Life Member wins award

The Eastern Southland Car Club mark their 60th year during 2016 and it is entirely appropriate in such a momentous year that the accolades keep coming.

The Motorsport NZ Awards night held earlier this year saw Life Member of the club, Wade Paterson, receive the Motorsport New Zealand – Member D’Honneur.

Paterson is not the type of man who seeks awards. However while he does not seek them he has certainly accumulated a few. The latest is the highest honour that can be bestowed by Motorsport New Zealand – Member D’Honneur. It was the third such honour in the last twelve years, Wade having been awarded a Steward D’Honneur Award in 2004 and a Distinguished Service Award in 2011.

Reflecting on his latest accolade Wade sums it up in typically modest fashion, “I was gobsmacked and humbled, but honoured.”

However when you review his service to motorsport over the last forty-six years all his awards are certainly well deserved. Paterson got involved in motorsport when he joined the Eastern Southland Car Club in 1970.

“I was a young fella, I did club stuff. I have held most positions in the club. I am a past President, Secretary and Treasurer. I was made a Life Member of the Club in 2006 when the club celebrated its 50th. I did a little bit of circuit racing, it was very low key. I had the privilege of co-driving with Barry Robinson and Inky Tulloch before I gave up competing in 1997.”

Wade had also moved into motorsport stewarding in 1981 serving for many years before becoming the Area Steward for Area 5 from Rakaia south in 1998. He rose to the position of Chief Steward in December 2012. He remains Chief Steward today and has a role as the Chairman of the Motorsport Rules Committee. He is also the Chairman for the Summer Motor Racing Series and recently returned from chairing the Steward Panel at the Asia Pacific Queensland Rally. In between those commitments he still acts as a steward at a local level.

“I’ve made so many good friends and my roles have taught me a lot of skills. You pick up a lot on the way and learn a lot about people management,’’ says Paterson.

Wade’s latest award was a well-kept secret. It was also a very poignant moment as his wife Heather passed away in 2015. “Heather backed and encouraged me in everything I did. It was Heather who once said to me that motorsport was my second family. The support I had from within the sport when she was ill and when she passed bears that out. It is just a shame Heather was not here to see it and I dedicate it to her.”

Making the night even more special was the fact that he co-presented an Award Of Merit later in the evening to fellow Eastern Southland Car Club Member, David Kirk. “It was a thrill. I originally approached Kirky about being a steward and it was me that got Kirky into his role with the annual Summer Series.”

Away from motorsport Wade has served on the Southland Automobile Association Council and has been a past Chairman and also a member of the the National Council of the AA.

More recently he has also been the Convenor of the Hokonui Fashion Design Awards. He originally supported wife Heather in the role, her achievements also gaining her many awards including a QSM. When she passed Wade stepped into the Convenor’s role.

Looking back over the many highlights he has experienced Wade picks two special moments from his motorsport career. ”Getting Life Membership of the Eastern Southland Car Club was special – it is where it all started. He also remembers the best moment from his competition years. The 1984 Autosport Rally in Canterbury with Inky was particularly memorable. We went into the final stage 20 seconds behind Neil Allport and won the rally by 11 seconds after 200 kilometres.

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