-Josie Spillane
According to the Encyclopaedia, the first NZ motor race was held in Christchurch in 1901, so it’s fair to say that NZ has had a long and illustrious history with the sport. However, to me, the landscape of NZ motorsport radically changed on a hot Sunday 31 March 2013 when Highlands Motorsport Park officially opened in Cromwell. And Josie Spillane Chief Executive Officer at Highlands, Hampton Downs, Taupo Motorsport Park and Game Over was there to see it.
“I went to the opening of Highlands in Cromwell,” says Josie. “I had no idea what was happening on the track, yet I was captivated by it all and I said [to my husband] I can’t believe this is my backyard and I’m not part of it.” Several phone calls, a little networking and an intense meeting later, and Josie became part of the Highlands team.
“Tony [Quinn] brought me on to develop the GT membership and sell signage. I was mesmerised by Highlands from the very beginning, there’s something inherently special about it. And I enjoyed the challenge of TQ immensely from the start, he’s very charismatic but fiercely driven.”
Josie says that from there on in ‘things got real, real fast’. “Nothing’s been done like Highland’s ever before, certainly not in Australasia. Mike Sentch, the track manager at the time drove the build, but what I was able to do was commercialise it. And with the team, give it its heart.”
Apparently things didn’t start out well for Josie, with a week-six boardroom roasting from Tony, however, with his guidance and ‘motivation’ things got back on track real soon.
“I can remember Tony telling me, ‘we’re going to change the landscape of motorsport in New Zealand’ and I thought that sounded great, so I used that in all my spiels. Six months later we did the Highlands 101 and the Highlands journey had well and truly begun.”
Josie says that what she didn’t realise at the time, was there was a massive problem with ‘this 35 year old woman in motorsport with no experience’ – what the hell was Tony Quinn doing?
“Like anything in life, some things are what they are. You either can make them work for you, or you make them an issue. I’m always a firm believer ‘how can I, not why can’t I.”
Over the years (and with a few screw ups) Josie has certainly mastered the motorsport trade, saying that in particular she’s learnt the business of motorsport.
“I’m very good at the business of motorsport. I do observe and I do listen even though I talk a lot. I’m very proud that I get to hold a wonderful position of guardianship for the sport in New Zealand.” She adds, “I think what motorsport does for people is amazing. Both on and off the track.”
She cites Supercars in April is a case in point.
“It was one of the most insane, intense, stressful, terrifying and rewarding moments of my career. It was incredible and not only did Supercars and our team put on an event for NZ, for Taupo and the motorsport community, but we also made an announcement about our support of Street Smart with Tony donating a whopping $750,000 to change the needle on road deaths in NZ, with hands-on, practical driver training for the youth – What we’re doing is making a difference in people’s lives.”
As for ‘changing the landscape of NZ motorsport’, not only has Josie and the team been able to create three desirable international racetracks, but they have also managed to attract a phenomenal list of race meets.
“Good attracts great, it’s just momentum. And people trust us.” She says they’ve got five golden rules – Use it, don’t abuse it. Treat it as your own. Leave it better than you found it. Be true to your word. Don’t be a dickhead and don’t tolerate dickheads either. It sounds simple, it certainly would not be signed off in a corporate HR team, but we don’t believe in over complicating things unnecessarily.”
Josie ends by saying, “my most favourite saying is a reflection of what we’ve done, ‘it always seems impossible until it’s done’, and impossible is what we’ve achieved.”
Dave Mcleod
Motoring Writer
