Who are CKNZ?

About Us

Classic Karts NZ (CKNZ) has been established to ensure the preservation of all karts from across the eras right up to and including karts manufactured into the 2000’s. For a kart to be eligible for CKNZ it must be at least 25 years old and presented in a state as close as possible to how it was originally manufactured.

Due to the range of engines which became available to the market over the years the engine choice is relatively relaxed as many of the kart frames when manufactured could be supplied with any number of engine types. Engines like chassis’, must also be at least 25 years old.

CKNZ are keen for the karts to be run and displayed so participation is encouraged and many of the clubs, especially across the North Island, are keen to host CKNZ for club events.

Our focus is on having some fun, socialising, running our karts in a non-competitive environment, encouraging the saving of and reconditioning of karts from across the ages and being on the track without performance pressure while ensuring we meet the safety requirements of Kartsport NZ.

History

Karting in New Zealand first started in 1959 and rapidly grew across the country with most of the karts homebuilt with a wide range of generally provided two-stroke engines.

It wasn’t until the early 1960’s that professionally manufactured karts started to appear on the scene and around the same time many of the kart clubs started to upgrade their tracks from dirt to tar seal.

This changed the kart design significantly as the high wheel karts were not very effective on the sealed tracks so this led to the introduction of smaller wheeled karts and a more standardisation of the engines being used.