Auckland TQs - ATQMA

What a night! 🖤💛🏁
Thank you to everyone who joined us for the Auckland TQs Awards Night — drivers, crews, families, volunteers, sponsors, and supporters. The energy, the laughs, the stories, the trophies… it was a brilliant way to wrap up the season.

A huge congratulations to all our award winners across the night — from our Driver & Club Awards to Performance Awards, Club Champs, and the big trophies. Every result is in the photo captions, so swipe through and celebrate the achievements.

Thank you again to everyone who makes this club what it is. Bring on an even bigger season ahead.

🏆 THE TROPHY CABINET: Post 5 — Competitor/Sportsperson of the Year 🏆
The countdown is almost complete! This is our final trophy spotlight before we pivot tomorrow to bring you live updates on the venue setup and behind-the-scenes prep for the big night.
To wrap up our trip through the cabinet, we are looking at the final, and arguably most respected, accolade a racer can receive: The Competitor/Sportsperson of the Year – Drivers’ Choice Award.

The Ultimate Sign of Respect
While calculators decide championships and panels judge presentation, this award holds a deeply special significance in our paddock. It is voted on entirely by the drivers themselves.
There is no higher praise in motorsport than the respect of the people you wheel-to-wheel race with at 100km/h. This award recognizes the competitor who truly embodies sportsmanship, skill, and camaraderie both on and off the track.

The recipient isn't just someone who is fast; they are acknowledged as:
▪︎ A phenomenal racer to compete against on the dirt.
▪︎ A fiercely strong, fair competitor.
▪︎ A helpful, constant presence within the TQ community who keeps our racing family strong.

A Roll Call of True Character
Looking back at the past winners since the 2010–2011 season, this trophy has traveled into the hands of some of the finest characters to ever wear an Auckland TQS suit:
☆ The Multi-Time Respect: Drivers like Gina Harris ('10–'11 & '13–'14) and Cole Morrison ('18–'19 & '20–'21) have earned this ultimate nod of respect from their peers multiple times.
☆ Family Operations: From Ryan Baker in 2016–2017 to Lawrence Baker the very next season, proving that sportsmanship runs deep in the dynasties of our club.
☆ The Modern Benchmarks: With Dylan Cooke taking the honours last season, the standard for what it means to be a "driver's driver" has never been higher.

Who Earned the Drivers Vote for 2025–2026?
With our season expanding across more tracks, longer travel times, and higher stakes, the camaraderie in the pits was tested like never before this summer. But true sportsmanship always rises to the top when the pressure is on.
Who did the drivers choose as their peer of the year? Who was the ultimate competitor on the track and the most helpful hand in the pits?
The votes are locked in. Find out who claims the ultimate peer-voted honor when the curtains go up! 🥂

🛠️ Tomorrow:Keep your eyes glued to our page as we take you behind the scenes with live updates on the venue setup as we transform the room for the ultimate celebration!

🏁 Raffle Tickets & Prize Packs Are Ready!
Empty the coin jar and dig out those couch coins — it’s time to win big!

💰 Over $1000 worth of prizes up for grabs
🎟️ Tickets available from Aaron or Troy

🏆 THE TROPHY CABINET: Post 4 — The Johnny Missen Trophy
⏲️​The countdown to the Auckland TQS Club Awards Night continues!
While our previous posts focused on historic championships, rookie battles, and pit lane pride, tonight’s spotlight is on an award that looks directly at the heart, hustle, and spirit of our drivers.

​Next up in the cabinet is an award that carries the name of a true founding father: The Johnny Missen Trophy, proudly donated by the Western Springs Speedway Supporters Club.

🖋​Honouring the Father of NZ TQ Racing
​You cannot tell the story of our sport without talking about Johnny Missen. Regarded as the absolute father of TQ racing in New Zealand, Johnny built the very first TQ all the way back in 1950. He then played a pivotal role in launching the TQ class at Western Springs Speedway in 1952.
​This trophy bridges that incredible history with the grid of today. It isn't decided by a calculator or a points chart—it specifically recognizes a competitor who shows immense promise. It is designed to be a powerful boost of encouragement for a driver to continue in the sport and strive for higher honors.

​Looking at the names etched into this silverware since Steven Smith first claimed it in the 2008–2009 season, it has a proven track record of spotting future heavyweights:
•​Kaz Townsend claimed it in 2009–2010, continuing a legendary club namesake.
•​Nathan Howard ('13–'14) and Hayden Guptill ('15–'16) both grabbed this trophy on their way to becoming elite, frontline competitors.
•​Modern standouts like Ben Morrison ('19–'20), and Jack Wilson ('23–'24) have all held this cup high.

​A Brutal Choice for 2025–2026
​With so many outstanding and talented racers in the TQ ranks this year—especially as we face tougher fields across more tracks—selecting just one recipient was no easy task for the committee.
​
​Who is taking home the ultimate encouragement award to kickstart their journey toward the history books? Find out when the wraps come off at the Awards Night! 🥂

​👉 Up Next in Post 5: We wrap up our countdown series with the final, ultimate accolade of respect: Sportsperson of the Year. Get your glad rags sorted, the celebration is almost here!
​

🏆 THE TROPHY CABINET: Post 3 — Best Presented Car and Crew 🏆
The countdown to the Auckland TQS Club Awards Night is heating up! Tonight, we are stepping away from the lap times and looking at the teams who set the standard before they even roll onto the grid.

Next up in the cabinet is all about pride, polish, and professionalism: The Best Presented Car and Crew Award.

More Than Just a Clean Race Car
This award isn't just about a shiny coat of paint. It takes a massive team effort to win this one. It’s about the hours spent under the garage lights scraping mud, the matching crew shirts, a spotless pit bay, and a car that looks like a masterpiece when it takes the track.

Looking back through the history since Kevin Hyde took the inaugural award in the 1988–1989 season, we have seen some legendary operations dominate this trophy:

The Benchmarks: Look no further than Steve Sutherland, who set an absolute standard of excellence by taking this award four years in a row from 2003 to 2007.

The Teams: Full operations like the LAW MAC Racing Team ('92–'93), the Alkris Team ('08–'09), and Pennington Motorsport ('21–'22) have shown what ultimate crew professionalism looks like.

Recent Standouts: In the modern era, Nathan Howard and Kayden Barker have gone back-to-back, while last season's winner, Regan Tyler, proved you can have the fastest car and the best-looking one on the grid.

Flashback: Show Us Your Favourites! 📸
Our cars have changed a lot over the decades, moving from classic shapes to the modern, aggressive pocket-rockets we race today—but the pride in presentation has never wavered.

We want to see the history! Drop a photo in the comments below of your favourite Auckland TQS car or crew from years gone by. Whether it’s an iconic look from the '90s, a 2000s classic, or a picture-perfect modern layout, post them up!

Who takes the crown for 2025–2026?
With our expansion across more tracks and busier schedules, keeping a car and crew looking pristine week in and week out has never been harder. Which team is taking home the bragging rights for the best-looking operation this year? Find out at the Awards Night! 🥂

👉 Up Next in Post 4: We shift our focus to a newer award that celebrates heart, grit, and raw potential on the track—the Johnny Missen Trophy. Stay tuned!

🏁 THE OFF-SEASON GRIND STARTS NOW! 🛠️
And just like that, the checkers have flown on another massive season. But while the tracks might be quiet, you know the sheds are absolutely humming. 🤫💥
The off-season is officially here, and teams across NZ are already stripping down the cars, ordering parts, and plotting their comeback strategies for the 2026-2027 season.
We want to show you some of this work over the off-season! We’re hitting the road to bring you behind-the-scenes access, but first, we need your help to map out our stops. 🗺️🎥
👇 DROP A COMMENT BELOW: 👇
Whose shed do you *really* want to see inside with us this winter?
Who is cooking up something serious under the hood?
Tag the driver, the crew, or the team you want us to visit! 👀

Rebuild SZN 🧰

# # 🏆 THE TROPHY CABINET: Post 2 — Rookie of the Year 🏆
The countdown to the **Auckland TQS Club Awards Night** continues!
Today, we shift our focus to the fresh blood—the drivers who strapped in for their first full season, threw caution to the wind, and made the establishment nervous.
Next up on the shelf is a trophy that represents the future of our club: **The Rookie of the Year Trophy, proudly donated by Max and Kath Gordon.**

# # # Past Winners
You only get one shot at winning this one. Look at the legends who picked up this silverware right at the start of their careers:
* **Tim Clark (1986–1987):** A definitive trailblazer who set the early benchmark for bursting onto the scene with immediate pace.
* **Bill Clarkson Jr. (1997–1998):** Came from a proud speedway pedigree and used his standout rookie campaign to launch a career that led to the Club Championship in 2002–2003.
* **Brad Mosen (2002–2003):** Before becoming a household name in NZ open-wheel racing, he was a teenage rookie setting our grid on fire, winning this and the Club Championship back-to-back.
* **Hayden Williams (2006–2007):** His rookie season gave us an immediate glimpse of the elite talent that would go on to win multiple national titles and international features.
* **Hayden Guptill (2014–2015):** Put on a masterclass in his debut year, translating that raw rookie speed directly into a Division 1 Club Championship just two seasons later.

# # # The Class of 2025–2026
Stepping into a TQ midget is no easy feat, and with our modern expansion across more tracks and more meetings, the learning curve has never been steeper.

This year, two standout drivers stepped up to take on the challenge:
* **Keiano Weir**
* **Leighton Todd**
Both of these drivers showed immense heart, adapted to every track thrown at them, and proved they belong on the grid with the best.

As we look at the blank space for the **2025–2026** engraving, the question remains: Did Keiano or Leighton do enough to claim the Rookie Trophy?

👉 **Up Next in Post 3:** We turn our attention away from the lap times and look at the teams turning heads before they even hit the track. Get ready for the **Best Presented Car and Crew** spotlight. Stay tuned!

🏆 THE TROPHY CABINET: Post 1 — The Club Champion 🏆
​The tools are down, the cars are in the sheds, and the countdown to the Auckland TQS Club Awards Night is officially on. Over the next few posts, we’re opening up the cabinet to look at the history behind the silverware our drivers have been fighting for all season.

​First up is the holy grail. The big one. The one we all race for: The Division 1 Club Champion Trophy.

​The Weight of History
​Donated by Reg Phillips, this iconic trophy was introduced when the club re-established its current form in the late 1980s. But its DNA goes right back to the very dawn of TQS racing in 1952.
​Look closely at the silverware and you’ll see a roll call of New Zealand speedway royalty etched into it since the 1988–1989 season.
​Bryce Townsend was the very first to carve his name into it, launching a legacy that includes an incredible five-year continuous stranglehold on the title from '96 to '01.
​It carries the massive weight of the Baker dynasty, from Lawrence in the '90s and 2000s to the modern dominance of Scott and Ryan.
​It holds names like Standring, Beale, Mosen, and Morrison, right up to the current era where Regan Tyler has put on a masterclass, claiming a spectacular three-peat over the last three seasons.

​A Changing Battleground
​Traditionally, the path to this trophy was simple, brutal, and localized—you had to conquer the hallowed dirt of Western Springs. Every single point was fought for on Saturday nights in Auckland.
​But as our club has evolved and expanded into the Waikato, the game has completely changed. Winning this championship today is a true marathon. It means traveling further, logging more meetings, and beating a bigger field of hungry drivers.
​To get your name on the Club Championship Trophy today, you have to be fast everywhere.

​As we prepare to engrave the line for the 2025–2026 season, the anticipation is electric. Will history record a four-peat dominance from Tyler Racing? Will a Baker reclaim the throne? Or are we about to etch a brand-new name alongside the giants of Auckland TQS history?
​Find out at the Awards Night! 🥂

​👉 Up Next in Post 2: We shift our focus to the future of the club as we look at the Rookie of the Year trophy. Who stepped up and made waves in their debut season? Stay tuned.

The Auckland TQs Awards Night is always a massive highlight on the calendar! 🏆✨
​A huge amount of work goes on behind the scenes—from sorting trophies and slideshows to coordinating photos and making some tough decisions. That’s why we are incredibly thankful when someone steps up to help ease the load!

​A massive thank you to Tracey Macdonald from Let's Party & Hire for offering to sort the decorations for us. We can’t wait to see what she has in store for us come June 13th at Naumi! 🥳🎈

​See you all there! 🙌 🏁