Classics - Superbikes/F1 - 600 - Sidecars - Supermoto - Formula 3

History of the Paeroa Battle of the Streets

The history of the Yamaha Battle of the Streets race meetings been a regular event for past 16 years and gone from strength to strength. The idea and the beginning for this event was over "a pint of beer" in the Paeroa RSA Club in 1991 when three men were discussing the future prospects of Paeroa because times were changing and everyone was feeling the pinch.

It only takes a little Kiwi ingenuity and Bob Jeffery who'd raced motorcycles around New Zealand suggested a motorcycle race meeting to get the town on the New Zealand events map. Within 15 months the town mapped out a 1.52 km circuit which became known as the "Hacksaw Circuit" owing to it's shape with riders reaching speeds of 280 kph and sidecars close to 220 kph along the main straight. The first race meeting was held on the third Sunday for February 1992 and the racing continues at Paeroa.

In 1992, the spectator count was 8000 and rose to 11,000 by 1998. Today the spectators have reached numbers of 13,000 - 15,000 for this one day event in the country town of Paeroa. The events the largest sporting occasion in the Thames Valley and one of the largest motor sport meetings in New Zealand. Yamaha Motor New Zealand Limited hold the naming rights to the event and their support continues with another three year contract.

This is a spectacular and fun day out for all the family and 'The Trust' work tirelessly each year to improve safety at the circuit with the new addition of deer fencing on the main straights as an added layer of protection for the public. Overall this is one fun and awesome day out for all the family and all those into motorcycle racing. You won't get this close to the action anywhere else for a circuit.

The comparison in photos from 2003 reveal how this motorcycle events really grown in numbers for both spectators and competitors more every year. My first ever wheelie shot was the bike (80) taken as it crossed over the finish line.

18th February 2007

Andrew Stroud

Paeroa's annual motorcycle event in 2007 was an eye opener and the pace in moving about and to different locations around the street circuit can be a slow process due to the density of the crowds. The new addition of deer mesh fencing for the added protection and safety of the increase of spectators moved like the Mexican Wave up and down the street.

No where to get above the crowds to get clear shots these two guys make the gap and help me up onto a narrow ledge where a nice balancing act is effective using a metal bar to anchor one foot. This was an interesting view and I got some interesting shots. To redo Hacksaw corner from the exact same spot in 2003 was also an added bonus and the Robert Holden Memorial 10 Lap race was pure adrenaline and addictive!