Ross Smith—Living in Carterton at 2005.

He started riding in 1948 at 18 years old at Taita followed by Solway, Waiwakaiho and Palmerston North..  He stopped racing when he was 35 after speedway, scrambling, beach racing and hill climbing.

Was three times in the 6 man 350 class North V South Island scramble round in 1961 with Joe George, Don Rutherford and others. Drove No. 29 Rugby powered Midget owned by Sid Jensen’s Father but only for few meetings at Palmerston North and one at Waiwakaiho.

After 1963 became an ACU steward. Two other brothers were also ACU stewards.  One of his brothers won the NZ road racing side car championship 3 years running.  Father, Bud Smith, rode grass track including at Levin and Foxton Race Course’s in 1931 on a Douglas.

When he visited Waiwakaiho it was with Kiwi Cribb and he always arrived early and had a couple of beers with the handicappers.  Then he rode quietly in unimportant races and “went for it” in the final races of which there were two each night. He invariably won them. Cunning!

His last night at Waiwakaiho he had Morrie Dunn there as well who held the one mile world record at the time (set at Palmerston North) and this meant Ross had to work a bit harder but he still won.

This is the midget car Ross drove in the 1948 to 1950 seasons.