Local Heroes and National Champions Throw Down in Midhirst — My Take on an Epic Day of Offroad Racing - story and photos by Philip Hagan. 

What a day out at Midhirst! From the very first heat to the final lap, we saw an awesome mix of local talent and national champions going head-to-head — and I had a front-row seat to all of it.

The Taranaki drivers really turned it on for the home crowd. Lance Fox (U70), sitting third in the Ultra4 /U championship, was gunning hard all day, clearly eyeing that podium finish. Brendon Old (333), a two-time ProBuggy /3 National Champ, was absolutely flying — especially impressive given the stacked fields, with every heat starting nine cars deep! Then there was Chris Trundle (881), a true veteran, giving none other than three-time ProTruck champ Nick Hall a serious run for his money. And young Jack Rice (1NZ), the current Junior NZ Champ, showed exactly why he’s leading KiwiModified /M after round 1, fending off constant pressure from Lachlan McWatt (M31) — it was a battle worth watching every lap!

But Midhirst wasn’t just a locals’ game — the national championship contenders came to play, and they weren’t holding back. Nick Hall (861) and Chris Trundle (881) had an epic fight all day long in ProTruck /8 — and what a show they put on. Carl Ruiterman (S22), three-time Ultra4Turbo /S champ, was in a league of his own, delivering a clinic in every heat. Peter Gordon (457), the lone Raptor /4, didn’t just show up — he dominated and walked away with another trophy. Lachlan McWatt (M31) was relentless in chasing down Jack Rice, and Daynom Templeman (193) was as unchallenged as it gets in Pro1 /1, taking every heat in stride. Meanwhile, Neil Coutts (U32/NZ2), the reigning Ultra4 /U champ, was untouchable — outright wins all day and a clear grip on the class lead.

One of the standout performances for me was Mark Goldstone in ProBuggy /3 — a former Challenger champ who’s now completely owning ProBuggy, looking unstoppable.

Daynom Templeman (193) was crushing Pro1 /1, but it wasn’t without pressure. Ash Kelly (192), piloting the ex-Tony McCall VW Cougar (with that glorious three-litre engine), was pushing hard and making Daynom work for it — great to see that intensity back in the class!

ProTruck /8 was pure fireworks. Nick Hall and Chris Trundle — wow. Whatever Chris has done to that diesel Nissan Safari, it is hauling. I still can’t get over how fast that thing was moving.

Of course, no offroad race day is complete without some carnage — cars rolling, some limping home, others just plain running out of talent. That’s offroad racing. As we say, “It is what it is.” By the third heat, we were definitely seeing the toll, with fields starting to thin out.

Ultra4Turbo /S was another fun one to watch — Carl Ruiterman might have been out front, but new kids on the block like Noah Hutchinson (S02) and Jayden Cassidy (S27) were hanging on and battling each other hard. That’s how champions are made — trial by fire!

In ProLite /5, Brad Scott and his green Cougar looked fast and clean, giving Brayden Symes (548) a good fight. And running at the same time were the Challengers and Raptors. Peter Gordon, out there as the lone Raptor, was doing the Stormtrooper name proud — taking max points both rounds. The formula seems to work for now!

Speaking of lone warriors, Arnie Jones in the Baja /9 — the ex-Maurice Bain Crumco Baja — was absolutely tearing it up with that V6 Volkswagen engine. It’s quick, it’s loud, and yeah, we’d love to see him push just a bit harder, but no complaints about watching that thing fly through the air!

KiwiTruck racing was one of my personal highlights. Two divisions — the beginner /J class for the little ones, and the KiwiModified /M for the older kids who are ready to send it. Watching Jack Rice (1NZ) and Lachlan McWatt (M31) nose-to-tail all day was next level. Lachlan was all over Jack like glue — one mistake and it was his, but Jack just wasn’t giving him an inch. Fantastic stuff.

Pro1 /1 — again, Daynom Templeman is the man to beat, but Brett Vanner (152) and Ash Kelly (192) kept him honest. Good, hard racing there.

Now, one of the best moments for me was ProTruck /8 when Nick Hall and Chris Trundle went head-to-head. Something must’ve happened to Nick in Heat 4 — maybe a tangle with Trundle? — because Nick fell back, and that opened up a whole new race. Suddenly, Daynom Templeman from Pro1 /1, starting half a lap back, was catching up to Nick. So now we had a battle between two titans from different classes — and it was on. They both dug deep, and watching them slug it out was worth the price of admission alone.

And then ProBuggy /3 — what a way to finish! Brendon Old (333) nailed it from the front row in the last heat. Eight cars left, and Brendon just left them for dust. No one even close. Mark Goldstone fought through to second, and Andrew Green (341) held third like a champ.

All in all, a cracking day. Plenty of thrills, some spills, and a whole lot of fierce racing. Can’t wait for the next round!


— for further information or any comment on this story, please contact the ORANZ Promotions Officer, Tony McCall (see website for contact details)


The TRUNDLES 2025 New Zealand Offroad Racing Championship hits the Taranaki Offroad Racing Club - TORC at 10am on Saturday the 8th of March. Set your GPS (or Maps App) to 224 Croydon Road, Midhirst, Taranaki.

In Association with CT CIVIL, 4WDBits, V-Dub Shoppe & TruckFIX.

Entry Forms online at: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfPuip9ZNlHBd5H4WVFleKPS0quoXF74uVybO2fK9Rh3xGp6g/viewform?usp=header​​​​​​​

Mickey Thompson New Zealand Offroad Grand Prix – Round 1 of the CT Civil New Zealand Offroad Racing Championship & Introducing the Dunlop Rally-SprintDate: Saturday, 1st February 2025Time: 10:30amLocation: Colin Dale Park, 87 Prices Road, Wiri, AucklandHosted by: Counties Manukau Offroad Racing Club

Only Days to Go – Don’t Miss the Thrill!

The countdown is on for the Mickey Thompson New Zealand Offroad Grand Prix, taking place this Saturday, 1st February at Colin Dale Park, Manukau. This is your chance to witness some of the most exciting off-road racing in New Zealand as the CT Civil New Zealand Offroad Racing Championship kicks off with a bang! Racing starts at 10:30am – so make sure you're there to see all the high-speed action!


THE HOME OF OFF ROAD RACING IN NEW ZEALAND

Off road racing is New Zealand’s most exciting, friendly and dirty motorsport, with people from all ages and backgrounds coming together to race modified vehicles through sand, bush and farmland in short course and endurance formats.

Drivers build or buy their vehicles, making extensive modifications to suspension, drive trains and powerplants. Often a family tradition, many competitions include second and third-generation racers. 

ORANZ oversees the National Series and provides support to the 10 local clubs around New Zealand. The 13 ORANZ National Series classes cater for different types of vehicles and levels of modification.

ABOUT ORANZ​​​​​​​


ORANZ was founded in 1984 as the governing body for an exciting new sport. Since then off road racing has expanded into a strong community of drivers and enthusiasts, with ORANZ guiding the professionalism and safety of the sport. Run in partnership with local off road racing clubs, the ORANZ National Off Road Racing Series attracts drivers from all over New Zealand.

Back in In the early 80s, with a passion for off road racing and as organiser of the Bug Inn VW racing events, Ian Foster was hungry to win a New Zealand title. A national title required a national body, so he invited people from clubs all over the country to the Raceway Motel in Taupō and formed ORANZ. The hotel proprietor, Mr Barry Burgess, donated the National Champion Trophy, which is still presented each season to the driver with the largest accumulated points total of the season.

PREMIER SPONSOR​​​​​​​​​​​​​

CT Civil are a sewer and stormwater contractor, specialising in desludging, dredging, stormwater & sewer rehabilitation, lightweight grout and trenchless pipe installation. 

The generous ongoing support of CT Civil is integral to the success of off road racing in New Zealand and enables ORANZ to provide professional support to our local clubs nationwide.

OUR SERIES PARTNERS
There is no sport without sponsorship! We appreciate the ongoing support of our series partners.

Enter online, and stay up to date with the latest driver information.

View the official 2025 CT Civil ORANZ National Championship race dates and the 2025 CT Civil individual New Zealand Title race dates. 

ORANZ NATIONAL SERIES RACE CLASSES​​​​​​​
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Space frame Offroad Race Car with unlimited modifications to suspension, drive train and powerplant.

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Space frame Offroad Race Car, 1640cc maximum displacement engines of any manufacturer, unlimited suspension and drivetrain modifications​​​​​​​.

Modified Production 4×4 vehicles. Limited engine modifications and unlimited suspension modifications.​​​​​​​

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Space frame Offroad Race Car, 1321cc maximum displacement engines of any manufacturer, unlimited suspension and drive train modifications.​​​​​​​

Space Frame Offroad Race Car. Standard air-cooled VW 1200cc engine, Standard VW Swing-Axle Gearbox, Standard VW 1960’s Kombi Front Suspension.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Unlimited modification 4×4 or 2wd Truck class. Any engine configuration, any Drivetrain, any suspension modifications.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Baja Bug Class, Full car body of any manufacturer on the standard manufacturers floor pan (chassis or sub-frame). unlimited engine, drivetrain and suspension modifications.

Space frame Offroad Race Car, Motorcycle engine, no engine size limits, unlimited modifications to suspension, drive train and powerplant.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Space Frame Offroad Race Car. Standard air-cooled VW 1600cc engine, Standard VW Swing-Axle Gearbox, Standard VW 1960’s Kombi Front Suspension.
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Exhibition Class





Approved Factory produced naturally aspirated UTV up to 1000cc. No engine modifications, standard transmission and clutch. Some bolt on modifications permitted.​​​​​​​

Modified UTVs from approved manufacturers up to 1500cc for naturally aspirated engines or up to 1000cc factory production turbo engines.

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Junior Kiwi Truck. Single seat mini race truck with 9hp 270cc 4 stroke. Restricted to minimum age of 6 years old to maximum of 15 years old.
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Modified Kiwi Truck. Single seat mini race truck with 200cc 4 stroke farm bike motor. Restricted to minimum age of 10 years old to maximum of 15 years old.

DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL ORANZ APP​​​​​​​

Get the latest off road race events, alerts and drivers updates direct to your phone. Download on the App Store or Google Play.