Russell Joblin always had a passion for speed right from an early age, so putting that passion onto the speedway track was a natural process. Russell’s career began in the late 1970’s when he purchased a Three Quarter Midget. After a few seasons doing the rounds at Stratford Speedway, the smash-and-bash appeal of the Stockcar class was where he excelled.

“Remembered for his achievements in the big-winged 8s Kuriger, Joblin actually won his first major championship in a flat chassis in 1982/83. The 82/83 Grand Prix was held at his home track in Stratford, and Joblin triumphed with a win over two of his Scrapper team mates, Keith Simpson and Paul Urlich. 1983/84 saw a new car, but that only lasted one season before he slipped behind the wheel of the fastest stockcar that had ever been built at this stage. Joblin triumphed again at the Grand Prix in 84/85, but had to settle for third place in the New Zealand’s at Rotorua. 1985/86 saw Joblin virtually untouchable, firstly winning the North Islands (again at his home track), before he swept all before him at the 1986 New Zealand Championships at Baypark. The car was sold at the conclusion of the meeting, and Joblin retired at the top of his game. He did have the odd comeback drive which included the 1988 World 240s, and even represented the Scrappers again in 1991, eight years after his first triumph”
‘The Grand Slam’ By Tim Savell, New Zealand Dirt Track Racing, December 2007

Russell also represented New Zealand at the World F1 Stockcar Final in England. At the end of the 1985/86 season, he again teamed up with Peter Kuriger to build a New Zealand styled Spaceframe car. The main components of the chassis were built in Kurigers’ Opunake workshop, and shipped across to England. The car was completed at the workshop of Graham and Chris Elwell. The Elwells also supplied the Chev V8 power-plant. The radical new design looked the part, but unfortunately, performance wise, the car was a real handful. Early into the World Final at Coventry, Russell got mixed up in a skirmish and took the leader Stuart Smith out of the race. This also resulted in a DNF for the 8nz car. The only real time the 8nz Kuriger showed some promise during the tour, was at a meeting in Holland, of which was raced on tarmac. After qualifying well for the Final, Russell was well in the hunt to take a Feature win, until a blown right-rear tyre ended his chances.

As mentioned above, Russell did have the odd comeback drive, but his attention was primarily focused on Family life and running the Farm. The next generation has proven to be just as competitive, with all of Russell’s sons making names for themselves throughout the country. All three boys learnt their craft racing Karts at the local Waitara track. They all enjoyed success on a local and National level.

Eldest son Simon, along with former racer, and long time supporter of speedway, Russell Hotter (Hotter Engineering), purchased the 3nz Toyota V8 Kuriger Superstock, previously campaigned by Roydon Collingwood. It didn’t take long for Simon to find some form. In his rookie season, the 72s Superstock qualified for every major championship, which included a top 10 finish at his very first New Zealand Champs in Gisborne, and a 5th placing at the New Zealand Grand Prix on his home track.

Throughout the next couple of seasons, Simon continued to shine, with his first major win coming at the John Webster Memorial Championship held at Auckland’s Waikaraka Park. The 2005/06 season was to be a turning point in Simon’s speedway career. He narrowly placed 2nd at the North Island Championships in Wanganui, then followed it up with an emphatic win at the World 240 Championships in Rotorua. This win qualified Simon to take part in the World F1 Final, 20 years after Russell completed in the same event.

Unfortunatley Simon was involved in an incident early into the race, and failed to finish.
A year later, Simon made history. A one-point victory at the New Zealand Championships in Dunedin, put both Russell and Simon into the record books, by becoming the first, and so far the only Father/Son duo to win the title. Since that emphatic victory, things havn’t quite gone as well for Simon. Although he placed 3rd North Island Champs at Waikaraka, the 2008/09 season was one to be forgotten. This year Simon hopes to be back to his winning ways, and will campaign a brand new Keith Gill, Toyota powered car.

Scott, who has arguably been the most successful to date, joined the Three Quarter Midget ranks midway through the 2001/02 season. After a quick stint in a Honda powered Harris chassis, Scott purchased a new Terminator chassis, built by Mike Robbins of New Plymouth. The T.Q numbers at Stratford were thin to none, so it was decided that the team would race out of Western Springs in Auckland.

The new chassis, combined with a new Kerry Rowe Kawasaki engine, resulted in some great performances. After a heavy crash early on in the season, Scott picked up his first big win by walking away with the historic Heritage Shield. That same year, after a number of serious crashes, he also won the New Zealand Grand Prix. In only his 3rd full season of racing, Scott also became a New Zealand Champion. In a superior display of driving, the 52a TQ easily won the Nelson hosted title with two wins and a second placing in the three heat finals. In dominant season, Scott also won the Masters, the Springs National Series, and was runner-up at the North Island Championships.

The next season however, he wasn’t quite as successful. After losing the New Zealand Title due a broken crankshaft, he destroyed the much successful Terminator chassis during the opening heat of the Masters in Christchurch. He did however still manage to win the New Zealand Grand Prix in Nelson, and the North Island Championships in Napier. He purchased a brand new Terminator for the 2006/07 season, and was again in dominant form.

He narrowly had to settle for 2nz at the New Zealand Championships in Greymouth, and again won the North Island title in Gisborne. After a slow start to the new 2007/08 season, Scott was crowned New Zealand TQ Champion for the second time, after a hard fought win at his new home track in the Hawkes Bay.
A new challenge was on the cards for Scott in the 2008/09 season. He retired from the Three Quarter Midget class, and followed both his brother and father into the unpredictable world of Superstock racing. His weapon of choice was a brand new Keith Gill chassisied car, powered by an American built Ford SVO. Although

Scott only raced a handful of meetings due engine complications, the potential was well and truly shown at the New Zealand Championships at Woodford Glen, where he qualified for the final 26 and held one of the quickest lap times of the meeting. With the engine dramas hopefully sorted, the 2009/10 looks promising for Scott and the 52p Superstock.