Wanganui Cemetery Circuit: A Motorcycle Racing Legacy
The Wanganui Cemetery Circuit, a unique “Round-the-Houses” motorcycle race, first roared to life on Boxing Day, 1951, in Wanganui, New Zealand. Visionaries like prominent businessman and former racer Percy Coleman alongside the Summer Carnival Committee and Sports Motorcycle Club (later the Wanganui Motorcycle Club) brought this dream to fruition, integrating it into broader summer festivities.
The inaugural event saw wins for Syd Jensen and Dene Hollier, both of whom later achieved success in motor racing. The first decade was largely dominated by Wanganui’s own Rod Coleman, New Zealand’s first Isle of Man TT winner (1954), who secured five feature race victories. Early years also featured a strong contingent of regular, competitive riders from across New Zealand. International presence was notable, with figures like Aucklander Peter Murphy, an Isle of Man veteran, taking wins in 1955 and 1957.
A significant challenge arose in 1963 when the circuit’s existence was threatened by city traffic changes. An attempt to move the race to Moutoa Gardens proved unsuccessful, leading to a two-year hiatus. However, in 1966, after a re-evaluation by the City Council and Traffic Department, the much-loved Boxing Day races resumed at the original Cemetery Circuit.
The mid-to-late 1960s saw a dramatic shift in motorcycle technology, with Japanese and Italian machines dominating the racing world, replacing the declining British industry. This trend was mirrored at the Cemetery Circuit, as riders like John Hempleman achieved wins on Japanese bikes. International stars also began to grace the circuit, including American-based Englishman Ron Grant, the first overseas solo winner in 1969.
The 1970s marked the circuit’s most celebrated era with the introduction of the International Marlboro Series (1973/74-1978). This brought a surge in prize money, record crowds, and a roster of international racing legends. The circuit gained a reputation as a “controversial, primitive” but thrilling street course. Highlights included legendary battles between riders like Pat Hennen and Greg Hansford, and the emergence of New Zealand talents such as Graeme Crosby. Pat Hennen’s dominance, including multiple Marlboro Series wins and a long-standing lap record, cemented his place in the circuit’s history.
Later years in the series and into the 1980s saw the rise of big-bore Japanese production racers, leading to intensely close and exciting battles. Sidecar racing also gained immense popularity, heavily influenced by Australian teams. The Wanganui Cemetery Circuit continued to be a challenging and spectacular stage for both local and international motorcycle racing talent, constantly adapting to the evolving landscape of the sport.
In the latter years of the Marlboro Series and through to the turn of the fourth decade there was another phenomenon unfolding – close-action racing brought about by the increasingly popular big-bore Japanese multi’s, and again the Cemetery Circuit was the perfect stage for the country’s top production racers. Bill Biber, Peter Stark, Peter Fleming, Glen Williams, Vince Sharpe, Eric Bone, Alan de Latour, Robbie Dean and the Wellington Motorcycle trio of Neville Hiscock, his younger brother David and teenage star Robert Holden thrilled the large crowds with their hard-at-it, knee-to-knee racing.
During those same years, sidecar racing also gained a huge boost in popularity with a lot of Australian influence especially through Storky Holmes, Peter Campbell and Stan Bayliss. The list of names of Howard Gregory, Shorty Reay, Phil Sowersby, Alan Francis, Charlie Dolph, Paul Corbett, Dick Leppard, Gordon Skilton and Lew Murray read like an honours board of New Zealand sidecar racing.