and entertainment partnerships in New Zealand, including the Vodafone Warriors NRL team, several Super Rugby teams, as well as the Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards and much more.

“Vodafone is committed to getting Kiwis closer to the things they love and Western Springs Speedway has been one of those things for almost a century,” said Vodafone’s Consumer Director, Matt Williams. 

“As well as the rebranding, we are excited to be able to offer a variety of speedway ticket giveaways this summer as part of our loyalty programme Fantastic Fridays, exclusive to Vodafone customers.”

The name change may come as a big surprise for some, but Western Springs has been aligned with WXC Communications for the last three years. And, since Vodafone has recently purchased them, this has been a natural and exciting progression for both parties, we’re told. 

We’re not sure that Vodafone Speedway has the same ring to it as the long-standing original name, however with time, it’ll no doubt become the norm. There’s to be no disruptions to the busy schedule Western Springs holds. 

Let us know what you think about the name change in the comments below! 

The Great River Road

4 July, 2025

A few years ago my family, knowing my fondness for driving, gave me the book Unforgettable Road Trips: Thirty-Six Drives of a Lifetime by Martin Derrick. Most of the road trips listed take less than a day in places like Scotland, Monaco, and Australia, plus one in New Zealand. Most of these places were too far to go just for a short drive but four of them would take several days. My interest was piqued, and those four drives were added to the bucket list. To date, I have done three of them: ‘Route 66’ (USA 21 days), ‘State Highway 6’ (NZ 10 days) and ‘The Great River Road’ (USA 22 days). You can drive all of them in less time, but you could also fly over them. We wanted a decent immersion in their charms.
The great river referred to is the Mississippi. While the name conjures the deep south, the river actually starts at the bottom of the great lakes, before emptying into the Gulf of Mexico about 3800km later. The great road is more of a concept than a specific strip of tarmac, as you can drive down either side of the river on various routes. Regardless of which side you drive, time should be kept aside for detours to places such as Nashville, which is famous for something or other.

A diamond in the rough

24 June, 2025

Two years ago, Lew finished a thorough restoration and the impressive ute has taken on a new life and colour. Lew plays down the amount of effort required but, despite his protestations, I suspect he put a lot of time into the project. A few unwanted tenants were evicted along the way.
“It didn’t take me long. There had been mice living in the firewall, which had caused a bit of damage. It apparently broke down and was pushed into a shed. It was 20 years to the day when I pulled it out and it sat in my other shed for 3 years before I started on it. That’s why it’s in such good order — it’s been kept in a shed for so long and still is.”