New promoters to revamp stadium, tracks at Ruapuna | Canterbury Sport | Surfing, Rugby, Soccer, Football, Cricket in Canterbury

Ruapuna speedway will have a new look next season.

New promoters Speedworx Promotions plan to give the stadium a facelift and combine the car and solo tracks in one. Ruapuna installed a separate infield track for the bikes about nine years ago.

However, it will be grassed over and replaced be a new outer track surface suitable for every class, says Speedworx spokesman Ross Pickersgill.

"Three world-class riders have come off that big track, and the reality is that it is not good spectator viewing on the small track," he said.

The surface of the new combo track has yet to be decided, but Pickersgill said for special solo or car races, the track would be prepped accordingly.

"The whole stadium will get a major upgrade, and we'll throw quite a bit of money at it," he said.

The promoters would also push the corporate facilities which had been totally underused, he said.

Speedworx was awarded a three-year contract by the Christchurch Speedway Association last week after last year's giddy but short-lived flirtation with the Western Springs promoters.

Pickersgill and his wife Anna a former Woodford Glen competitor have had a long association with Ruapuna as sponsors of solos and cars in every class except midgets.

As well as the Pickersgills, former sprintcar driver Myles Forsey and Ray Baughan, one of Ruapuna's top midget drivers, are involved in Speedworx.

Ruapuna has had an ill-fated run with the weather for many of its big meetings in recent seasons.

The 2007-08 season will run a month and a half longer, starting later about the end of November and finishing at the end of April, said Pickersgill.