The Battle of the Streets Motorcycle Races

battle of the streets - PaeroaThis classic race meeting returns to Paeroa on Sunday 22nd of February for the 24th year – a unique opportunity to race at high speeds around the streets of Paeroa.

The event is the largest sporting occasion in the Thames Valley and one of the largest motor sport meetings in New Zealand.

The 1.52km circuit known as the ‘hacksaw’ due to its shape, starts in the main street, before going along Normanby Road into Arney Street, over the hill into Princes Street, before linking with Wharf Street and coming back along straight to the hairpin opposite the Railway Reserve.

There are 11 classes that run throughout the day:

  • Post Classics Pre ’82
  • Formula 2
  • Junior Classics
  • Senior Classics
  • Superlite
  • Formula Paeroa
  • Sidecars
  • Post Classic Sidecars
  • Post Classic Pre ’89
  • BEARS
  • Supermoto

Riders reach speeds of 280kph and sidecars close to 220kph along the main straight. Crowd numbers have reached 15,000 in recent years and to keep everybody safe the race circuit will be ringed by six foot high fencing. However, there will be loads of clear signage at all entrances into the venue.

The first Battle of the Streets meeting in 1992 returned some $12,000 to the clubs, groups and organisations which provide their members as the volunteer workers. Since then this figure has risen and over the last 20 years more than $500,000 in donations has gone back into the community.