POTATOES!!! This is what crosses my mind every time I drive along the Christchurch Southern Motorway and glance towards the Addington Raceway below. I have no idea where I read that the land there once was fields of potatoes but the thought has never left me. Inspired by The Press’ article about the Addington Raceway …
On 26 December 1905, the Automobile Association hosted the Great Automobile Gymkhana at Addington Raceway. 30 cars featured. Numerous races took place, including the one believed to be the first stand alone car race in New Zealand. The Automobile Association – known today as the AA – was only 2 years old at the time …
In 1899, the land (once potato fields) that Addington Raceway would call home was secured by lease from the city’s Sunnyside Hospital. The man behind the deal was Christchurch’s 15th Mayor, the Honourable Charles Louisson. Working on the behalf of The Metropolitan Trotting Club – who had been using Lancaster Park – they were finally …
