In the world of motorsports, few experiences can match the adrenaline rush of sprinting around a dirt track at breakneck speeds. Today, we sit down with Steve Cowling, a seasoned speedway racer with a passion for the sport that’s second to none. In this exclusive interview, we delve deep into Steve’s racing journey, triumphs, and what it takes to be a true champion.
Age: 39 Birthplace: Matamata Living: Tauranga Years Racing: 16
Home Track: Baypark Speedway Best Feature finish: 1st
Classes Raced: Saloon, Super Saloon
Sponsors: Tauranga ITM PermaPine LTD, BaseUp, Les Harrison Hiabs, TuneUp Automotive Tauriko, Performance Engineering Solutions, CB2 Chassis, Colin Amrein Contracting, Performance Autos, Fortress Fasteners, Heater Design Studio, Fastmaster Enterprises
Q1: Every great journey begins with a single step when did you start racing and how did you get into it? For years I had been helping crew on my Dad Maurice, super saloon and then one day at work he came to me and said do you want to have a skid in the super saloon this weekend at Baypark. That was my first start in speedway racing.
Q2: What classes have you run over the years? Saloon, Super Saloon
Q3: In the world of racing, success comes in many forms. What are you most proud of in your racing career? The proudest achievement that I’ve had in racing was getting the 1NZ in the Super Saloon. To have my name written on the trophy amongst all the legends of our sport that I grew up watching was unreal to me and what made it even more special was my Dads name is on that trophy too.
Its also all the fans / friends that the sport has introduced me to over the years, I’ve been very lucky to meet some amazing people over the years.
Q4: What titles have you received while racing?
1NZ/2NZ/3NZ Saloon
1NZ/3NZ Super Saloon
Q5: What is your all-time favourite track to race at and why? I always enjoy racing at Kihikihi – we spent a lot of time there when we first were getting in speedway and it’s always fun racing there.
Q6: What do you hope to achieve this season? To be more consistent this season, we had some good runs last season but I feel I made some silly mistakes which cost us last season.
Q7: Success in racing isn’t just about speed; it’s about character what characteristics do you think are important to becoming successful in racing? Being very focused – being able to switch off all outside distractions and be focussed on the race and what you are doing in the car.
Q8: Race cars are constantly evolving. What is happening with your car in the off-season? Any major changes we should look out for once the season starts? We are currently assembling a new CB2 Chassis for me this season in our Cowling Motorsport workshop.
Q9: Speedway racing can be fast and dangerous. What do you think is one thing the fans will never understand until they are behind the wheel of a race car? The speed that things happen on the track and its not just about turning left, you only have a split second to make a decision and there not always the right decision.
Q10: What is your favourite race on the NZ race calendar? The NZ Championship is always the big meeting of the season but always look forward to Bayparks South Pacific meeting as it has a lot of history for our class.
Q11: What do you think of the changes and the way direction the speedway is moving at Baypark? I think they are doing a great job – think the fan zone is a great idea as the kids are the future of our sport.
Q12: Sponsors are the unsung heroes of racing. Tell us about your sponsors, what kind of business they run, and the support you get from them.
Tauranga ITM – Local building/fencing supply company that has been helping build the Bay Of Plenty for 20+ years.
Permapine – A leading manufacturer and supplier of Roundwood and CCA treated outdoor timber products in New Zealand.
BaseUp – A contracting provider that offers an impressive range of services and expertise to the residential, commercial and industrial sectors, allowing us to be the go-to, one stop shop for all Foundation, Concrete, Retaining and Landscaping services.
Les Harrison Hiabs – Provides the expertise and machinery you need to get the job done. They operate a large fleet of trucks, helping you get your machines, equipment or products from A to B. Whether it’s a large job, a small job or an odd job, we’ve got a truck and specialist that can move it – any time, anywhere.
All our other sponsors this season:
TuneUp Automotive Tauriko, Performance Engineering Solutions, CB2 Chassis, Colin Amrein Contracting, Performance Autos, Fortress Fasteners, Heater Design Studio, Fastmaster Enterprises
All of these sponsors play a critical role in keeping the Cowling Motorsport team going. Check them out and support those that support us
Q13: Behind every successful racer is a dedicated support team. Tell us about your support team.
We have been very fortunate at Cowling Motorsports to have had some great help throughout the years, Chris and I would not have been able to achieve these things in racing if it wasn’t for their help. We can’t thank them enough for the commitment and time that they have spent helping us. Some of our crew have been with us since Dad was racing. A special thanks must go to my Dad for all the hours he puts in and my lovely Wife and kids.
Q14 Final Words: What would you like to say to your fans and the wider Speedway community?
We love meeting our race fans – come on down to the pits before or after the meeting to say hi or grab a photo, merchandise or a sticker. Follow our Facebook page Cowling Motorsport for the latest updates.
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