Verne Grove (Vernon Francis Grove) on his motorcycle at the Kilbirnie Speedway. Verne regularly raced at Kilbirnie and was also a member of the Evans Bay Yacht and Motor Boat Club; following his death in 1933 the Vernon Grove Memorial Cup was introduced and presented annually to the winner of the Z-class championship.

Kilbirnie Speedway (sometimes referred to as Kilbirnie Stadium) was New Zealand's first motorcycle speedway. It was open from 1929 to 1939; the site was later landscaped into a sports field for Rongotai College.