What began as an online simulation racing group has grown into one of New Zealand motorsport’s most passionate media voices, and now, it’s earned national recognition.
Kokpit Media, which shines a spotlight on speedway and other forms of motorsport across the country, claimed two accolades at the recent Speedway NZ Awards: Best Online Presence and Best Media Show.
Presenter Rino Wilkinson, from Paeroa, said the group had humble beginnings as a simulation racing community, where drivers predominantly raced speedway cars on New Zealand tracks.
Founder Craig Booker then came up with the idea to start a media show, and the pair quickly became co-presenters, creating an online interview platform where tracks, event organisers, and drivers could promote themselves.
Since then, they have conducted numerous interviews and travelled extensively across the country. Beyond media coverage, they have also organised fundraising events, raising close to $70,000 combined for the NZ Cancer Society, Heart Kids NZ, and Cystic Fibrosis.
Throughout it all, Rino said, Kokpit Media’s main focus has been to “be positive” – and this ethos even led them to launching an anti-bullying campaign.
“Like many other sports, the negative side that we read on many social media platforms saw us both decide that we’d had enough.
“We thought: ‘let’s put our sport in a great spotlight and celebrate everyone – from the track committee, promotors, volunteers, drivers, crews, families, emergency services, photographers and live-streaming companies’.”
Kokpit Media was nominated for two categories at the recent Speedway NZ Awards, and ended up being finalists for Best Online Presence and Best Media Show.
Rino said he and Craig were up against some tough competition, including CRC Motorsport, and were “blown away” when they were announced the winners.
“Craig – and he’ll hate me for saying this – got emotional in his speech as he’s never ever experienced anything like this before,” Rino said. “The applause and handshakes, the congratulations, were overwhelming. It was a brilliant night. We were both over the moon.”
Rino said the awards were a proud moment that recognised the pair’s hard work behind the scenes.
“We do all of this off our own backs and out of our own pockets which shows – to me – the passion we both have for our sport.”
For Rino himself, speedway has been a big aspect of his life since the late-80s, and he recalled days “watching from behind the fence at the original Baypark”.
He, alongside his wife or his family, have travelled to attend the NZ Superstock Teams Championship in Palmerston North for the past 37 years in a row.
“Next season we’re off to Christchurch,” he said. “Talk about being addicted to the racing and speedway hot dogs.”
Overall, Rino – who is also a commentator at Huntly Speedway – told The Profile he enjoyed everything about the world of speedway – from the racing, to the people.
“It’s something I count down to during the off-season and can’t wait until October comes around.
“What’s next for Kokpit Media?” he said. “It’s to keep promoting our sport, continue doing our weekly interviews with everyone, and still keep enjoying ourselves.”
DETAILS: Kokpit Racing and Media has a show every Wednesday evening at 7:30pm on Facebook and YouTube.
BY KELLEY TANTAU
