Community rallies help
People are pitching in to help a keen sportswoman paralysed in a flying fox accident.
Mardie Lythe suffered terrible injuries in the Albany incident in March, including a severed spine which paralysed her from the waist down.
Now those around Matakana, where Mardie, husband former Warriors player Ben Lythe, and their four girls used to live for some years, are stepping in to raise funds to help the family cope.
The Rusty Pelican in Matakana will host a fundraising dinner and auction on May 21.
It will be held in the Rusty Tui Sports Bar from 6pm with auction items to include surf gear, a racing car ride at Hampton Downs, an archery lesson, wine, a coffee a day for six months, firewood, accommodation, beauty vouchers and much more.
All proceeds from the dinner, raffles, auction and drink sales go to the Lythe family.
More items for the auction are welcome.
Tickets $50, include a buffet meal, available from the Rusty Pelican, Nick’s Market Place and the Warkworth police station.
You can find this article in the Rodney Times
By Matt Greenop
9:30 AM Monday May 13, 2013
The simple act of putting headlights on warns other motorists that high level stupidity is possibly approaching at 100 km/h. Photo / Thinkstock
Weather, that great Kiwi conversation piece, got me thinking this week, as the second car launch in just a few days took place among what can only truly be described as utterly crap weather.
Monday saw a group of motoring writers let loose at Hampton Downs in the new Mini Paceman - quite pleasant as there wasn't much in the way of traffic.
Wednesday's Honda Accord launch, in contrast, kicked off in Auckland's CBD before heading for the country. It confirmed (yet again) what many of us already knew - a lot of people with little or no driving ability choose torrential rain as the time to hone their skills.
Firstly, please pass on our thanks to any of these people you know (obviously not Driven readers), and secondly, let them know that a grey/white/silver/cream/black car is quite invisible in near-dark storm conditions. The simple act of putting headlights on warns other motorists that high level stupidity is possibly approaching at 100km/h and gives us all time to prepare for the huge lane change, industrial strength braking for no apparent reason or - the most common - the move into a space that was previously reserved for safe following distance to compensate for wet roads and dangerous conditions.
Bad motorists aren't the only ones that thrive with a bit of rain - if it didn't make the lawn come back to life and the silverbeet grow, it'd be worth banning it entirely. The unfortunate spin-offs of bad weather include cyclists with no lights, miserable-looking joggers clad entirely in black like unusually active goths and the bane of any inner-city motorists - bus drivers even more aggressive and intolerant than usual because their rolling offices smell like a wet dog that's been rolling in an ashtray.
What other nightmares are you expecting to contend with on our roads this coming winter?
To view this article by the NZ Herald please click here.
Feel like life in the fast lane for a good cause? Then check out an upcoming fundraising event at Hampton Downs race track.
The Rotary Club of Auckland East is holding a hot laps day on May 26, from 10am to 4pm, where you can experience what it's like to be part of the BMW racing series.
For $59, people over the age of 15 can be a passenger in one of 20 BMW E20 race cars or BMW open class cars. All the cars will be on the track at the same time so you'll know what it's like during a real race. There will be a hot lap plus an in-and-out lap - taking you from the pits on to the track then back.
All proceeds are going to Rotary-sponsored charities Cure Kids and Life Education Trust.
Go to eventfinder.co.nz to book.
For this article from NZ Herald please click here
Racing down the back straight of Hampton Downs at an adrenaline pumping 250kmh would be a nerve-racking experience for anyone. But in Greg Murphy's hands, Shaun Vincent felt pretty safe.
"It's awesome, you certainly know you're alive when you're going that fast. It takes you into another level of sensories - it's surreal," Mr Vincent says.
He was provided the hot lap by the Franklin Silver Lining Trust on Tuesday after he and his family have faced a challenging time.
His daughter Nikita was re- admitted to hospital with brain cancer in 2009, after two years' remission and around the same time Mr Vincent was diagnosed with having a mildly aggressive prostate tumour.
Now recovered, he returned to work with the New Zealand Fire Service last month.
Ambassador of the Franklin Silver Lining Trust, Greg Murphy, believes it is important to help those who have had a rough time.
"Not everyone is as fortunate as you. People go through tragic things and to be able to give something back is an amazing feeling.
"Giving someone a ride in a race car and allowing them to feel different for a day is really special.
"Little stuff makes a huge difference in people's lives."
Trustee of the organisation Richard Graham agreed.
"It lets them know there's other people thinking about them. "Things that might only seem small to us can make a huge difference to a family that's going through a tough patch."
The main objective of the Franklin Silver Lining Trust is to provide Franklin families facing adversity with special breaks on a continuing basis.
This adversity could include anything from the loss of a loved one through suicide, to someone suffering postnatal depression, to a loved one with a brain tumour, to a family who has lost a baby to cot death or stillbirth.
For more details go to franklin silverliningtrust.co.nz.
- © Fairfax NZ News
For this article please click here
TRACK TORQUE
HAMPTON DOWNS april NEWSLETTER
April was a busy month with 28 days being booked! We had a range of launches, race events, filming, track days, pro-rider motorcycle training and today there are hot laps with Murphy!
Look out for Hampton Downs and Formula Challenge on Channel U over the next five Friday nights in the KFC challenge!
This Saturday Playday at Hampton’s has a driver training group. This is excellent for anyone wanting to do their first Track Day or just wanting to improve their car control & driving skills. You will learn a huge amount and have fun doing so. Helmet & Overalls required for the afternoon sessions, passengers allowed in the morning sessions.
The day starts with a short classroom session followed by laps around the track at low speed behind a lead car to show you the lines. Gradually the speed increases, no tail gating & no passing allowed.
The Trainer then discusses the session with you and the next session is similar but a little faster.
During the following sessions the Trainers will move from car to car to give you one on one training as you drive around the track.
The Roycroft Trophy enjoyed another successful weekend over Easter!
A unique feature of this type of event is the opportunity for spectators to enjoy walking amongst the cars and mingling with the competitors. Star of the show was the magnificent 5 litre Stutz which placed third at the Indianapolis 500 in 1915 (and second in 1919). Other cars with a New Zealand racing history included the GCS Ford and Ryan McDonalds 1923 Chevrolet (2 wheel brakes and wooden wheels), the Northland Special, the Lycoming Special and the newly restored 1950 mid-engined RA Vanguard, a local special that was years ahead of its time, incorporating rubber suspension at the front and aircraft oleos at the rear. More recent arrivals included the sleek Le Mans Lagonda V12 conducted by David Brock-Jest and Rosemary Pearson in her 1934 Riley Lynx who had just received her racing license.
There were the usual suspects in 1930s MGs, Austin 7s, a 1954 500cc Cooper Formula 3, a Jowett Jupiter, a Jaguar XK 150 and an even more fearsome Jaguar, John Ure’s 1958 Mark 7 four door saloon.
Once again the NZ Classic Motor Cycle Racing register turned up to demonstrate some priceless, mouth watering machinery, including a Brough Superior, sundry Triumphs, a Bultaco, a Triton, a BSA, a Vincent Black Lightning and no less than four Manx Nortons. One of the more extraordinary bikes on display was created by the younger of the McNair dynasty, 15 year old Louie, who had built an immaculate vintage V twin Flyer in 2 months, as a school project. Meanwhile in the skies above father Rob entertained the crowd performing aerobatics in his Tiger Moth, the spare engine of which he has fitted in his 1937 Riley.
Not only were there some rare vintage cars and bikes but there was plenty of action provided by the classic side cars (as shown below).
Each year more entrants and spectators turn up in period dress and this, together with the jazz band, classic Midgets and car club displays gives this event its unique flavour.
The date for 2014 has already been set – mark 8 / 9 March 2014 in your diaries!
There are excellent articles in:
Vanguard springs to life at Roycroft Trophy meeting – click here for the article from Speedcafe
Pride and joy loose on the track - click here for the article from NZ Herald
Watch out for an article in the current Classic Car magazine
For more outstanding images go to www.nowheregallery.co.nz
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We recently hosted Mercy Hospice – Race for Life event which is a "Living truly in the moment" day.
The proceedings began at 11 o'clock once the Helicopter arrived with two patients, accompanied by Lynda, their CEO. Needless to say all were spoilt to special coffees and a delicious morning tea.
There had been all sorts of testing and safety briefings for drivers before this all began. The committee had placed great importance on SAFETY, especially as this event just gets bigger each year.
At about 11.15, patients, along with their volunteer helper, had to make BIG decisions.
Was it going to be:
1. A helicopter ride
2. A racing car ride
3. A motor bike ride
4. A truck ride
They could as well choose to sit around and enjoy the ambiance and the delicious smells permeating from the All Day BBQ. The luxury or classic car rides were to come after lunch, so there were plenty of options.
The day was simply a stunner in every which way. It is nothing less than an honour to be a part of it all.
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On Sunday 26 May is the opportunity to do hot laps in BMW’s for only $59 per person with all proceeds going to charity. For more information go to www.eventfinda.co.nz
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2K Cup – is a new class to open doors to young budget racers and it is proving to be very popular! The 2K Cup is designed to provide the lowest price circuit motor racing in New Zealand and will have a firm emphasis on fun and low cost. Cars must cost $2,000 or less, are allowed only safety modifications.
The new category will form part of the New Zealand Racing Drivers League which will kick off at Hampton Downs on September 28 and 29 and will run five events during its first summer season. It will include rounds at all of the major North Island circuits - Hampton Downs, Taupo, Manfeild and Pukekohe. "The races will be an hour long so the emphasis will not be on outright speed, but on driving skill and getting the basics right," explained Chris Watson, one of the NZRDL organisers and brains behind the new class. Tyres and brakes will need to be looked after and the track speeds will be quite slow, but, and it is a big but, the racing should be close and will favour the most skilful driver with the best overall strategy. There's no place for door banging or the wallet waving winner in this class and we very much hope it will attract new racers to the sport."
No modifications will be allowed on the engine or drive train of the car or the bodywork and the interior must be retained. The cars can run to minimum Motorsport New Zealand specification which means that although they are not a legal requirement, roll cages and harnesses are strongly advised as well as full safety gear for the driver. Racing seats are also permitted as are aftermarket brake pads (but not calipers) and aftermarket springs (which must be direct OEM replacements). On-board fire extinguishers are a must. Equally as importantly, the car must have a warrant of fitness and must have cost its owner $2,000 or less. A receipt of purchase or an AA valuation must be produced during documentation. Dot tyres are permitted but the car's original specification and diameter wheels must also be retained. For more information please got to www.2kcup.com
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The annual Hampton Downs 12 hour race is on again on 27 July. We have changed the entry fee structure to make the entry fee all inclusive, so practice and pits are included. The 4 hour entry fee will be $500 and 12 hour $1000. You can enter a team of 3 cars for the 4 hour race or 4 cars for the 12 hour race. There will be a prize for the winning team in the 4 and 12 hour races, plus cups for the winning BMW and Honda teams. Start planning now!
Classes are 0-2000cc, 2001cc to 3500cc and over 3501cc. Separate classes for forced induction and also prizes for one team and multi car teams. This has got to be the best value motor racing available.
Pride and joy loose on the track
By Peter Calder
Wednesday Apr 3, 2013
Owners of vintage and post-vintage wheels like to show their beasts are more than just polish and shine.
David Brock-Jest is proud of his 1938 LaGonda V12. Just don't ask him how fast he drives. Photo / Richard Robinson
The organisers playfully prescribed a cheesecutter and a cravat. The hat was no problem, but the cravat defeated me. I need not have worried. A few women were done up in their Roaring Twenties flapper dresses and cloche hats. But otherwise overalls seemed de rigueur.
One chap had a sparkling white pair with the cursive logo "Austin" handsomely embroidered on the back. "I expect you don't do much work in those," I said. "They're just for show," he said. "I've got some old, dirty ones if I have work to do."
Much of what happened over the weekend at Hampton Downs Motorsport Park, half way between Auckland and Hamilton, was for show. But there was a serious side to proceedings, too. At the third annual meeting of vintage and post-vintage cars, they were competing for the Roycroft Trophy. As one competitor told me, when you get behind the wheel of a car on a race track, the primal urge is to "pass the bugger in front".
The Saturday briefing for drivers set the antic tone. The track is equipped with state-of-the-art electronic signalling but, said Max Jamieson, the clerk of the course, "we're not going to have lights because that's too modern".
Instead, Jamieson explains the meaning of the three flags that will be displayed to racers.
Green and red are obvious and if a yellow flag is held up with your car number, he says, "it means that you are losing oil or there's a bit coming off your car".
"You're going to be a busy boy, then," one wag offers to the flag-waver.
In fact, of course, oil leaks and flappy bits are not easy to find among the cars arrayed as if on display. Their owners speak in welters of numbers - compression ratios, valve clearances, oil pressures - that make my head spin but every so often I'll hear a technical expression that even I can understand: "I'll bet she goes like stink," someone will say. One man who complains that "that bloody MG got past me" is advised by an old hand to let some of the air out of his (own) tyres.
The cars cluster together as if seeking safety in numbers: the Austins here, the Rileys there, the MGs further down (most are English marques). I find my mate Richard McWhannell beside the 1929 Austin 7 Dieppe Sports that he built with Joss Campbell. Theirs is one of 26 pre-1945 cars competing (there are pre-1960 and motorcycle classes too). It's part of the same family as the Baby Austin that was my parents' first car, which they had until I was at least 7. "It was the first car for a lot of people," McWhannell tells me. "Big enough for Mum and Dad, one kid and one piece of luggage."
Motorsport has always left me cold, but the devotion on display here is impressive. In the gleam of the spotless enamel paint or the dull sheen of cast-iron engine blocks you can see the tens of thousands of dollars and countless hours lavished on these vehicles.
The oldest is a 1915 Stutz White Squadron Racer, which came third in the Indianapolis 500 as a new vehicle, 98 years ago. It's the size of a king's tomb in a mediaeval cathedral and - as I later hear - accelerates away from the hairpin with a tractor-like growl so slow and low you can count the explosions in the chambers of the 4.8 litre engine.
Equally impressive is David Brock-Jest's 1938 LaGonda V12, in the darkest shade of British racing green. He tells me it's 17ft long and weighs a ton and a quarter - you speak in old numbers when talking about something of this vintage - and the long sweep of its lagged exhaust pipes make an impressive sight. In the first race of the day, it eats up the field, lapping half of it. I show my ignorance by asking Brock-Jest what speed he got up to. "I wouldn't have any idea," he says. "I never look at the speedo. It's the oil pressure and temperature I keep an eye on."
Once, and briefly, I get a contestant's eye view of the track, in a five-lap lunchtime parade open to any competitor or spectator. Wedged in somewhat undignified fashion into the Dieppe Sports, I look down the bonnet at the rare 1958 Austin A35 ute in front of us. And I'll be damned if I don't feel a primal urge to pass the bugger.
By Peter Calder
For this article and more by the NZ Herald
click here
Vanguard springs to life at Roycroft Trophy meeting
- Monday 1st April, 2013 11:53am
- Author: SpeedCafe ©
Rebuilt RA Vanguard in action at the Roycroft Trophy at Hampton Downs. Pic: Neville Bailey
An RA Vanguard that was inspired by the formidable Auto Union racers of the 1930’s was up and running again at the Roycroft Trophy meeting at Hampton Downs.
Originally built in 1950 by Hec Green and Jack Brewer, the Vanguard won the New Zealand beach racing championships in 1952 and held the national D class speed record of 188km/h. It nailed the quarter mile in 14.8s.
Along with Green and Brewer the car was also driven by Geoff Mardon and Les Moore, the latter suffering a fatal accident.
For many years what remained of the car was neglected before a rebuild was undertaken after thorough research and discussions with the car’s now deceased original constructors.
Some of the features of the car are fascinating including the front suspension which uses a trailing link design a la the Auto Unions, however the springs chosen were rubber bands or shock cords as used in vintage aircraft.
The rear suspension is similarly as interesting with the low pivot swing axles as used by Mercedes-Benz on the iconic W196 grand prix car of the mid 1950’s and was sprung by Oleo struts from the WWII Kittyhawks.
When it was first built the Vanguard used a Citroen gearbox but this was unable to cope with the power of the 2litre Standard Vanguard engine. So Green designed and built a transaxle 3-speed gearbox.
The engine is boosted by a supercharger, a Rootes type blower to 16psi and runs on methanol which develops up to 200bhp.
For this article and more by Speedcafe click here
Monday 25th March, 2013 10:43am
Author: SpeedCafe ©
Mercedes-Benz F1 test and simulator star Brendon Hartley offering tips to Michael Scott ahead of his TRS test last year.
Three Kiwis and an Aussie will try out in an official Toyota Racing Series rookie test for the 2014 series at Hampton Downs today.
Among those trying out are Formula Ford ace James Munro and follow FF drivers Tom Alexander and Matt Williams.
MacCauley Jones will also try out in the wings and slicks open-wheelers at the north Waikato circuit.
He is the son of V8 Supercar team owner, the former AUSCAR and Touring Car champion Brad Jones.
For this article and more by Speedcafe NZ click here
TRACK TORQUE
HAMPTON DOWNS march NEWSLETTER
The D1NZ Drift Nationals at the start of March saw Crowd favourite 'Mad Mike' Whiddett (Red Bull/Speedhunters Mazda RX8) back on the top step of the podium, followed by Andrew Redward and Cole Armstrong.
At the NZ Superbike Championship last weekend Dennis Charlett cemented his reputation as New Zealand’s fastest granddad as he won the New Zealand Superbike TT.
Charlett won the 600cc Supersport championship the last two years and this season returned to the top class after a long break. He also finished third in the preliminary race, and stands third in the championship.
Other top riders were less successful in judging the conditions in the TT (Tourist Trophy) race.
 and Bugden crash in TT.jpg)
Championship Leader Robbie Bugden and Craig Shirriffs Crashed.
Defending champion and current series leader Robbie Bugden from Australia and second-placed Craig Shirriffs of Feilding both crashed their Suzukis at turn three on the third lap, and race-one winner Nick Cole from Hamilton lost control of his Kawasaki on lap six.
Wellington’s Sloan Frost brought his BMW home second in the TT, ahead of Hayden Fitzgerald (New Plymouth, Suzuki), Tony Rees (Whakatane, Honda) and Australian-based Kiwi Karl Morgan (Suzuki).
The bike community definitely have a sense of humour too!
Legends of speed + McLaren M8 Appearance!
Come and watch over 200 entrants compete in the following classes Alfas, AES/TradeZone, Superhistorics & Formula Suzuki, Historics, Production Muscle Cars, Classic Japanese, Honda Cup, Classic Trial, Formula Ford, Formula Junior, Advanced Adhesives Allcomers Saloons, ACES +Arrow Wheels and Radio Sport BMW Series.
This event is where the Historic Racing Club honours NZs many motorsport legends with a mix of races with Classic saloon cars and historic single seaters.
Plus there will be a ‘Shake Down’ of Denny’s McLaren M8!
The Trusts 1968 McLaren M8A-2 Can-Am Car will have its first ‘shake down’ runs during the lunch breaks of the Legends of Speed meeting this weekend.
The Bruce McLaren Trust M8A Can-Am car is a unique car as the only surviving M8A in the world. Denny Hulme won the North American Can-Am Championship title in this car in 1968.
In 1969, as the team’s spare car, it was driven by Brabham, Gurney, Amon and Bruce McLaren clinched the title after he crashed his main car. No other Can-Am car had so many significant drivers at the wheel.
With power of 640bhp, coupled with wider tyres and changes made to body aerodynamics these cars were the fastest track cars in the world.
The Bruce McLaren Trust has painstakingly restored the M8A over the last 15 years and its first run on the track is eagerly awaited and not to be missed.
$20 on the gate for the weekend.
Children under 12 are free.
Gates open at 9am
Roycroft Trophy – Vintage Festival – Easter weekend (30 / 31 March 2013)
This is racing from yesteryear, there are fields of Pre War & Pre 1960 Vintage Sports cars, Historic Single seaters, Sports Racing cars and Classic Saloon/ GTs joined by demonstrations from pre 1963 Vintage Motor Cycles and side cars.
In addition to the racing there are infield displays of Vintage cars, Vintage Speedway midgets, plus demonstrations of the Ralph Watson WW1 aero engine, Steam and Stationary engines and we heard a rumour that a Tiger Moth may also be present.
One of the stars this year is the 1915 Indianapolis Stutz Race Car coming up from the Southwards Museum. The Stutz was originally built as part of the famous “White Squadron” which consisted of three identical racing cars built for the 1915 Indianapolis 500. It has a 4 cylinder,5 litre O.H.C,4 valve Wisconsin motor and set a speed record covering the 350 Miles at an average speed of 102.6 MPH (1915). In NZ it won the N.Z. Motor Cup in 1926, 1927, 1928 (Bob Wilson) and 1931, 1932 and 1933 (Ces Southerland), it was also the Australasian Beach Championship 1929 and 1930 (Bob Wilson). The Stutz also has numerous successes in USA at Indianapolis and the Astor Cup San Francisco.
You will get to see this successful pre-war NZ car racing on the track for the first time since 1934. There is also a talk about the Stutz by John Bellamore from Southwards Museum in the evening to discuss the cars history and restoration undertaken by Sir Len Southward in 1976.
There will be lunchtime parades and people’s choice awards for any cars that are pre-1960. By paying your gate entry you will be automatically entered into the people’s choice show and shine and go into win a Turtle pack!
By voting on your favourite car spectators go in to win a double pass Auckland Jet Boat Tour. The Auckland jet boat adventure combines high-speed thrills with jet boat manoeuvres that include 180 and 270 degree spins with sweeping turns, as you travel up to an exhilarating 85 kilometres per hour! With amazing views of the Auckland City Skyline, and plenty of photo opportunities to capture some lasting memories of Auckland’s most famous and iconic landmarks. Valued at $85 per person.
In Hampton’s pavilion there will also be a live Dixie land entertainment and a collection of trade stands with antiques, vintage clothing, books, art work and delectable cuisine. In keeping with the theme drivers, riders and teams will be in period clothing and lots join in and dressed in this stylish era.
Pricing
The special pre-1960 car price is $20 which includes 1 car and 2 passengers for the day
Lunchtime demonstrations are $10 per car
Saturday or Sunday – $15 early bird / $20 on the gate
Weekend pass - $20 early bird / $30 on the gate
Head to www.eventfinder.co.nz to purchase earlybird tickets or turn up on the day in your pre-1960 car and get the special entry price!
This is an ideal introduction to Motorsport – have a go on the track on Easter Monday!
• Session One 10am -1pm- Just drive around the circuit in your own car at under 100km/h behind the safety car. This is a great way to experience driving around the circuit at a comfortable pace for $30 per car.
• Session Two 1pm - 4pm- This part of the day will be for drivers who want to experience the track at a faster pace. Drivers will have to wear helmets and overalls (which are available for hire) to drive around Hampton Downs at a faster pace in small groups for $50 per car.
• There will be a gymkhana course on the Skid Pan for $20.
This day is for car enthusiasts to just have a go on Hampton Downs in a non competitive environment.
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Testing
Playday at Hamptons – for cars, prestige group, bikes and karts
Race Car Only testing – for race cars only
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Date
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Type of Day
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Price
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Classes
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Fri 22March
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Race Car Only Test Day
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$135 or $150 on the day
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Plus 1:22, minus 1:22 and open wheelers
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Fri 29 March
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Playday at Hampton’s – SOLD OUT
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$135 for cars and $150 for bikes
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Cars, medium bikes
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Wed 3 April
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Playday at Hampton’s – twilight session
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$75 for cars or $125 for prestige
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Cars and prestige
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Saturday 6 April
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Playday at Hampton’s
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$135 for cars and $150 for bikes
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Cars and prestige and fast bikes
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Saturday 13 April
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Playday at Hampton’s
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$135 for cars and $150 for bikes
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Cars, novice and medium bikes
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Saturday 20 April
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Playday at Hampton’s
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$135 for cars and $150 for bikes
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Cars, medium bikes and fast bikes
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‘Shake Down’ of Denny’s McLaren M8 at Legends Meeting!
The Trusts 1968 McLaren M8A-2 Can-Am Car will have its first ‘shake down’ runs at the Hampton Downs Track at the lunch breaks of the Legends of Speed meeting this weekend.
The Bruce McLaren Trust M8A Can-Am car is a unique car as the only surviving M8A in the world. Denny Hulme won the North American Can-Am Championship title in this car in 1968.
In 1969, as the team’s spare car, it was driven by Brabham, Gurney, Amon and Bruce McLaren clinched the title after he crashed his main car. No other Can-Am car had so many significant drivers at the wheel.
With power of 640bhp, coupled with wider tyres and changes made to body aerodynamics these cars were the fastest track cars in the world.
The Bruce McLaren Trust has painstakingly restored the M8A over the last 15 years and its first run on the track is eagerly awaited and not to be missed.
Tickets are available on the gate for $20 per adult and kids under 12 are free,
‘Shake Down’ of Denny’s McLaren M8 at Legends Meeting!
The Trusts 1968 McLaren M8A-2 Can-Am Car will have its first ‘shake down’ runs at the Hampton Downs Track at the lunch breaks of the Legends of Speed meeting this weekend.
The Bruce McLaren Trust M8A Can-Am car is a unique car as the only surviving M8A in the world. Denny Hulme won the North American Can-Am Championship title in this car in 1968.
In 1969, as the team’s spare car, it was driven by Brabham, Gurney, Amon and Bruce McLaren clinched the title after he crashed his main car. No other Can-Am car had so many significant drivers at the wheel.
With power of 640bhp, coupled with wider tyres and changes made to body aerodynamics these cars were the fastest track cars in the world.
The Bruce McLaren Trust has painstakingly restored the M8A over the last 15 years and its first run on the track is eagerly awaited and not to be missed.
Tickets are available on the gate for $20 per adult and kids under 12 are free,
Andy McGechan welcomes the return of the high-velocity Superbike series this weekend
After winning at Teretonga, John Ross is in a commanding position for the championship.
Defending New Zealand superbike champion Robbie Bugden has stolen a march on his rivals this season and it will take a superhuman effort for any of the Kiwi contenders to catch and pass the likeable Australian.
Bugden (Suzuki GSX-R1000) is 24 points clear of his nearest rival, Feilding's Craig Shirriffs (Suzuki GSX-R1000), after three of five rounds and, with just 100 points still on offer and only four races remaining, the mathematics are chilling.
Even if Bugden is beaten into second place by Shirriffs in each of the remaining four races - two superbike class outings at Hampton Downs this weekend (March 16-17) and two more at Taupo on March 23-24 - the Brisbane man will still win the title by four points.
In the six superbike races run thus far - two each at Ruapuna, Levels and Teretonga - Bugden has won five of them, his only setback coming when Shirriffs snatched away a race win at round two in Timaru.
It's fair to say, with such a mathematical advantage, Bugden looks set to continue on and wrap up his fifth New Zealand superbike title.
But anything can happen in motorsport, a minor slip-up, a rare third-placing by Bugden, a flat tyre, fuel blockage or snapped chain, and an upset is on the cards.
Then there is the "spanner in the works" factor, with any of half a dozen riders capable of springing an upset win. Christchurch's Dennis Charlett (Suzuki GSX-R1000) is third, albeit a massive 39 points behind Shirriffs, and Hamilton's Nick Cole (Kawasaki ZX10R) is fourth, another seven points further back.
Meanwhile, in the fiercely fought 600cc Supersport class, Canterbury's John Ross (Suzuki GSX-R600) has stretched his advantage at the top of the standings.
Christchurch man Ross arrived at round three at Teretonga just five points in front of his nearest challengers for the title, Katikati's Rhys Holmes (Yamaha R6) and Christchurch's Jake Lewis (Yamaha R6), but ended the day 30 points clear at the top, ahead of new No2 rider Jaden Hassan (Yamaha R6).
Hassan, in pain after breaking a bone in his hand, finished third and second in the two 600 Supersport races at Teretonga to put his campaign back on track.
The 31-year-old Ross scored back-to-back wins at Teretonga to place himself in a commanding position for the championship.
But, even with such an advantage, Hassan remains a threat to Ross. "I hold the lap record at both these two North Island tracks," said Hassan. "Unfortunately John Ross can probably win the championship from here, even just by finishing second to me, if that's how it works out.
"Put it this way, I wouldn't wish ill-luck on anyone but, if I was to win every race from here on and he was to finish third or fourth a couple of times, I wouldn't be disappointed."
In the 125GP and 250cc Production classes, Australian teenagers Troy Guenther and Luke Burgess enjoy their leads, while Balclutha's Richard Newbery dominates the Superlite championship. Wellington's Hamish Murphy heads the Pro Twins 650 series, although Lower Hutt's Dean Bentley is catching up.
Please click here for this article by the NZ Herald
Women in uniform in control at the track
- Tuesday 12th March, 2013 12:50pm
- Author: SpeedCafe ©
Race Control is the heartbeat of a meeting that most fans do not get to see.
And the control room at Hampton Downs for the V8 SuperTourers meeting was ‘manned’ by a group of fanatical motorsport women.
It is indeed a rare time where the control room is run by an all-female crew.
Deborah Day, the Volunteer Coordinator for The Motorsport Club, is the Assistant Clerk of the
Course who manages a crew of approximately 150-200 people.
“We manage everything from flag marshals to the safety cars and everything in between,” Deborah explained to Speedcafe.co.nz
“It’s a huge task but we love it.”
Alongside Deborah are her four colleagues; Haylee Wallace, Wendy Metcalfe, Angela Leech
and Alison Hogg who all play an important part to ensure an event is run smoothly.
So what’s the attraction?
“Because we love it as much as they (the men) do!” laughed Deborah. “But on a more serious note, I do this because it is the one way I can bring my A-game to the sport. I can’t drive near as well as what these boys can and this role allows me to help them enjoy what they do best.”
Her long-held love affair with motorsport began almost 25 years ago when her parents got her
involved when she was just 12.
Carrying on the family tradition, Deborah now has her 16 year old daughter involved as the dummy grid coordinator.
Adding to the family link and the female run operation is Deborah’s mother, who
acts as the chief flag marshall and has done so for many years.
Yet, these ladies don’t always sit on the sidelines. Wendy Metcalfe certainly gives the boys a run for their money on the track from time to time too.
Wendy drives in the Alfa Romeo Trofeo Series and says volunteering has helped improve her competitive driving.
“You notice a whole lot more and are generally more aware of everything that’s going on. It really
helps,” Metcalfe told Speedcafe.co.nz.
Alison Hogg, another dedicated volunteer with over 10 years’ experience asks when she’ll get her gold watch for services rendered much to the amusement of the rest of the women in the control centre.
“Get in line!” laughs Haylee Wallace, yet another passionate volunteer who has been working at at tracks for over 15 years.
Haylee is the voice behind the radio that keeps all of the safety cars, flag marshals and other key volunteers updated with proceedings. If a safety car is called, it’s Haylee who has authorised it.
This crew has got 36 weekends out of the year booked up and includes the V8 Supercars ITM Auckland 400 in Pukekohe from April 10-12.
“The V8 Supercars is a massive undertaking for us,” explains Deborah. “We’re going to need
approximately 400 people for that event.”
- Alana McIsaac
'MAD MIKE' BACK ON TOP AT LATEST CODY'S D1NZ DRIFT ROUND
Published Date
Written by Brendon White
* 2012/13 CODY'S D1NZ National Drifting Championship Series
Rnd 4
Hampton Downs
Northern Waikato
Fri/Sat
March 01/02
2013
ROUND 4 REVIEW
02-03-13
'MAD MIKE' BACK ON TOP AT LATEST CODY'S D1NZ DRIFT ROUND
Crowd favourite 'Mad Mike' Whiddett (Red Bull/Speedhunters Mazda RX8) was back on the top step of the podium at the latest round of this season's Cody's D1NZ National Drifting Championship at the Hampton Downs motor racing circuit south of Auckland on Saturday.
Revelling in an extra 200 horsepower thanks to a new Garret turbocharger set-up on the PPRE-prepared tri-rotor 20B engine fitted to his heavily-modified Mazda sports coupe, the Auckland-based international qualified third then after a bye in the Top 32 beat fellow Aucklander Daynom Templeman (debuting his new-look Toyota 2JZ-powered NAC Insurance-sponsored Mazda RX7) in the Top 16, Hamilton's Bruce Tannock (Achilles Tyre Nissan S13) in the Top 8 and Tauranga's Cole Armstrong (V Energy Nissan Skyline R34) in the Top 4 to meet Aucklander Andrew Redward (Achilles Tyre Mazda RX7 V8) in the final.
Redward didn't qualify as well (12th) but claimed some impressive scalps on his own run to the final, beating Sky Zhao (2 Degrees Nissan 370Z) in his first (Top 32) battle, championship series points leader Daniel 'Fanga Dan' Woolhouse (Castrol Edge Holden Commodore V8) in his second (Top 16), last year's North vs South Island title winner Troy Forsythe (Southern Drifters Nissan S13) in the Top 8 and three-time former New Zealand champion Gary 'Gaz' Whiter (Tectaloy Driftcorp Nissan 180SX) in the Top 4.
Having twice finished runner-up to former series champion Fanga Dan Woolhouse this year, Redward was again on top form heading into the final showdown with Whiddett, however on his chase run he literally got lost in the wall of smoke the Whiddett Mazda was producing and lost his drift, giving Whiddett the advantage and with it his first round win for the 2012/13 season.
Points-wise, however, despite an uncharacteristically early end to his day at the hands of Redward, former series champ Woolhouse still has a 50 point buffer over Redward with Whiddett now back up to third a further 33.5 points back in third.
Cole Armstrong was another driver heading in the right direction at the fourth series round held in hot, hiumid conditions at Hampton Downs, splitting top qualifier Nico Reid (Luxury Sport Nissan S15) and Whiddett in qualifying then after a bye in the Top 32 beating Waiuku's Jason Sellars (Wong's Kitchen 2JZ Nissan Laurel) in the Top 16, and new series force-to-be-reckoned-with Zak Pole (Bullett HD Nissan Skyline R33) from Auckland in the Top 8 before finally meeting his match in Whiddett in the Top 4.
That just left the battle for the final step on the podium which Armstrong also won, this time after a battle with Dargaville's Gary 'Gaz' Whiter.
Whiter's Tectaloy-sponsored V8-engined Nissan S14 was seriously damaged at the recent Tauranga round and though it was repaired in time for this weekend's Hampton Downs' one the engine threw a conrod just before qualifying.
Series judge Justin Rood was quick to offer Whiter his own 180 SX Nissan (which he had at the track to use in the Drift vs V8 lLgends' showdown later in the day) and with it Whiter showed his class by qualifying fourth, and winning his Top 32 (against South Islander Cody Collis), Top 16 (against top qualifier Nico Reid), and Top 8 (against defending Cody's D1NZ champion Curt Whittaker) battles before going down to a rampant Andrew Redward in their Top 4 encounter and Cole Armstrong in the final battle for third spot on the podium.
In the Pro-Am ranks meanwhile it was a matter of all-change with round one winner Matt Lauder (Shred Nissan 180SX) from Wellington and the winner of the second and third rounds, Darren Kelly (DKM Fabrication Nissan Skyline R32) from Auckland's North Shore displaced by first-timer Adam Hedges from Kumeu, north-west of Auckland.
Though he has been a regular at grassroots drift events for several years, Hedges was a last minute entry in the Pro-Am category after good friend Hugo McLean (Grabatool Toyota AE85) offered him the use of his car as a way of saying thank you for the work Hedges had recently done on it.
Hedges admitted that the wild, triple-rotor engined Toyota was not the easiest car to just jump in and drive but after qualifying ninth on Friday he went on to beat Pro-Am series regulars Troy Jenkins (Juice Nissan S15), Jacob Hakaraia (DTM Nissan S13) and Geoff Muggeridge (Aden's Tyres Mazda RX7) in the battles and take the round from Muggeridge, from Tauranga, with Darren Kelly third.
The meeting also saw the appearance of Just Car Australian Drifting Grand Prix series champion Rob Whyte (Achilles Tyre Nissan 350Z) and compatriot Andreas Paraskevas (Just Car Nissan 180SX).
After qualifying in 20th position Whyte battled strongly only to be let down by a gearbox problem which also frustrated his efforts to take on defending Cody's D1NZ title holder Curt Whittaker in the Australia vs New Zealand Challenge, won easily by Whittaker.
The other Challenge was between two sets of legends from the New Zealand Drift and V8 circuit scenes, eventually won by the best of the Drifters - former D1NZ champion Adam Richards - over the best of the circuit stars, Dean Perkins.
The Hampton Downs round was the fourth of six for the 2012/13 Cody's D1NZ championship series with the fifth in Christchurch at the end of March and the sixth and final at Pukekohe Park Raceway in April.
While many motorcycle racers hang up their boots and helmet when they reach their mid-40s, multi-time former national superbike champion Tony Rees continues to show that even at 45 he's a force to be reckoned with.
The Whakatane Honda star certainly demonstrated at Paeroa just over a week ago that he still has plenty of lessons to teach others.
Rees finished runner-up overall at the 22nd annual Battle of the Streets race meeting, each time finishing close behind Wellington rising star Sloan Frost (BMW), but ahead of the rest of New Zealand's cream of the crop, including Taranaki's Hayden Fitzgerald (Suzuki GSX-R1000).
Rees underlined his ability by setting the fastest lap time in each of his three outings on the concrete at the curb-lined streets of Paeroa.
"It was perhaps the most exciting time I've had racing on the streets of Paeroa and I've been around here a few times over the years," Rees said.
"Every race, I was the fastest rider out there. I just needed to get better starts. It was always a struggle to get past other riders.
"Sloan Frost and I had a nice dice for the lead, especially in that last race and I guess I was riding too 'nice'.
I could have shoved any of those other riders off the track if I wanted to ride dirty. I must be getting soft in my old age,," he laughed.
"Perhaps I've still got some lessons to teach these young guys."
Castrol Honda Team manager Peter Finlay, of Auckland, was impressed by Rees' performance.
"Tony has not raced the recent South Island rounds of the superbike nationals and so it was tough for him to come up against the riders who have been racing a lot lately," said Finlay.
"This is a fantastic day for him and he's looking forward to contesting the two upcoming North Island rounds of the superbike nationals."
The New Zealand Superbike Championships will resume shortly with round four at Hampton Downs on March 17, with the fifth and final round at Taupo on March 24.
Rees will take his Castrol Honda CBR1000RR into battle at both events and, if his performance at Paeroa is any indicator, he'll be a definite threat to the championship leaders, a challenge to riders such as Frost and Fitzgerald, as well as national championship leaders Robbie Bugden (Suzuki GSX-R1000), of Australia, Feilding's Craig Shirriffs (Suzuki GSX-R1000) and Christchurch's Dennis Charlett (Suzuki GSX-R1000).
While Frost was dominating the Formula One and Bears racing at Paeroa, Auckland's Toby Summers (R and R Powersports Yamaha) was also battling to score double the glory with outstanding performances in the Formula Two and Supermotards classes.
The 40-year-old Summers finished first equal in both bike categories.
He took his 2011-model Yamaha YZ450F to win the day's first of two supermotard races, finishing ahead of Taupo's Scotty Moir (Aprilia SXV550).
However, Summers had to settle for runner-up spot in the next supermotard race, this time behind Moir, and this meant the two men shared first spot overall for the day.
It was a similar situation for Summers in the formula two class, when he took his Yamaha R6 to share the wins with Wanganui rival Ashley Payne (Suzuki GSX-R600).
Summers, Moir and Payne will also be going head-to-head again when the superbike nationals resume at Hampton Downs.
For this article and more by the NZ Herald click here
For a PDF version with images please click here
TRACK TORQUE
HAMPTON DOWNS FEBRUARY NEWSLETTER
What an amazing summer we are having! We have been having record crowds at the summer events so far with over 150,000 people already through the gate.
The Big Bike Day Out last weekend was a huge weekend with awesome weather with over 230 entrants plus 38 Karts racing for their National title. The whole weekend was buzzing with the trade stands and the atmosphere of a nonstop weekend. The Band cranked up Saturday and a great time was had by all. Display laps by some of the country’s best riders really showed how good these guys are and how good Hamptons is as a circuit.
The Big Bike Day Out is the first annual event run by Playday and hosted by Hamptons and after this weekend this date in February has been cemented in for years to come as it was a complete success, we have even had people wanting to book for next year.
In general motorsport news there is a new series starting off called the New Zealand Racing Drivers League which is a New Motorsport Initiative.
A new North Island motorsport initiative has been launched this week which aims to highlight quality motorsport to the public.
The New Zealand Racing Drivers League revealed plans for five motorsport weekends over the 2013 and 2014 summer to boost the profile of motor racing in New Zealand and showcase talented drivers and fast machinery.
League organisers will also reveal a raft of initiatives as well as classes confirmed to run at one or more of the events over the coming months in the build up to the first event at Hampton Downs on September 28 and 29. A web site and Facebook page will also be launched soon.
The League itself will rank any driver who takes part in an NZRDL event. Whatever class they run in, they will secure points for their best three results and this will give them a league ranking. The league will run continuously. The initiative was the idea of the HRC’s Chris Watson, Tony Roberts and Kevin Underwood, who along with Honda Cup racer and motorsport PR Richard Gee agreed that finding dates for independent and growing classes was important and could be improved.
“When Motul Honda Cup ran for the first time in 2011-2012 as a summer series, as class organisers we struggled to find anywhere where a start-up or independent summer class could run on a regular basis,” explained Gee.
“This was an even more difficult task this season with the various problems surrounding availability of dates on the motorsport calendar and continual uncertainty. We were certainly not alone as a class that needed something concrete in terms of dates. It made complete sense to try to provide foundation events those classes could plug into so their focus could be solely on the racing. That’s what it’s all about, after all.”
Five meeting dates were subsequently booked to include events at Manfeild, Taupo, Hampton Downs and Pukekohe. In the case of a class like the Motul Honda Cup, these dates will form the basis of the category’s calendar. With a core series of events ‘in the bag’, the class has the freedom to negotiate other rounds at larger meetings, such as the BNT V8 SuperTourers or the New Zealand Festival of Motor Racing.
The HRC runs the most motorsport meetings of any organisation in New Zealand on an annual basis. Watson says these are all meetings that could be enhanced with a more formal structure and organisation behind them.
“Take the Tasman Revival meeting at Taupo in January,” explained Watson. “Run by the HRC, we had a fantastic two-day meeting with 268 entries. Whilst that was great it was a little too busy and showed us that there were classes like Hondas, BMWs and a few others that could really benefit with a core series of dates of their own.”
For more information search ‘New Zealand Racing Drivers League’ on facebook.
This weekend (Friday / Saturday) is the D1NZ Drifting Championship Round 4 and 'FANGA DAN' is looking to consolidate Cody’s drift series lead.
Whangarei driver Daniel 'Fanga Dan' Woolhouse (Castrol Edge Holden Commodore) will be looking to consolidate his early season points lead at the fourth round of the Cody's D1NZ National Drifting Championship at Hampton Downs this weekend (Fri/Sat March 01/02).
Having won two of the three rounds so far held the former D1NZ title holder has 312 points, 75 more than current runner-up Andrew Redward (Achilles Mazda RX7 V8) and 82 more than defending Cody's D1NZ champion Curt Whittaker (Autosure 2JZ Nissan R34.).
Whittaker won a close-fought battle with Woolhouse for victory at the opening 2012/13 Cody's series round at Manfeild in October last year but since then Woolhouse has been unbeatable, claiming a popular home victory at the second round in Whangarei in December then backing that up with a second temporary course victory at the Baypark Stadium in the Bay of Plenty in January this year.
With Whittaker plagued by drive belt issues at Whangarei (where he finished fourth) then eliminated early at Baypark, series young gun Nico Reid (Luxury Sports Nissan S15) and fellow Aucklander Andrew Redward have stepped into the breach, bracketing Whittaker in the overall series points standings after seconds (for Reid) and Whangarei and Redward (Baypark).
Crowd favourite 'Mad Mike' Whiddett (Red Bull/Speedhunters Mazda RX7) has been impressive in qualifying at all three rounds but after finishing third at the first one has been eliminated in the battles at both Whangarei and Baypark and currently lies sixth in the series points standings.
Three-time former D1NZ champion Gary 'Gaz' Whiter (Tectaloy Nissan S14 V8) has also been in the wars, clashing with Curt Whittaker at Whangarei then hitting the wall hard at Baypark.
The two-day (Friday/Saturday) meeting has again attracted a 60-strong entry across the D1NZ and Pro-Am classes and as well as all the top local drivers sees the appearance of Queenslander Rob Whyte (Achilles/Motul Nissan 350Z), the reigning Just Car Insurance Australian Drifting GP series champion.
The round will also see a number of well-known V8 circuit racers, Angus Fogg, Dean Perkins, Clark Proctor and Shane Wigston, take on their drift counterparts in a Legends' battle.
Action at Hampton Downs begins early on Friday morning with practice for both D1NZ and Pro-Am groups with qualifying and the first Pro-Am (Top 16) battles later in the day.
Wellingtonian Matt Lauder (Shred Motorsport Nissan 180SX) still leads the series points standings in Pro-Am but after beating Lauder to the top spot of the podium at the two subsequent rounds Aucklander Darren Kelly (DKM Fabrication Nissan R32) has closed the gap to 21 points with former motorcycle racer Sam Smith (Franklin Cams Nissan S15) third and the country's top female drifter, Tauranga's Jodie Verhulst (Mag & Turbo Tauranga/Elf Toyota Supra), fourth.
Saturday brings final practice for the D1NZ drivers in the morning before the Pro-Am Top 8, then D1NZ qualifying and Top 32 battles.
It will be the first time the other side of track (along turn 7 and 8) will be open for spectators!
Tickets only $10 on Friday, $20 on Saturday or $50 for a VIP pass. Parking $5.
The New Zealand TT (Tourist Trophy Races) which also includes the 4th round of the 2013 New Zealand Superbike Championship will be held at Hampton Downs on Saturday March 16th/Sunday March 17th.
The event is being promoted and organised by the Auckland Motorcycle Club Inc who plan on making this a full on family event, catering for the children and the wife's/partners of the petrol heads says Graham Bastow AMCC spokesman.
For the racing enthusiast there is a wide variety of classes with the NZ Championship classes - Superbike, 600 Supersport, Superstock 600, Superlite, 650 Pro Twin, 125 and GP. The support classes are the Post Classics (Junior, Senior, pre ‘72, pre ’82, and pre ’89) and Development class
For the youngsters (Under 12's who will have free entry if accompanied by an adult) there will be a range of activities supplied by Cambridge company 'Event Fun' they will be bringing surf board challenges, mazes and slides, along with a face painting artist and caricaturist who can produce quick drawings for not only the kids but for other individuals and race teams etc. The emphasis for the spectator being on fun with lots to see and do. In addition a range of craft stalls from local artists within the North Island displaying and selling their work as well as trade/dealer/accessories stands from the motorcycle industry and stands from others displaying their business's wares from specialist camera suppliers, camping gear to tool suppliers and so much more.
Not forgetting this is event for the petrol heads, a display of American muscle cars and some Harleys will be there for the public to stare deep into the chrome among a few other surprises such as John Britten’s stunning pink and blue creation as well as other exotic machines on display. Stunt rider Nic Kroeze will entertain in the lunch time crowd showing what is possible on a motorcycle on one wheel and the speed at which a perfectly usable tyre can be destroyed. The American muscle cars will also get to show spectators what they sound like with a couple of laps of the circuit.
There will be food outlets and fresh coffee available from onsite caterers and access to 'Hamptons' the bar and food outlet with a panoramic view from turns one to two from its deck.
Come and enjoy a fantastic day at the circuit and watch the track thrills provided by some of the best riders from New Zealand and from several from Australia in some of the closest racing we have seen in a long time. Not forgetting at Hampton Downs plays host to the stand alone New Zealand TT championships which have been run since the early 1930's and started being run on Waiheke Island in Auckland's Hauraki Gulf. The last Superbike race of the weekend is also the "Geoff Perry" memorial race. So it is a full on weekend of two wheel action.
Make it a date Saturday 16th March (Practice and Qualifying and Racing.) Sunday 17th March a full day of fun and racing.
Family entry is $45 Mum, Dad & two children (additional children $5), Adults $25, Children under 12 free if accompanied by a fee paying adult.
The meeting is being organised and promoted by the Auckland Motorcycle Club Inc. www.amcc.co.nz
Stunt rider Nic Kroeze will provide thrills over the lunchtime break!
The Legends of Speed Meeting is on 23rd - 24th March 2013
This years’ Legends of Speed meeting will honour past New Zealand Grand Prix winners from Pukekohe. We will be holding an evening function on the Saturday in Hampton’s pavilion. The function will be free for everyone and each competitor will receive a free beer. There will also be food available from $3 to $20 depending on your appetite! We have decided that this years’ shields will not necessarily go to the fastest driver but will go to the recipient who best represents what their class stands for.
The shields will be handed out at the evening function. We’re very pleased to be having Kenny Smith, Paul Radisich and David Oxton joining us and presenting the shields. Murray Taylor will act as MC and will interview the Grand Prix winners. Crunch Bennett will also be present at the function to discuss and answer any of your questions about the current state of historic motorsport in New Zealand.
This year is quite a special year for motorsport in Auckland; it is the 60th anniversary of NZIGP, the 50th anniversary of Pukekohe and the 30th anniversary of David Oxton’s victory at the NZ Grand Prix. We hope that many enthusiasts will join us to celebrate some legends of motorsport and have an enjoyable time with friends.
Classes running over the two days include BMW Open Series, BMW 2 litre , BMW E30, Arrow Wheels Sports & GTs, AES/TradeZone, Alfa Romeo Trofeo Series, Historics, Formula Libre/Formula Suzuki/ Sports Cars, Classic Trial, Formula Ford, Historic Muscle Cars, Under 3 Litre Historic Saloons & GT and Central Muscle Cars.
There will be lots of V8 action with racing starting at 11.45am on Saturday and 9.30am on Sunday.
Admission $20, pay on Saturday and get free entry Sunday.
Children under 12 free and there is free access to the pits and grandstands all weekend.
Further information - Contact Chris 0274 827542 chris@grandprix.org.nz
The Team at the Historic Racing Club
Easter weekend, Saturday 30 and Sunday 31 March 2013
This iconic event has drivers lifting covers off the cars that would soon be looking for ascendancy on the track once again. The Roycroft Trophy is a weekend of racing for veteran, vintage, pre 45, pre 60 and Formula Junior cars as well as a grid for pre.63 Motorcycles, Organised by The Waitemata Branch, VCCNZ in partnership with Hampton Downs, it gives owners of compliant vehicles a chance to push their machines to the limit.
Don’t be fooled by the word ‘vintage’ the fastest lap time during last year’s event was 1m 22.94 by Nigel Russell in a FMZ Formula Junior. Also doing some quick lap times was Peter White in a Buckler MK17 at 1m 24.53 and Donovan Ryan in a Jaguar XK120C at 1m27.58 in the pre-61 class.
Photo credit: Nigel Watts
A strong field of Austin 7’s was spearheaded by the (mother) “Duck” Racer of 1931. Also known as the ‘record breaking car,’ it first arrived here in 1935, from Herbert Austin to Phil Seabrook with love. The arrival of this car was very popular during the last event. This year we have the 1915 Stutz Indianapolis race car coming up from the Southward Museum on the Kapiti Coast. The arrival of this car is eagerly anticipated by all!
Photo credit: Nigel Watts
Ford will also be there with a 1930 Model A, and Wolesley with a ‘Hornet’. For the Exotic Veterans, there are two, a 14 litre 1906 Darracq G.P. and a 5 litre 1919 Lancia Kappa Sport. Light touch paper and stand clear! Consider the efficacy of their brakes and be amazed! Pre-60 classes include Lotus, Cooper, Buckler, Jaguar and other’s such as Volpini, Taraschi and Elva. These knock on the door of being modern. They boast having suspension and brakes!
Photo credit: Neville Bailey
Where the sit-ons are concerned, Norton dominates. But there’s a mix of AJS, BSA, Vincent, Triumph, Brough and Gilera.
About 90 machines were registered and all give it their best. It has been said that “while you’re doing your damnedest out there, there’s a certain thrill at being ‘Blue flagged’. You know what monster is snapping at your heals as it’s taking up most of your rear vision – give them their line and suck up the un-burnt as a squirt of gas propels them into the fumy distance. To see hear and smell a ’32 Alfa Monza and a ’38 V12 Lagonda gallop past just adds to the determined pleasure of it all”.
Photo credit: Neville Bailey
Off course people will come and enjoy the Jazz being played, have a look around the vintage inspired trade stands, stationary engines, display cars, army display and plenty of delightful surprises like an early steam car gliding about or a Charabanc which you might be fortunate enough to have a ride in at lunchtime.
Photo credit: Neville Bailey
The need for speed that can be satisfied by the amateur who tweaks a machine that can be admired as a thing of beauty too.
Early bird tickets are$15 for one day or $20 for the weekend and are now available at
www.hdticketing.co.nz or on eventfinder. Children under 12 are free. This is an ideal introduction to Motorsport – have a go on the track on Easter Monday!
• Session One 10am -1pm- Just drive around the circuit in your own car at under 100km/h behind the safety car. This is a great way to experience driving around the circuit at a comfortable pace for $30 per car.
• Session Two 1pm - 4pm- This part of the day will be for drivers who want to experience the track at a faster pace. Drivers will have to wear helmets and overalls (which are available for hire) to drive around Hampton Downs at a faster pace in small groups for $50 per car.
• There will be a gymkhana course on the Skid Pan for $20.
This day is for car enthusiasts to just have a go on Hampton Downs in a non competitive environment.
Upcoming Playday at Hampton’s dates
6 March - twilight session for cars (sold out) and prestige group (sold out)
8 March - Blue Wing Honda - Enter through any Honda Dealer, all makes welcome
22 March - day session for race car test day
29 March – day session for cars (only a few places left), medium bikes and a Porsche only group
3 April - twilight session for cars and prestige group
6 April - day session for cars, driver training option and prestige group (race cars welcome)
13 April - day session for cars and novice and fast bikes
20 April - day session for cars and medium and fast bikes
Head to wwww.hdticketing.co.nz to book your space
Motorsport: Hat trick Murphy leaves V8 SuperTourers field in wake
5:30 AM Monday Feb 18, 2013
Supercars stalwart Greg Murphy leads the V8 SuperTourers at Hampton Downs yesterday - he would not have had it any other way. Photo / Geoff Ridder
V8 Supercars stalwart Greg Murphy slapped the gauntlet down at the opening round of the V8 SuperTourers, winning all three races at Hampton Downs yesterday.
He didn't have it all his own way, being harried, and led, at times by Ant Pedersen, who finished second twice and sixth in the feature race.
"I'd be pretty annoyed if someone won all three races - except if it was me of course," said Murphy. "The others raced hard and it wasn't easy.
"The racing is only going to get better. I didn't come here thinking three wins would be possible but sometimes things fall your way. I'm not going to get carried away and the boys did an incredible job."
The day got off to a raucous start in race one with six cars out of action before the field had even made turn two because of the red mist descending on Andre Heimgartner. The youngster's over-exuberance caused the demise of Craig Baird and defending V8 SuperTourers champion Scott McLaughlin, to name but two.
"There are some drivers out there that have to pull their heads in," said McLaughlin.
"It's the first race of the day, and the first of the season so it's crazy to have so many cars taken out on the first corner."
McLaughlin's car sustained heavy damage and was unable to make the restart, and Baird could manage only four laps. Only 14 cars made the restart, and of those, only 12 were classified as finishers.
On the restart, pole sitter Pedersen held his line but Murphy managed to get past on lap three and started to pull away from the rest of the field to win from Pedersen and Moore.
Race two was a more sedate affair.
Pedersen pulled a nice move on Murphy on lap two to take the lead and pulled away from the rest of the field. With three laps to go Murphy had closed to the boot straps of Pedersen's car and was soon past to win with Moore again in third.
"We were faster than Murph to begin with then my tyres went away and he was a lot better out of the corners than me," said Pedersen.
The usual suspects, Murphy, Pedersen and Moore, launched to lead race three when the lights went out, but this time Shane van Gisbergen was in the mix back in fifth. By half race distance it was patently obvious it was Murphy's weekend as he left the rest of the pack behind.
The series now heads off to Ruapuna, near Christchurch, for round two on March 9-10.
V8ST points after round one
Greg Murphy - 763
Ant Pedersen - 566
Richard Moore - 493
Shane van Gisbergen - 466
John McIntyre - 417
Paul Manuell - 386.
For this NZ Herald article and more please click here
Murph wins as V8 SuperTourers starts with a seven-car melee
- Sunday 17th February, 2013 12:14pm
- Author: SpeedCafe ©
Greg Murphy surges to race one win at Hampton Downs. Pic: Neville Bailey
Champion driver Greg Murphy has avoided a crash-riddled opening to the BNT V8 SuperTourer to record a sound victory at Hampton Downs.
The race was red flagged moments after the start when a chain reaction exiting turn one involved seven cars and forced the retirement of series champion Scott McLaughlin.
When the race was restarted after a 15-minute delay, leader and polesitter Ant Pedersen succumbed to a quicker Murphy who seized the lead on lap three.
Murphy (Mike Pero Commodore) ended up beating Pedersen (International Motorsport Falcon) with Richard Moore (Whitehaven Wines Commodore) third after qualifying down in 12th position.
The M3 Racing squad which houses Murphy saw the three-car stable take three of the top four positions with Paul Manuell clinching fourth just ahead of Chesters Commodore driver Tim Edgell.
Shane van Gisbergen (Koba Batteries Ford) worked his way into sixth position before a late mistake saw him slide off the road before recovering to finish
John McIntyre (Blackwoods Falcon) tried to valiantly defend third position but was under a sustained attack by Dan Gaunt (Tasman Motorsports Group Falcon) .
Just after mid-race Gaunt made contact with McIntyre, spinning the owner-driver around and subsequently copping a post-race penalty over the incident.
There will be more over the turn one crash with stewards examining the cause of the turn one incident which brought about McLaughlin’s premature end.
Sunday 17th February, 2013 2:42pm
Author: SpeedCafe ©
Greg Murphy holds the inside line over Ant Pedersen at the start of race 2. Pic: Neville Bailey
Touring car king Greg Murphy struck again, winning the second heat of the opening BNT V8 SuperTourer round at Hampton Downs.
After withstanding a huge challenge from International Motorsport driver Ant Pedersen, Murphy recovered from a couple of mistakes to win the 20-lap race after earlier triumphing in the crash-riddled 15-lap race.
Murphy led the way after winning the first heat, but his advantage was to be short-lived after running wide on the turn one right-hander, allowing Pedersen to pounce and surge to the front.
Behind them Paul Manuell (Commodore) was holding third but was quickly becoming a target for M3 stablemate Richard Moore (Commodore).
Back in the pack Mitch Cunningham (Falcon) was issued with a drive-through penalty after turning Simon McLennan around.
By lap six Moore was able to take over third from Manuell and then was able to close up on Murphy in second place a couple of laps later when the four-times Bathurst winner grazed the outside of the circuit kicking up a cloud of dust.
Pedersen had chiselled out a reasonable lead of a few seconds but then Murphy suddenly close the gap and by lap 19 he had speared into the lead with a copybook pass going into turn one.
Pedersen finished second with Moore finishing a menacing third while Shane van Gisbergen worked his way up through the field to finish fourth in the Koba Batteries Ford.
The Supercheap Auto crew continued to work on the McLaughlin Commodore as the race continued with the reigning series champ expected to rejoin the fight for the final 30-lap race that will decide the round.
McLaughlin went out in the dying stages of the race to check the car’s handling after the major repair work and is looking for a less eventual race later today.
Moments before the second heat began, the Clerk Of The Course handed down a $250 fine and issued Andre Heimgartner with a 30s penalty for his involvement in the race one crash that involved more than half a dozen cars.
Race 2 – 20 laps
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1
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Greg Murphy
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Commodore
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20
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2
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Ant Pedersen
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Falcon
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20
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3
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Richard Moore
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Commodore
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20
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4
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Shane van Gisbergen
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Falcon
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20
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5
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John McIntyre
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Falcon
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20
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6
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Paul Manuell
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Commodore
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20
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7
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Dan Gaunt
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Falcon
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20
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8
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Ash Walsh
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Commodore
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20
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9
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Andy Booth
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Commodore
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20
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10
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Dominic Storey
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Falcon
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20
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11
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Simon Evans
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Commodore
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20
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12
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Tim Edgell
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Commodore
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20
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13
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Angus Fogg
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Commodore
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20
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14
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Andre Heimgartner
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Commodore
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20
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15
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Craig Baird
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Falcon
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20
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16
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Simon McLennan
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Commodore
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20
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17
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Mitch Cunningham
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Falcon
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20
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18
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Scott McLaughlin
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Commodore
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3
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19
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Eddie Bell
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Falcon
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0
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VANISHING ACT: Murphy sweeps the floor at Hampton Downs
- Sunday 17th February, 2013 5:38pm
- Author: Gordon Lomas ©
Round 1 podium …Greg Murphy flanked by Ant Pedersen (right) and Richard Moore (left). Pic: Neville Bailey
Greg Murphy emerged without a scratch on his Mike Pero-backed Commodore to clean-sweep the opening round of the BNT V8 SuperTourer Championship at Hampton Downs.
In form which many associate with Murphy’s affinity for Pukekohe, the four-times Bathurst 1000 champ proved unstoppable, beating Shane van Gisbergen and John McIntyre in the final 30-lap race.
Drivers battled debris and an oil trail that started around turn two and spread until the last corner which remained for the majority of the race.
After the overall positions were collated Ant Pedersen (International Motorsport Falcon) was second for Round 1 while Richard Moore (Whitehaven Wines Commodore) was third.
“Clearly Ant was fast here this weekend and I was impressed with his pole time,” Murphy told Speedcafe.co.nz
“In this last race SVG was pushing awfully hard at the start and it was a matter of waiting to see whose tyres last the longest and fortunately ours were better.”
It was a decent engineering turnaround by the #51 crew after Murphy confirmed the car was very unbalanced in final practice.
“The car wasn’t good and was very nervous and the front and rear were not connected very well at all and today we joined them up.”
The crash-fest themed day continued however in the final heat with Dan Gaunt smoking into a corner with the brakes locked. Gaunt (Tasman Motorsports Group Falcon) continued into the corner out of control eventually forcing an unsuspecting Andre Heimgartner, who had been fingered for the blame in the multi-car pile-up in race one, off the track.
On the next lap Simon Evans and Mitch Cunningham became tangled up with Evan’s Peak Oil Commodore smacking the fence hard with the left-rear corner absorbing most of the energy in a nasty shunt exiting turn four.
On the restart Murphy led before van Gisbergen started his charge, dislodging Pedersen from second place by lap four.
Craig Baird (United Video Falcon) had been out of the luck in the earlier heats and then capitalised on some of the earlier carnage while maintaining a charge to move from 17th to fifth by lap 10.
The race then was developing into a match-race between Murphy and star offseason signing van Gisbergen however by mid-race the former Stone Brothers V8 Supercar driver had developed a problem in his Falcon and started falling back through the field.
Then he had an altercation with John McIntyre (Blackwoods Falcon) but it appeared that any hope of a showcase finish with Murphy and van Gisbergen had slipped away.
Just as that seemed the scenario, van Gisbergen suddenly found pace again and emerged as a contender.
He hunted second-placed McIntyre before passing him into second with seven laps remaining while Murphy held a nice advantage at the front of a battle-scarred pack.
With five laps left Pedersen, second in the opening two heats, was looking solid but he had a huge loose around turn three sliding sideways and closing in on the outside wall before narrowly avoiding trouble.
“Shane got me quite early and he was pushing hard early which is his style I guess,” Pedersen said of the onslaught from van Gisbergen.
“Sure enough Shane’s tyres ballooned and he started slipping backwards and I had to have two gos to get him and then I got him. But then I hit some oil and it hurt me.
“And with my huge off I basically said to myself I was in the wall at turn three and I was lucky as I was in third gear on the grass but I got back onto the track, picked second and got into the corner.”
Pedersen eventually salvaged a difficult race to finish sixth just behind Baird, who had a stirring run to finish fourth while Aussie Ash Walsh finished fifth.
It was a difficult day for the series champ Scott McLaughlin, who came away with just 27 points after his engine gave up in the early laps of the final heat.
Race 3 – 30 laps
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1
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Greg Murphy
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Commodore
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30
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2
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Shane van Gisbergen
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Falcon
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30
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3
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John McIntyre
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Falcon
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30
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4
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Craig Baird
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Falcon
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30
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5
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Ashley Walsh
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Commodore
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30
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6
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Ant Pedersen
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Falcon
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30
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7
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Richard Moore
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Commodore
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30
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8
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Eddie Bell
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Falcon
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30
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|
9
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Andy Booth
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Commodore
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30
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|
10
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Paul Manuell
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Commodore
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30
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|
11
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Andre Heimgartner
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Commodore
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30
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|
12
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Dominic Storey
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Falcon
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30
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|
13
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Daniel Gaunt
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Falcon
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30
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14
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Angus Fogg
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Commodore
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30
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15
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Tim Edgell
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Commodore
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30
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16
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Simon McLennan
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Commodore
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24
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17
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Mitch Cunningham
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Falcon
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10
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18
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Scott McLaughlin
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Commodore
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5
|
|
19
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Simon Evans
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Commodore
|
2
|
Media Release
15th February 2013
HAMPTON DOWNS SEEKS INTERNATIONAL BACKING
Investment sought to complete New Zealand’s finest motorsport facility
The two New Zealand motorsport enthusiasts who created Hampton Downs are seeking both National and International investment to secure the long term future of the 350 acre Motorsport Park, located 60km south of central Auckland.
Tony Roberts and Chris Watson have begun a campaign to explore interest in either purchasing or furtherfunding New Zealand’s finest motorsport facility.
“In order to develop Hampton Downs, and take it to the next level; additional funding is required and this investment needs to come from an outside source, said Tony Roberts, the Managing Director of Hampton Downs.
“Chris Watson and I have taken the dream about as far as we can on our limited resources. We have therefore engaged the Bayleys agency to present and market Hampton Downs to new investors”
“In the meantime it is business as usual at Hampton Downs. We will continue to operate and provide the first class motorsport experience motorsport enthusiasts have enjoyed over the last four years,” said Mr Roberts.
In the current configuration the facility is operating successfully and running at near capacity with more than 330 days per year of usage.
“The next logical step is the development of the 1.2km track extension, which would then give us three track options, being the current 2.7km circuit, the 1.2km club circuit and the full international 3.8km circuit.”
“In fact over the next four months Hampton Downs has an amazing calendar of motorsport”.
Since its official opening in January 2010, Hampton Downs has been host to some of New Zealand’s most iconic motor sport events, including the New Zealand Festival of Motor Racing, the International Toyota Racing Series, V8 SuperTourers, the Roycroft Vintage Car Festival, the Chrome Hot Rod Festival, D1NZ Drifting, the New Zealand Superbike Championship and the Barry Sheene Classic Bike meeting.
In recent months there have been further developments at the track including the sealing and upgrading of competitor facilities infield.
Late last year resource consent enabling daily spectator numbers to be increased from 20,000 to 50,000 for major events was approved by the Waikato District Council
“This Resource Consent allows Hampton Downs to fully achieve its potential and become a significant event centre and tourist attraction for the Auckland and Waikato regions.”
“Hampton Downs is just 40 minutes from the centre of Auckland City and the road is dual carriageway motorway for the entire 60kms. Our development provides significant economic benefits for both Auckland and the Waikato region.”
Already Hampton Downs has 250,000 people passing through its gates each year and 2.5 million people reside within 90 minutes of the circuit.
Mr Roberts said the partnership that conceived and created the $70m investment into the International motorsport complex wants to see the 1.2km track extension, corporate suites and race control tower completed as part of the vision.
“We want to complete full 3.8 km circuit that Chris Watson and I dreamed of creating when this project first began in 2004.” said Roberts.
“The basic layout for the extension was done at the same time as the construction of our existing 2.7 km circuit. The foundations were compacted and preloaded five years ago so we already have good foundations for the final sealing,” said Roberts.
“We’re ready to go on the final stages of this exciting Kiwi inspired project.”
Construction of the Hampton Downs Motorsport Park commenced in early 2007, with the original Resource Consent authorising the establishment and operation of the Motorsport Park and the establishment of various business, industrial and rural-residential uses on and around the Motorsport Park site, including 80 apartments.
For further information please contact:
Tony Roberts Managing Director Hampton Downs
Telephone: +64-9-280 6584
Mobile: +64-21-133 2895
Thursday 14th February, 2013 9:16am
A New Zealand record field of 29 cars have entered for Hampton Downs this weekend as the Motul Honda Cup starts its second year as a support category for BNT V8 SuperTourers.
The grass roots series supported the V8 SuperTourers at their opening event at the North Waikato track in 2012.
“We have come a long way in a year and it’s great that we have been able to assemble such a big field,” said class spokesman and competitor Richard Gee.
“We have a great selection of cars, many of which have competed in the domestic production championship, in the Targa, in endurance races and across many club events.
“Most if not all are self-maintained by the owners who race purely for the adrenalin. The fastest cars really do incorporate all that is good in Kiwi ingenuity and engineering excellence, even though many are run on shoestring budgets.”
Championship leader Mark Walters will be aiming to build on a big lead he has in this year’s Motul Honda Cup after 2012 champion Shane Parsons was beset with reliability issues in early rounds.
In the class battles, Wellington’s Warren Tunley is ahead of 2012 champion Gary Wilson and young hot shoe Shaun Morris, who is running under the wing of multiple NZ champion Kevin Varney in his Hydraulink-backed Civic.
The series’ top cars will lap Hampton Downs in the 1:12-1:13 bracket, and with most of the field covered by just three or four seconds, close battles are standard in Honda Cup.
“We’ve seen some titanic scraps in recent rounds, particularly in the smaller capacity classes,” added Gee.
“Mark’s had the edge at the front of the field in his Repco Integra and has been super reliable in a brand new car, but there will be a lot of drivers gunning for that top spot at Hampton Downs. This is our biggest event so far and there’ll be plenty of bragging rights for taking a race or round win.”
Motul Honda Cup runs three race formats and has saved its most exciting format – the Reverse Top Ten – for its single run on Sunday.
- Thursday 14th February, 2013 8:33am
- Author: SpeedCafe ©
The UDC NZ V8 Ute series changes up a gear by running on the undercard to the BNT V8 SuperTourer Championship full-time this season.
Entering its sixth season, the Commodore and Falcon Utes have churned out some promising drivers.
These include double champion Chris Pither, Tasman Motorsport Group’s emerging talent Andrew Waite and V8 Challenge Cup champion Matt Lockwood.
The latter is deputising in the Championship-winning V8ST for Scott McLaughlin (V8 Supercar launch duties at Sydney Motorsport Park) in the early practice sessions at Hampton Downs this weekend.
The category has a solid core of shareholders and is building a big future in its new home with several key developments to the series already underway.
The Ford FG Falcon Ute will join the series for the first time in the second half of the 2013 season and organisers are aiming to build on the initial 13 runners and grow the field to 16 or more this year.
The target for the 2014 season will be 20 plus, an ambitious goal for any racing category these days, but one which the UDC Ute series is well placed to achieve.
“The FG Falcon will be able to run alongside the current BF Falcon and VE Holden with parity maintained between all three,” explained series Managing Director Paul Isaac.
“The 5-litre Ford Coyote engine will also be introduced into the series as a replacement for the current BF Falcon engines being used.
“That will ensure the long-term future of the BF Falcon in New Zealand as competitors will have the option of an engine replacement or a refresh, and that is just one of the moves we have made to enhance the appeal of the UDC Ute championship and to attract more drivers into our ranks.”
As well as the pending appearance of the new model and a new powerplant, the Ute series will also see several new drivers stepping into the category.
Rex McCutcheon, Elton Goonan and Rob Gibson will all join the series this year and are eager to make their mark and follow in the footsteps of the likes of Lockwood, Waite and Pither.
A package to entice several Australian drivers across the Tasman and compete is also being considered with the phase out of the BF Falcon in the Aussie series.
The Utes will also be put on the big touring car stage at the V8 Supercar program at Pukekohe from April 12-14 for the third consecutive year after previously running at the defunct Hamilton street race.
At Hampton Downs this weekend, the Utes will first appear on the track tomorrow for a 20-minute practice run, before qualifying on Saturday followed by a 6 and 8-lap race with two more heats (8 and 12 laps) on Sunday.
TRACK TORQUE ON EVENTS
HAMPTON DOWNS EVENT UPDATEs
Over 26,000 people enjoyed the Gulf NZ Festival of Motor Racing in January andit started off with the launch of the Bruce McLaren Trust just-completed M8A-2. This was the car that in 1968 Denny Hulme won the Can-Am Championship. In 1969 it was upgraded to ‘B’ spec and driven by Brabham, Amon and Gurney and finally used in the last round by Bruce McLaren to clinch the 1969 Can-Am Championship. Afterwards it became a show car for Goodyear Tires and was then gifted to Denny Hulme for return to NZ and be placed in MOTAT museum. The restoration has been carried out by world renowned McLaren expert, Duncan Fox, who has spent a huge amount of time getting the car back to its original specifications. See below for the result which is now a work of art. The M8A-2 was parked in the Bruce McLaren Trust pit garage over the two weekends for people to admire.
Photo credit: Helen Shrewsbury
The double weekend Gulf New Zealand Festival of Motor Racing proved the event has come of age with big crowds on all days, plenty of international interest from competitors and media and some great racing to pay tribute to the country's only Formula One world champion, Denny Hulme.
New Zealand has a rich history in racing and motorsport engineering and the biggest annual gathering of Formula 5000 cars - big open single seaters that were the equal of F1 cars in their day - is a ground shaking experience for the drivers and the fans alike. Veteran racer Kenny Smith, who raced these cars in their heyday four decades ago and has never stopped racing, showed his class again with three exciting wins in a car rebuilt after a major accident at Manfeild. The Lola T332 was only finished hours before it was scheduled to take to the Hampton Downs circuit.
Photo credit: Jamie Walker
It's an event which is gaining international credibility with every passing year and with Denny Hulme in mind, more than 100 international drivers made the long trek with their cars to the event, each driver packed with amazing stories of their own racing adventures and of those of their cars.
In keeping with celebrating Denny Hulme there were a number of Can-Am machines from the era to show the public what these cars were like. Williams and Roberts thundered around in their M8’s, while being kept honest by Kirk-Burnnand, Clements and Radisich.
Photo Credit: Neville Bailey
The ex-Denny Hulme B&H Racing BMW M3, owned by Kevin Underwood, was also present and competing in Group A. This car was the last car Denny Hulme drove at Mount Panorama, Bathurst in 1992.
Some of the highlights were Kenny Smith coming through from third on the grid to win his debut race in his beautifully restored Lola T332 F5000 car - which looked as good if not better than it would have rolled out of the factory all those years ago.
Second was Steve Ross with Clark Proctor third. Steve Ross starred in the Formula 5000 race, clocking a one minute flat lap to beat legend Kenny Smith into second.
On the second weekend high-profile Auckland all-rounder Clark Proctor (March 73A-1) was the race winner after a popular lights-to-flag win in the feature 15-lap final.For the next six laps Smith was never more than two or three car lengths behind Proctor with Ross getting past Thornton but too far behind the make any real impression on the front pair.Over the race Smith was never more than two or three car lengths behind Proctor with Ross getting past Thornton but too far behind to make any real impression on the front pair.
Pierre Tonetti from Italy continued to dominate the awesome Formula Junior field, while Roger William's McLaren M8E/F Dominated the Can-Am field and Tony Boyden won the Group A race in his Holden Commodore. Martin Bullock won a Tasman encounter in Chevron B17C.
Group A - the types of car used in the Wellington Street Races - drew a big field and plenty of admiration from the knowledgeable crowds, and the Historic Muscle Cars enjoyed a fantastic time too.
Photo credit: Darryl Hutton
We look forward to celebrating the famous Ferrari marque at next year’s festival on 17 – 19 and 24 – 26 January 2014, so start your planning now, as it is sure to be a Motorsport Festival not to be missed.
The NZ Motor Cup with the Toyota Racing Series
As the 2013 Toyota Racing Series arrived at Hampton Downs for the fourth and penultimate round, Nick Cassidy had wrested control of the championship away from the internationals. Consistency and a never-say-die attitude had benefitted the Auckland teenager, though the arrival of double TRS champion Mitch Evans seemed set to add further heat to the championship.
Evans, the 2012 GP2 champion, was making a brief three-race return to the championship on one of his favourite circuits.
Despite not having been in a race car in six months, Evans set pole in both qualifying sessions. He won the opening race on the Saturday and the twenty-lap feature race for the prestigious New Zealand Motor Cup the following day.
Over the race weekend, with air temperatures in the low 30s and trackside temperatures tipping 65 degrees Celsius, it was Cassidy who kept the pressure on the championship points battle by winning the 15-lap race two, which is a part-reverse grid.
Both days of racing were punctuated by spectacular crashes – in the first race, Brazilian Bruno Bonifacio brought out the red flag when he crashed over the top of rookie Jann Mardenborough at the infield hairpin on the first lap. Both drivers were unhurt in the spectacular crash, but Bonifacio had beached his car in a gravel trap and was out of the race. Mardenborough drove slowly around to reform on the grid and some feverish work by the ETEC Motorsport pit crew got his car back into shape for the green light.
Photo credit: Jon Barrett
The next day it was Mardenborough’s turn to initiate a safety car period when he ran into the back of Italian Ignazio D’Agosto’s car, damaging his front wing and crashing out of the race.
At the front of the field, though, there were no such dramas for Evans, Cassidy, Austrian driver Lucas Auer and British driver Alex Lynn, all of whom kept their championship hopes alive. Evans in particular showed his racing pedigree with two easy wins, holding out Alex Lynn in the feature race to scribe his name on the NZ Motor Cup a second time.
In the end, a week later, it was Cassidy who proved his mettle as a race driver, staying the distance to take his second championship and winning a second New Zealand Grand Prix title in the process.
Triumph Classic Bike Festival – the crowd outdid all expectations!
Shifting an event institution like the Pukekohe Classic Motorcycle Racing Festival to a new date and a new venue for its 34th Festival was a matter of necessity due to the track upgrades at the former venue, but would the people come was the big question. Two hundred riders entered on 270 machines and the weather over the three days was a scorcher that no doubt encouraged the many fans to come along.
Photo credit: Doug Cornes
The Triumph sponsored event added new elements to the festival with a sponsors motorcycle display in the pavilion of MV Augusta, Aprilia and Moto Guzzi machines with some having only landed in New Zealand a few days prior, plus Webbs had a promotion display for their next motorcycle auction that drew wide interest.
On the Friday Triumph NZ ran a track day in conjunction with the Classic Register practice sessions and throughout the weekend had twenty new Triumph models for the public to demo ride on a fifty kilometre circuit through the local country roads, a most enjoyable experience for those who took up the opportunity. International Grand Prix racer Ron Chandler of England was in New Zealand the week before the event so was able to do publicity work at motorcycle dealers and events prior, plus a spot for TV One News. His rare Triumph ‘Works’ Triple F750 machine created huge interest throughout the weekend and the focus on the Triumph saw the largest gathering of classic road based Tridents (produced 1968-76) at a single event in New Zealand.
Photo credit: Doug Cornes
And then there was the amazing racing, with many great performances over the weekend by this countries top classic racers including Nick Cole (NZ Superbike Star) and Chris Swallow who seemed to get lots of commentators airtime. Chris Swallow collected a haul of trophies for the Saturday & Sunday racing and Mike Ross from Gisborne was called up a lot at the Sunday prizegiving as well. Next year seems a long way off but you can bet the 35th Anniversary Event will be pretty special, roll on 2014.
This weekend is the first round of the 2013 BNT V8 SuperTourers
The 2013 BNT V8 SuperTourers Series roars into life at Hampton Downs Feb 16/17 so don’t wait any longer to book your tickets!
Two days of non-stop action. Support categories include V8 Challenge Cup, UDC V8 Utes, Suzuki Winger Suzuki Swift Sport Cup, Central Muscle Cars, Honda Cup and Xtreme Sport & GT.
Here’s nine very good reasons why you need to book your tickets online prior to Friday Feb 15th at www.ticketpros.co.nz
- Pay $10 less per person by buying prior to the event on Ticketpros.co.nz
- Buy a Weekend Pass and save more
- All those who buy online prior to round one go in the draw to WIN a VIP all expenses paid trip for two to Round Two at Ruapuna, Christchurch March 9/10
- Be in to WIN a weekend for four in a two bedroom apartment at Hampton Downs on Feb 15/16
- Be in to WIN one of four Hot laps in a BNT V8 SuperTourer
- Be in to WIN one of 6 track rides in the BNT V8 SuperTourer Safety Car
- Be in to WIN one of 6 upgrades to VIP “Woodstock Rock Zone” Tickets
- Be in to WIN one 2 upgrades to our Pavilion Hospitality package
- Be in to WIN one of 20 V8 SuperTourer Caps
Purchase your ticket on line before 5pm on Friday February 15th and you go in the draw for all prizes listed above except for the Ruapuna prize which will be drawn on March 5th and the Hampton
All winners will be notified by 7pm on Friday February 15th
Here’s a few more excellent reasons to book your ticket now
Van Gisbergen, Murphy, McLaughlin, Baird, McIntyre, Fogg, Gaunt, Moore, Manual, Booth, Pederson, Evans, Ninkranz, Bell, McLennan, Storey, Edgell, Heimgartner
We can’t wait to see these champions go head to head in 2013, can you?
Need a few more reasons? How about our on-track entertainment!
Woodstock Rock Zone – VIP TICKETS NOW ON SALE
Get up close to action at the Woodstock Rock Zone, perfectly located on the edge of the track in the heart of Hampton Downs. Crack open a Woody and tune into the sounds on the Rock FM, witness the hunt for V8 Supertourers’ next top Grid Girl and party to the thunder of the V8 SuperTourers. Get your VIP package now at half price on Grabone by clicking http://www.grabone.co.nz/auckland/v8-supertourers-limited?secret=c419147a4e3629c6df8f7be8d4dc129c. Package includes drinks, lunch, entry coach transfers from Auckland City.
Family Entertainment – There will be plenty for the kids to do and we have made a special effort to provide mums and young ladies with a special indulgence area where they can relax and unwind.
D1NZ – Drifting Championship
With a little under 20 days to go before D1NZ Round 4 there are some goodies up for Grabs to help spread the word!
You could score you and your mates 5 VIP passes to be hosted at the event (includes lunch, drinks and D1NZ Merch) On March 01st – 02nd at Hampton Downs, A Hot lap for you and 2 mates in the D1NZ 4 seater Drift Hilux and access to the pits to see all the action!
The lucky winner will be drawn next Thursday 24th February.
For more event details, check official facebook event (www.facebook.com/d1nzofficial) and don’t miss this sick event!
Ticket only $10 on Friday, $20 on Saturday or $50 for a VIP pass.
Easter weekend, Saturday 30 and Sunday 31 March 2013
There will be fields of Pre War & Pre 1960 Vintage Sports cars, Historic Single seaters, Sports Racing cars and Classic Saloon/ GTs joined by demonstrations from pre 1963 Vintage Motor Cycles.
In addition to the racing there will be infield displays of Vintage cars, Vintage Speedway midgets, plus demonstrations of the Ralph Watson WW1 aero engine, Steam and Stationary engines.
In Hampton’s pavilion there is a live Dixie land entertainment and a collection of trade stands with antiques, vintage clothing, books, art work and delectable cuisine. In keeping with the theme drivers, riders and teams will be in period clothing, so come and be a part of this stylish and iconic era.
Upcoming Playday at Hampton’s dates
14 February - day session for race car test day
19 February - twilight session for cars and prestige group – sold out
23 February - Big Bike Day Out – only spaces in slow group left
24 February - Big Bike Day Out – only spaces in slow group left
6 March - twilight session for cars and prestige group
8 March - Blue Wing Honda
22 March - day session for race car test day
29 March – day session for cars and bikes
3 April - twilight session for cars and prestige group
New Zealand's international single-seater championship will probably be raced in new cars next summer.
At Sunday's awards ceremony at Toyota New Zealand's headquarters, the company's general manager of finance, John Fowke, floated the idea that after nine years the Toyota Racing Series cars may have come to the end of their life.
He said a decision to look at a new car would be made soon. The company intends to explore replacing the chassis, engines and gearboxes.
Fowke said it might also be time to upgrade the long-serving Tatuus chassis and tubs.
He pointed out that although the cars had been put through the wringer and survived some impressive prangs, there was a lot to be said for a new look and incorporating the latest safety features.
The cars are put through 15 races in five weekends throughout New Zealand. It's the intensity of that back-to-back racing that attracts overseas drivers to the series, as they can get more race kilometres under their wheels than in a season of European racing.
Such is the popularity of the championship internationally that only three Kiwi drivers contested the entire season. They were joined by Mitch Evans for a one-off gig at Hampton Downs and 71-year-old Kenny Smith, making his annual sojourn to the New Zealand Grand Prix at Manfeild over the weekend.
It was Smith's 47th hit-out at the Grand Prix and he came home 16th in a field of 20.
Even better was that, despite 17 international drivers in the field, the championship and the Grand Prix title remain in Kiwi hands.
After nine years of TRS racing an overseas driver has yet to win either title, and defending series and NZGP champion Nick Cassidy has his name engraved on both trophies again.
"This race [New Zealand Grand Prix] was massively important and we had been planning it for a while," said the 19-year-old. "They tell me I'm the youngest ever two-times winner of the New Zealand Grand Prix. That's amazing."
Brit Alex Lynn was always less than a second behind but could not get close enough to challenge.
Three safety-car periods following crashes bunched up the field but each time Cassidy timed the restart well and stayed safely in the lead.
Although he has again beaten a field including several with established reputations in Europe, Cassidy is finding it hard to raise the cash to achieve his ambition of racing single-seaters in the Northern Hemisphere.
"Before the race I had no money and now I've got $5000. Funding is the only issue that's really holding me back from going to Europe again.
"At the end of the day I've proven that I'm capable of beating the premier junior guys from Europe and I'm keen to get back there."
Dutch driver Steijn Schothorst, who had his first win on Saturday, came third.
Austrian Lucas Auer shot from 11th to fourth in the early laps with some excellent passing moves but faded to sixth. Brazilians Pipo Derani and Bruno Bonifacio came in fourth and fifth, Derani having made some brave overtaking manoeuvres.
Cassidy won the series from Lynn, Auer, Schothorst and Bonifacio.
In the NZV8s Championship, Australian Jason Bargwanna looked set for a clean sweep until his car rolled to a stop while he was leading the last race. He managed to restart and finished fourth, while Nick Ross won from Martin Short.
"It was an electrical problem but we don't know exactly what it was," said Bargwanna.
With two rounds to go, he leads Short by 12 points, with Ross third, 96 points further back. These three all drive the new-generation cars - Short a Toyota Camry and the other two Holdens.
Teenage brothers AJ and Brad Lauder are first and second in the category for the original cars despite Andrew Anderson winning all three races at Manfeild.
Rookie James Munro won all three Formula Ford races after fierce scraps with Tom Alexander, and has closed to three points behind championship leader Brendon Leitch.
For this article and more by the NZ Herald click here
A fired up and refreshed Greg Murphy is eyeing up his first domestic New Zealand title for more than 17 years this season, in the V8 SuperTourers championship starting this weekend.
The four-time Bathurst 1000 winner is fully fit and hopes to put the frustrations of 2012 behind him when he finished 28th in the V8 Supercars championship and missed several races due to the relapse of an old back injury after a crash at the Clipsal 500. Murphy was also released by Kelly Racing after two years with the outfit but had a better time of it in the inaugural V8 SuperTourers.
Murphy won the first ever V8 SuperTourer race at Hampton Downs last year, finished second in the overall championship and won the V8 SuperTourer endurance series with Jack Perkins.
"Being punted off in the last race at the last round within sight of the flag sort of got the whole team's back up and they are fairly revved up to come out fighting right from the first green light at Hampton Downs next week," Murphy said.
"We were super-competitive at nearly every round last year so there's no reason why we should not be right on the pace at Hampton Downs.
Article continues below
We proved last year the team had a solid understanding of the car very early on and we did not have any reliability issues like some of the other teams. This season it's all about putting that speed and consistency into a full campaign and showing these young guns there's life in the old dog yet. It should be a bit of fun."
The 2013 field is bigger and in Murphy's opinion better than that which began the V8 SuperTourer era a year ago.
"Just look at the names in there - Van Gisbergen, McLaughlin, Baird, McIntyre, Booth, Gaunt, Moore, Manuell - all of those guys are easily capable of bagging a race win at some stage and if they can find consistency, could easily mount a title challenge.
"Even the smaller teams with the younger drivers are getting a grip of the cars and showing real pace - look at Edgell and McLennan's speed at Ruapuna. No question, this is going to be a hugely competitive season and with 20 or more cars on the grid. Since the first SuperTourer race last year, there was no doubt that this championship was the only real V8 series in New Zealand. The fans know where to come to watch the best touring car action in New Zealand and I can't wait to be a part of it again."
For this article and more by the NZ Herald click here
Thursday 7th February, 2013 5:09pm
Author: SpeedCafe ©
Tasman Motorsports Group has revealed a revised look, a new collection of sponsors and a split driver format for its 2013 BNT V8 SuperTourers Championship campaign.
While Valvoline and Autotrader remain with the Steve Horne-owned squad, IVECO Trucks and Midas have joined the team.
The car will be steered by Daniel Gaunt and Andrew Waite, who have elected to split the four sprint rounds between them.
Horne is confident his car will race at the front of the field in 2013.
“I think we demonstrated quickly last year, that we have the ability to run at the front,” says Horne.
“We’ll be looking for some strong performances early this season, which will give us ideal preparation for when the enduro championship kicks off.”
“I expect Daniel Gaunt to be on the pace from Round 1 and challenging for podiums again.
“Andrew Waite did three races with us last year and did everything we asked of him. He quickly demonstrated he is a capable and talented driver and deserves to be in V8 SuperTourers, some extra race miles in the sprint rounds will give him further confidence in the car come enduro time.”
Round 1 of the 2013 BNT V8 SuperTourers Championship will be held at Hampton Downs on February 16/17.
For this article and more by Speedcafe NZ click here By Eric Thompson
5:30 AM Wednesday Feb 6, 2013
Evans puts on show for fans before heading to Europe for start of GP2
Mitch Evans has made a flying visit to Hampton Downs - in more ways than one - before he jets to Europe for the GP2 season.
The two-time Toyota Racing Series winner and his sponsors put together a one-off gig at the fourth round of the championship to thank his fans and backers before he joins his Euro outfit, Arden International.
Despite not having been in a race car since September, Evans set pole in both qualifying races, won race one, finished fourth in the reverse-grid top four second race and took out the New Zealand Motor Cup feature race.
"The weekend has done my confidence a lot of good before I go to Europe and get ready for the GP2 season," Evans said.
"It's a good way to start the season and know I'm still competitive and win races against some tough competition."
It was also a good weekend for series leader and defending champion Nick Cassidy. He piled on the points to lead the championship by 32 points from Austrian Lucas Auer and Brit Alex Lynn.
A bonus for Cassidy and his team was gaining their first win. He's been Mr Consistent, finishing outside the top five only twice in 12 races and has been on the podium seven times.
The Aucklander took full advantage of the reverse-grid top four race to bolt away from pole position to win the 15-lapper from Pipo Derani and Auer.
"I was relieved to finally get my first race win after coming close a few times," said Cassidy.
"More important, though, is extending the points gap over Lucas [and] heading to the final round at Manfeild next weekend with a bit of a buffer."
Seven drivers still have a chance to win the title but realistically it'll be a battle between three.
Cassidy and Auer have swapped the series lead and the points gap between them has never been much.
Lynn has rocketed into contention after a miserable opening round at Teretonga where he crashed spectacularly in the feature race.
Lynn has been on a charge since, and could pip the other two to become the first international driver to win the nine-year-old championship. For video highlights of spins and wins at Hampton Downs, go to bit.ly/14yTnWJ
TRS points after four rounds
1 Nick Cassidy 706
2 Lucas Auer 674
3 Alex Lynn 623
4 Felix Serralles 572
5 Steijn Schothorst 565
6 Pipo Derani 498
7 Damon Leitch 491
By Eric Thompson
For this article and more click here
Young Aucklander's outing at TRS champs preparation for Europe and tilt at GP2 title.
Bruno Bonifacio mounts the rear of Jann Mardenborough's car in race one at Hampton Downs. Photo / Bruce Jenkins
Former two-time Toyota Racing Series champion Mitch Evans showed he hasn't lost his touch.
In a one-off gig at round four of the TRS championship at Hampton Downs, Evans quickly came to grips with a car that he hasn't raced in a year.
The young Aucklander was competing at the weekend to get a few race kilometres under his belt before heading to Europe in preparation for his tilt at the GP2 championship.
Form can be fickle but class is permanent, and Evans proved his pedigree by setting pole in both qualifying sessions and then proceeding to win the opening race on Saturday, finish fourth in yesterday's first race and then take the prestigious New Zealand Motor Cup in the afternoon.
"The weekend definitely gives me a bit of confidence heading into a pretty big year for me," said Evans. "It's good to know that I'm still competitive and able to win races against some very tough competition and I'm absolutely rapt."
In race one Evans hooked up well when the lights went out and led the field into turn one from Briton Alex Lynn. The race was red flagged after Bruno Bonifacio mounted the rear of Jann Mardenborough's car to end up high in the air.
Article continues below
At the restart Evans and Lynn were at it hammer and tongs again but the Briton couldn't get past as there was too much debris off the racing line.
"We had a great battle out there but there weren't many places I could safely have a go at overtaking. Mostly I just stayed in Mitch's mirrors and looked for a mistake," said Lynn.
Pipo Derani came home third with Cassidy fourth and Auer fifth, meaning Cassidy extended his lead in the championship to 11 points.
Taking advantage of the reverse top four finishers grid for race two, Cassidy took off like Lance Armstrong on steroids to take his first win of the series and further extend his lead over Auer in the championship.
Derani backed up his race-one result with another podium finish with Auer rounding out the top three, and Lynn came home fifth to settle into third place in the race for the title.
"It was good to get that little monkey [first race win] off my back but even better to get a bit more of a points buffer in the championship over Lucas in the series," said Cassidy.
The series is nicely poised for a major showdown in Manfeild next weekend with any one of five drivers in with a chance to get his name on the TRS trophy. There is also the small matter of the New Zealand Grand Prix title up for grabs - one of only two FIA-recognised GP titles outside Formula One.
In eight years of the championship an overseas driver has yet to leave New Zealand with a TRS title. Defending champion Cassidy sits atop the points table heading to Feilding after extending his lead further after the feature race, but he has four internationals snapping at his heels.
TRS points
After four rounds:
1 Nick Cassidy (New Zealand) 706
2 Lucas Auer (Austria) 674
3 Alex Lynn (UK) 654
4 Steijn Schothorst (Netherlands) 565
5 Felix Serralles (Puerto Rico) 561
6 Bruno Bonifacio (Brazil) 502
For this article by the NZ Herald and more click here
Sunday 3rd February, 2013 11:50am
Author: SpeedCafe
The defending Toyota Racing Series champion Nick Cassidy has registered his maiden win for 2013 by snatching the middle heat at Hampton Downs.
Aucklander Cassidy took full advantage of the reverse top four order to steam away from the pole position to win the 15-lap race from Pipo Derani and his closest Championship rival Lucas Auer.
Although the M2 Competition driver Cassidy leads the point standings, it had taken him 11 races to crack a win in the 15-race 2013 Championship.
Auer (Giles Motorsport) staged a late pass on reigning European GP3 champion Mitch Evans to claim the final podium spot.
A yellow flag was out shortly after the start with Singapore driver Andrew Tang’s ETEC machine coming to a stop after the hairpin before the race was restarted with 11 laps to go.
With racing back up to speed Evans soon passed Lynn to move into third position as Cassidy and Derani set the pace out in front.
Auer was also on the move and displaced Lynn for fourth as the Austrian tried desperately to stay as close to Cassidy as possible.
A great battle had developed between Evans and Derani in the fight for second place as Cassidy looked strong out in front, easing out to a lead of almost three seconds in the dying laps before officially winning by 4.012s.
“We got a good break on the field at the start. Once things settled down I didn’t have to drive defensively,” Cassidy said.
From the rear of the field Bruno Bonifacio was on a mission moving up to 10th position by midrace and claimed another spot with four laps remaining, eventually classified in ninth.
TRS Race 2 – 15 laps
1 Nick Cassidy 17:21.821
2 Pipo Derani 17:25.833
3 Lucas Auer 17:26.487
4 Mitch Evans 17:26.677
5 Alex Lynn 17:27.026
6 Jann Mardenborough 17:27.370
7 Steijn Schothorst 17:28.976
8 Nicholas Latifi 17:32.427
9 Bruno Bonifacio 17:32.602
10 Tanart Sathienthirakul 17:32.794
11 Damon Leitch 17:37.764
12 Felix Serralles 17:38.268
13 Tatiana Calderon 17:39.081
14 Akash Nandy 17:42.092
15 Michael Scott 17:49.460
16 Spike Goddard 18:06.534
17 Dennis Olsen -5 laps
18 Andrew Tang -15 laps
19 Ignazio D’Agosto DNF
For this article and more by Speedcafe go to www.speedcafe.co.nz
Sunday 3rd February, 2013 4:38pm
Mitch Evans wins New Zealand Motor Cup in super cameo appearance at Hampton Downs.
Single-seater ace Mitch Evans has capped his one-off 2013 Toyota Racing Series appearance with a win in the prestigious New Zealand Motor Cup at Hampton Downs.
Starting from pole position Evans displayed his class to win from Essex driver Alex Lynn with Nick Cassidy finishing third.
Evans scored two wins from the three races in the fourth round of the TRS however Cassidy has consolidated his lead by virtue of a win in the middle heat and his podium in the 20-lap feature.
The race started once again in dramatic circumstances with Jann Mardenborough’s horror run continuing after he suffered race-ending damage on the opening tour with the race red flagged.
Cassidy’s closest Championship rival Lucas Auer was subsequently forced to start from pitlane but by lap five he had sliced his way through traffic and moved into ninth position.
Austrian Auer continued his charge to finish on the tail of Cassidy in fourth position with the title now to be decided at the premier New Zealand grand prix meeting at Manfeild next weekend.
GP3 champion takes to track before heading to Europe for GP2 assault.
This year's Toyota Racing Series is shaping to be the best.
Just 100 points separate the top seven drivers.
There have been five different winners spread over the last three rounds, and despite defending champion New Zealander Nick Cassidy leading the series by six points, there has yet to be a Kiwi winner.
Things might just change this weekend at Hampton Downs as the field is being bolstered by the addition of a fourth Kiwi racer to the 18-car field to complement Cassidy, Damon Leitch and Michael Scott
Two-time former TRS champion, and GP3 champion, Mitch Evans is having a bit of a yahoo to get a few race kilometres under his belt before heading off to Europe for his assault on the GP2 championship.
It's been a while since Evans has been in a TRS car and a good four months since he nailed his GP3 title. The rest of the field had better not rest on their laurels, though, and disregard Evans as a threat just because they've had nine races in three weeks.
Last year, Evans raced only two rounds, winning twice, finishing second twice and was leading the New Zealand Grand Prix when he was sidelined with an electrical fault.
"I wasn't going to do anything [in New Zealand] but the opportunity came about and my New Zealand sponsors (Wet and Forget, Giltrap City Toyota, Skinny Mobile, and the Mad Butcher) were keen for me to race at home before I head back to Europe," said Evans.
"I was super keen to do it anyway and after getting clearance from my management [Mark Webber] and new team [Arden] here I am.
"It's good race experience. Obviously the cars are very different but the competition is pretty high and it's all about race mileage.
"It's good to get into that environment of tyres, race starts, racing other guys, race craft and stuff before I get to Malaysia [first round of GP2 as support to opening F1 race]."
The three races at Hampton Downs culminate tomorrow with the 20-lap feature race for the New Zealand Motor Cup.
This famous trophy has been won by some of the world's most famous racing drivers, some pre-dating the 1960s Tasman Series era.
Evans will race for Stephen Giles Motorsport, which is the same team he won back-to-back TRS titles with in 2010 and 2011 and the New Zealand Grand Prix at Manfeild in 2011.
"Last year and even the year before I had good battles with Nick [Cassidy]. It's good to come back and continue the rivalry.
"Nick and I have had some good races against each other in TRS so I'm looking forward to lining up against him as well as all of the fast international drivers this weekend.
"The New Zealand Motor Cup holds a special place in New Zealand motor racing history. It's good to be kicking off my racing year in Auckland because this is home," said Evans.
He already has his name on the New Zealand Motor Cup, having won it in 2011 and finished a close second to Cassidy last year.
Evans and Cassidy won't have it all their own way, though. Brit Alex Lynn has won three of the last four races, and bar a mistake at Taupo in race two would have made a clean sweep of the weekend.
Austrian Lucas Auer has matured in the past year and has coupled his evident speed with race craft keeping his car on the black stuff this year. He has finished outside the top five only once in nine races and sits second on the championship table.
Rounding out the top three is Felix Serralles who, while still in the hunt with two wins, may just come to regret a less than productive weekend at Taupo.
A youngster to watch this weekend is Steijn Schothorst, from the Netherlands, who has steadily improved over the past three weeks and looks good for his first win.
TRS points
Points after round three
1 Nick Cassidy New Zealand 517
2 Lucas Auer Austria 511
3 Felix Serralles Puerto Rico 477
4 Alex Lynn UK 471
5 Stejin Schothorst Netherlands 451
6 Bruno Bonifacio Brazil 448.
For this article by the NZ Herald and more click here
Such is the growing reputation of the Toyota Racing Series in some European countries, drivers who have done a championship in the past are recommending their fellow open-wheel pilots head down south.
Young Netherlands driver Steijn Schothorst is one, who, on the recommendation of former TRS competitor and teammate Jordan King, decided to expand his single-seater experience by coming to New Zealand to race.
The 18-year-old is just starting his third year in single seaters, having already competed in the 2012 Formula Renault 2.0-litre Northern European Cup and Formula Ford. He does, however, come from a racing family as his father and cousin compete in the Eurocup Megane Trophy, and he's raced alongside his brother Pieter in Formula Renault.
"I started following the TRS series after Jordan told me about it," says Schothorst. "Halfway through last season we decided to come here and have some fun.
"I really like it a lot and it's very good for learning things that I might not learn in Europe but may need.
"You learn how to drive the car very, very smoothly to get the last few tenths of a second out of it."
Schothorst has steadily improved over the nine races so far in the championship. His worst finish of eighth (other than having to pit for a broken front wing) was in the opening race of the series in Teretonga. Like a number of newcomers to the TRS series, he's not been on any of the tracks but did follow Hannes van Asseldonk, another TRS graduate, on YouTube last year.
Schothorst has steadily moved towards the front of the pack and now has three podium finishes, three fourth places and a sixth. Not too shabby for a young man in a new car on unfamiliar circuits.
"We're close to getting our first win after two thirds and a second. My driving is getting better and who knows, maybe a win is close now.
"I don't have as much experience as some of the guys in single seaters, but if you want to compete you have to adjust quickly," he says.
Natural talent is all well and good, but having a great mentor on hand to help young drivers negotiate their way through a new series and new machinery is a must. With M2 Competition, Schothorst not only has a good crew looking after his car, but his engineer and mentor is none other than Chris van der Drift.
The Kiwi has a growing international reputation as a fast bloke in anything with four wheels and an engine. Van der Drift has either set the fastest time, won, or been on the podium in every category he's competed in from A1GP, GP2 Asia, Formula Renault, Formula BMW, WSR, Italian GT3 and others.
"Chris has been a big help and because he has so much experience in many different cars, you can believe the stuff he tells you. It's really good and I believe most of things he tells me, especially about the racing,"says Schothorst. "Honestly, I do listen to him."
Van der Drift is held in high regard as a driver coach overseas and in New Zealand and is the driver coach for the entire M2 Competition team. He has a quiet, no-nonsense approach and is keen to get the best out of his charges.
"Back in Europe I suggested it would be good for Steijn to come down here and further develop his driver skills," said van der Drift. "I was looking after Tanart [Sathienthirakul] here last year and he improved a lot when he got back to Europe.
"Steijn was in his first European season and he won a couple of races and finished fifth in championship. You could see he has good speed. He's also a very nice kid, which is helpful.
"He's good to work with and after a session we sit down and go through things. When you suggest something to him he'll go and do it and see the benefits.
"The good thing for him is he's able to put the advice into practice and get better gaining more confidence as he goes along. The plan is to keep building on what he's learning and get him his first race win."
This weekend at the fourth round of the TRS season at Hampton Downs may just be the circuit Schothorst gets his first win. He sits fifth on the points table in behind Brit Alex Lynn, with Puerto Rican Felix Serralles, Austrian Lucas Auer and defending champion, New Zealander Nick Cassidy, in the top three spots.
Cassidy has yet to get his first win, but by accumulating points in each race he leads the title race by six points from Auer. Lynn has been in scorching form and if he hadn't crashed heavily at Teretonga, he'd be in command and control of the championship. He's won three of the last four races, however the Hampton Downs track is a different kettle of fish to that of Taupo.
There have been five different winners in nine races and each driver is more than capable of standing on top of the podium - as is Cassidy, Damon Leitch and Schothorst.
The north Waikato is New Zealand's newest international track and with its European influence will suit the wings and slicks of TRS cars. The weekend will be one to watch - and don't be too surprised if there are a few different winners come Sunday afternoon.
By Eric Thompson
For this article and more by the NZ Herald click here
Wednesday, 30 January 2013
Press Release: Bike NZ
Classic Racing Festival 2013 at Hampton Downs
The Annual Pukekohe Classic Motorcycle Racing Festival, in its 34th year will this year be held at Hampton Downs on Feb 8-9-10th due to the track upgrade work at Pukekohe for the Australian V8 series.
The Classic Festival has through the years been the largest event of its type in the Southern Hemisphere and 2013 is no different with over 270 classic race bikes entered from the Pre 1976 era. Triumph NZ are the major sponsor for the Festival.
International Guest Rider is Ron Chandler from England, a top Grand Prix rider of his era and a Triumph ‘Works’ Rider for the 1973 season. As the British motorcycle industry was crumbling the Triumph Trident Formula 750 machines were still the fastest machine and one of the best you could get.
In his first International Race at Rouen in France, the richest race in Europe at the time with 2,200 pounds for first prize, Ron won against all the best teams in Europe on the last factory ‘Works’ bike built at Meridian.
This was the last win for a Triumph Works bike and the Festival will mark 40 Years since that achievement with a special focus over the weekend on the World’s first Superbike, the BSA Rocket 3 and Triumph Trident. They were released in the USA in 1968 just one month before the ground-breaking Honda 4 750 but the design had been drawn up in 1963 and the bikes could have been produced in 1965 as the prototypes were ground breaking with 58bhp on tap and had very smooth engines.
There will be lunch time parades for the public to take their historic triples, the BSA Rocket 3 A75, Triumph Trident T150 & T160 or specials produced from 1969 to 1976 onto the track for a 10 minute session on both the Saturday and the Sunday. Ron Chandler has bought his genuine racer to NZ for the event and in addition to riding in the Open Class races there is a special F750 triples race each day with eight NZ based Rod North Replicas lining up on the grid.
The sound will be magic and the like of which has never heard in Australasia before. For 2014 there is strong interest from Australian owners to bring their race triples over to join in our unique festival.
With Triumph sponsoring the Festival there is a ‘TriDay’ track day for all comers on the Friday plus demo rides of all the new Triumph range on the local roads over the three days of the event. In the Hamptons Pavilion there will be a display of rare motorcycles by Webb’s for their upcoming auction in March plus a static display of the latest Moto Guzzi, Aprilia and MV Agusta machines.
A pair of unique Triumph T100 classics will also be on display, A 1950 Grand Prix racer of the type used to win the Manx Grand Prix in 1946 and 1947 plus the first ‘Round the Houses’ meeting in Wanganui in 1951. From the USA market comes a 1955 T100/R 500cc ‘C’ Class flattrack model of with less than 10 exist in the world of the original 130 produced at meridian to AMA and Tricor specs.
With forty-two classic races over the two days featuring Manx Nortons, Dominators, Commandos and BSA Gold Stars & Rocket 3s, Triumph Bonnevilles & Tridents, plus Velocette, Rudge, Ariel, Vincent, Scott, Benelli, Ducati, Moto Guzzi, BMW, NSU, Bultaco, Jawa, Indian and Harley Davidson, a pure symphony of exhaust sounds will be a magical experience for both young and old alike.
Hundreds of other classic bikes will be on display with lots of parts, books and other goodies on sale in the trade stall village. Racing starts at 11am on Saturday and 9am Sunday with Friday adult entry $10, other days $25 or $35 for the three day pass.
For further details go to www.nzcmrr.com/festival
By Shaun Summerfield
Sport Reporter
New Zealand’s hottest Formula One prospect has decided to have one last fling in New Zealand before beginning the next phase of his motorsport career.
Mitch Evans will compete in this weekend’s round of the Toyota Racing Series at Hampton Downs with the goal of joining some of the sport's greatest names.
At 18 it's probably a stretch to call a visit to Hampton Downs a walk down memory lane for Evans, though he has been racing for 12 years.
He's dusted off his TRS car for a last blast at the Downs - before heading to Europe to begin preparations for his first tilt at the GP2 world title.
Evans wants to put his name on the New Zealand Motor Cup for the second time, matching the feats of former world champ Keke Rosberg, one of several motorsport greats to have won the 92-year-old trophy.
Most of all, the GP3 champ wants to get back on the track after a three-month lay-off.
The number one might be gone but Evans says the car he drove to back to back titles is still a front-runner.
But it will also be a fond farewell - Evans is unlikely to ever race TRS again, let alone race in New Zealand.
3 News
Read more: http://www.3news.co.nz/Mitch-Evans-farewell-to-NZ-and-TRS/tabid/415/articleID/285151/Default.aspx#ixzz2Jc67cmgY
NZ Festival of Motor Racing celebrated the late Denny Hulme
Two very successful weekends at Hampton Downs brought bumper crowds to enjoy motor racing from bygone times. The unusual format of two full weekends of racing celebrated the career of New Zealand's only Formula One world champion, Denny Hulme.
The event had big fields of F5000 cars going hammer and tongs at each other for round five of the Tasman Cup Revival series, and fans were also treated to a display from another celebrated class.
The larger-than-life US-based Can-Am series cars were also in action. Hulme was one of the foremost drivers in the category, winning the championship twice - in 1968 and in 1970 - and runner-up in 1967, 1969 and 1972 while racing for Kiwi driver and constructor Bruce McLaren.
A collection of his on-track and off-track machinery was on display, including the Can-Am car he drove to win the 1968 title and a McLaren M23 F1 he drove in Formula One.
His Can-Am boat, racing truck and the BMW M3 he was driving when he suffered a fatal heart attack at Bathurst were also on show.
As well as the F5000s, fans saw one of the biggest fields of original specification Australian, New Zealand and US V8-engined Historic Muscle Cars on track.
The classic years of Group A racing were also re-visited with a field of 30-plus cars from all over New Zealand.
The international Formula Junior and Formula Three category - another class in which Hulme raced - had two grids on the first of the back-to-back weekends and a full grid of 37 on the second weekend.
Fans could watch Formula Junior and Formula Three cars from Brabham, Cooper, Elva, Emeryson, Gemini, Lola and Lotus; Italian-built racers from Autosud, Stanguellini, Taraschi and Volpini; Australian cars from Ausper, Donford, Elfin and Nota; and the NZ-built FMZ.
Veteran racer Kenny Smith, who raced F5000s in their heyday four decades ago, showed his class again with three wins at the opening weekend's racing.
It is even more impressive that Smith won it in a car rebuilt after a major accident at Manfeild and finished only hours before the event.
In the second weekend's action, Smith couldn't quite be as dominant and had to settle for three second places. Steve Ross picked up two wins and Clark Proctor took out the feature race.
Smith shouldn't be too concerned at not winning all six races, as he is in his 55th year of competitive racing, but still going strong.
The New Zealand Festival of Motor Racing's international appeal has grown over the past few years and it attracted more than 100 drivers from all over the world.
Group A - the type of car used in the Wellington Street Races - drew a big field and plenty of knowing nods from the knowledgeable crowd.
Formula Junior driver Pierre Tonetti, arguably the best driver in the world in the category, was unbeatable on his first visit to New Zealand in his two Brabham BT16s.
In the Historic Muscle Cars, New Zealand's top drivers took on the best from the Australian Muscle Car series. Tauranga's Dale Mathers and Peter Stevenson, and Aussies Ethan Lind and Ian Woodward were the stand-out drivers.
Roger Williams dominated the Can-Am encounters in his dark blue McLaren, and circuit owner Tony Roberts, and Barry Kirk-Burnand in their McLarens could not keep pace. Former two-time World Touring Car champion Paul Radisich hustled Paul Halford's excellent but older McLaren M1B with some of his former career's pizzazz to keep the others honest.
Next year, festival organisers will celebrate the life and times of one of the greatest automobile and racecar manufacturers - Ferrari. They promise an amazing selection of machinery and a packed programme of historic motor racing.
By Eric Thompson
For this herald article and more click here
After a bit of a hiccup at round two of the New Zealand Superbike championships at Timaru, normal transmission was resumed for Australian Robbie Bugden at Teretonga last weekend.
Robbie Bugden found the wind at Teretonga tough going at the weekend but still won.Picture/fotocd.co.nz
With three rounds of the series done and dusted, Bugden has only been bettered once and now has a commanding lead in the championship over the only other race winner, Craig Shirriffs, with Dennis Charlett in third.
Bugden's race wins didn't come easy though; he had to battle the elements as well as the other riders.
In a blustery wind that upset the balance of the bikes, the Australian held off a feisty Sloan Frost take the race one win with Shirriffs in third.
In race two, it was Shirriffs who was chasing the Australian and Sloan had to settle for third.
"It's been a tough day to be honest. The wind could push you a metre or two either way and coming on to the main straight," said Bugden.
"It was difficult to feed the throttle in because the wind was trying to wash the bike away."
Frost bugged Bugden the entire time in race one and, despite his BMW being at its best, just couldn't get past the four-time champion.
"It was a pretty good battle, he was putting the pressure on," said Bugden after winning by just two-tenths of a second.
Shirriffs was looking emulate his good form from Timaru where he got one over Bugden but suffered from a poor start in race one and could only climb back into third at the chequered flag.
A better start in race two saw Shirriffs contesting second place early in the race while Frost suffered from a bad start and had to fight back to get third.
"That was probably the worst start I've ever had," said Shirriffs after the first race.
"In race two, Ryan Hampton led the first lap-and-a-half on his Honda.
"Robbie passed him but it took me awhile and, by then, Robbie had a gap.
"The wind was ridiculously hard, it was pretty scary to be honest."
In 600cc Supersport, John Ross established a sizeable lead in the championship by winning both races on his Suzuki, although Auckland teenager Jaden Hassan led many of the laps but could not make it stick at the chequered flag.
Australian teenagers Troy Guenther and Luke Burgess maintained their big leads in the 125 GP and 250 Production series respectively. Richard Newbery continued to dominate the Superlite championship on his Kawasaki, while Hamish Murphy retained his lead in the Pro Twins 650 series.
All the riders can take a breather now the three South Island rounds have been completed and take stock before the series recommences at Hampton Downs, March 16-17.
Pack leaders
NZSB Championship points
1 Robbie Bugden 145
2 Craig Shirriffs 121
3 Dennis Charlett 81
4 Nick Cole 73
5 Sloan Frost 68
For this article and more by NZ Herald click here
Sweet victory for Ken Smith’s rebuilt Lola at Hampton Downs
· Saturday 19th January, 2013 8:27pm
Perennial racer Ken Smith has won the first of the MSC F5000 Tasman Cup Revival races at Hampton Downs.
Back behind the wheel of his extensively rebuilt Lola T332, Smith starred on the opening day of the New Zealand Festival Of Motor Racing celebrating Denny Hulme meetings.
The 71-year-old Smith bought the exquisite Lola along with crew members Barry Miller and Phil Richardson.
It had won a race at the second round of the 2011/2012 series but the next day the car was all but written off after crunching the pit wall at Manfeild due to a differential failure.
The ex-Danny Ongais machine took more than a year to painstakingly piece back together. But the blood, sweat and tears were worth it.
After being beaten to the pole by the March 73A-1 of fellow Aucklander driver Clark Proctor, Smith turned the tables in the race.
Ultimately Smith recorded a .768s victory over Steve Ross with Proctor third a further 7.5s back.
After the race Smith dedicated the win to his long-time crew chief Miller.
“All credit to Barry, he built that car from scratch and it’s nice to be able to reward his dedication with a win. I’m so lucky I’ve got guys like him and Phil and Doug working on the car. It was magic today, just magic.
Former Speedway hardman Proctor lamented what might have been.
“I had trouble getting away at the start and I was having trouble changing gear before I lost third,” Proctor explained.
Early on in the eight-lap race the interest behind Smith, Proctor and Ross featured the battle between fast-starting Australian visitor Paul Zazryn in his T332 Lola and Rotorua man Brett Willis in his earlier model Lola T330. Zazryn made the early running but Willis wore him down and went on to cross the line in fourth place.
Also impressing was regular British visitor Greg Thornton, driving the former MSC series-winning McRae GM1 he has recently acquired from Kiwi series stalwart Stu Lush.
After issues in qualifying which saw him start the race from P16 on the grid, Thornton stormed through the field to cross the line in fifth place between Willis and Zazryn.
Monaco-based compatriot Peter Dunn was the best of the Northern Hemisphere visitors in qualifying, setting the fourth quickest time in his March 73A/05, but it was actually Class A (for older cars) pace-setter Michael Whatley (Surtees TS8) who got the best start and spent the early laps in sixth place ahead of Dunn and Mark Dwyer (Lola T400).
Dunn eventually got past, as later on did Thornton, but Dwyer ended up slipping back down the field after losing second gear and eventually pulling in with two laps to go.
Having a second car, meanwhile, paid off for last year’s MSC series runner-up Aaron Burson of Auckland.
After setting the 10th quickest lap time in qualifying, Burson returned to the pits with water pouring from his McRae GM1′s engine which was stricken with a cracked cylinder head.
Fortunately Burson’s original series car, a Talon MR1/A, was sitting in his workshop back in Auckland, prepared and ready to go.
Because he elected to swap cars Burson had to start the race from the back row of the grid but by the flag he had made up nine places, crossing the finish line 14th, one place ahead of his father Peter who drives his own McRae GM1.
A little further up the field another worthy performance was put in by former saloon car star Peter Sundberg was qualified his Lola T332 12th and finished tenth.
There remains two more MSC F5000 Tasman Cup Revival Series races at the NZ Festival meeting this weekend with a second eight-lapper tomorrow (Sunday) morning and a 15-lap feature final in the afternoon.
For the article and more from speedcafe click here
KEN SMITH SCORES HAT-TRICK AT OPENING DENNY HULME FESTIVAL WEEKEND
• Sunday 20th January, 2013 6:57pm
• Author: SpeedCafe ©
The irrepressible Kenny Smith made it a clean sweep of the F5000 races, completing a hat-trick of wins at the Gulf New Zealand Festival of Motor Racing at Hampton Downs.
This leviathan historic event saw Smith run away with the Tasman Revival races in a Lola T332 which has been painstakingly rebuilt after all but being written off in a crash at Manfeild more than a year ago.
In the final 15-lap race Smith held on grimly to beat Steve Ross by a mere .139s with Clark Proctor finishing third.
“Clark actually said to me before the race that if I got alongside him he would let me go because he reckoned he’d sooner hunt me down for 15 laps rather than have me hunt him down and I was fine with that, ” chuckled Smith, in his 55th year of competition at national level.
Smith and Proctor got the better of Ross off the rolling start but Ross had muscled his way past Proctor by the second lap and was ahead of the first of the UK visitors, Greg Thornton (McRae GM1), fast-starting Australian Paul Zazryn (Lola T332) and fellow visitors Peter Dunn (March 73A/05), Michael Whatley (Surtees TS8) and Mark Dwyer (Lola T400) when the yellow flag came out while safety workers retrieved Bill Hemming’s stranded Elfin MR8.
After two laps under the yellow flag Smith got the best of the re-start with Ross and Proctor tucking in behind and easing away from Thornton, Zazryn, Whatley, Dwyer, Dunn and Brett Willis (Lola T330).
As the race progressed Thornton retained a lonely fourth place, Zazryn, Wrigley and Dwyer remained close and category young gun Alan Dunkley (Lola T142) started making his presence felt. Brett Willis was also moving forward, catching and passing Dwyer and closing on Whatley. On the last lap Dunn managed to find a way past Zazryn as did Dunkley on Dwyer.
Zazryn was again the first of the Australian drivers home and was satisfied with his progress. “To come over here, learn the track, make a few changes to the car and do what we’ve done, it’s been fantastic,” he said. “I like to have a go and that’s exactly what I’ve been able to do this weekend.”
Dunkley expressed similar sentiments after his successful last lap ambush on Dwyer.
“I wasn’t dead set on passing him,” said the 24-year-old who drives the oldest car in the field.
“But when I saw an opportunity I pulled out one of my old karting moves, parked myself where he wanted to be mid-corner then kicked the clutch so I could get the jump on him down the straight.”
Veteran Whatley had a similar tale to tell, despite losing fourth gear – and with it a couple of hard-won places – over the last two laps.
“I’ve always been good on cold tyres at the beginning of a race,” he explained. “My car slides all over the place anyway so I guess I’m used to it.”
The F5000s were joined by a small field of Can-Am machines from a similar era and a class which Denny Hulme, New Zealand’s 1967 F1 world champion, mastered a year later.
More than 100 international drivers made the long trek with their cars to the event.
A big field of Group A tourers, the types of car used in the Wellington Street Races – were admired alongside the historic Muscle Cars.
The second leg of the big New Zealand Festival Of Motor Racing celebrating Denny Hulme will again be held at Hampton Downs next weekend.
RACE 2 – 8 LAPS
1 Ken Smith 08:51.596
2 Clark Proctor +00.056
3 Steve Ross +12.539
4 Michael Whatley +18.130
5 Alan Dunkley +23.136
6 Peter Dunn +24.944
7 Brett Willis +26.636
8 Paul Zazryn +26.859
9 Shayne Windelburn +39.894
10 Peter Sundberg +52.227
11 Ian Clements +52.828
12 Gregory Thornton +01:01.848
13 Aaron Burson +01:02.274
14 Stan Redmond +01:06.152
15 David Banks +1 Lap
16 Rod Carroll +1 lap
17 Peter Burson +1 lap
18 Bill Hemming +1 lap
19 Poul Christie +1 lap
20 Philip Mauger +1 lap
21 Warwick Mortimer +1 lap
DNF Aaron Lewis, Bryan Sala, David Abbott
RACE 3 – 15 LAPS
1 Ken Smith 17:15.361
2 Steve Ross +00.139
3 Clark Proctor +02.663
4 Gregory Thornton +06.626
5 Peter Dunn +22.083
6 Paul Zazryn +22.695
7 Michael Whatley +26.198
8 Brett Willis +26.329
9 Alan Dunkley +34.215
10 Mark Dwyer +35.171
11 Bryan Sala +40.787
12 Peter Sundberg +42.541
13 David Abbott +:47.774
14 Aaron Burson +54.909
15 David Banks +56.120
16 Peter Burson +1 lap
17 Ian Clements +1 lap
18 Rod Carroll +1 lap
19 Poul Christie +1 lap
20 Warwick Mortimer +1lap
DNF Philip Mauger, Shayne Windelburn, Stan Redmond, Aaron Lewis, Bill Hemming
For this article and more by Speed cafe click here
Hampton Downs is honouring NZ's sole F1 champ
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A great line-up of Can Ams will battle it out at Hampton Downs for the Denny Hulme Trophy.
The New Zealand Festival of Motor Racing growls into action at Hampton Downs this weekend for the Gulf Denny Hulme Festival celebrating the only Kiwi to win a world F1 championship (in 1967).
The format allows people who miss this weekend to make the trip to the Waikato circuit next weekend, January 25-27, to catch the second part of the event.
The Hulme celebration will be supplemented by what will probably be the largest collection of Formula 5000s seen at any racetrack in the past decade.
For those not overly enamoured with the open wheelers, another collection of racecars from the same era - the mighty Can-Ams - will surely make your day. The US-based Can-Am series of the 1960s and 70s will also be relived to celebrate one of the category's biggest stars in Hulme, a Can-Am champion in 1968 and 70, and runner-up in 67, 69 and 72 driving for the great racer and constructor Bruce McLaren.
Many of the V8-powered sports cars still run in historic racing events around the world and several Can-Am racers will compete for the Denny Hulme Trophy to be presented by his widow, Greeta.
On hand to watch all the action will be former Ferrari works F1 driver Chris Amon, who plied his trade on the F1 circuits with Hulme.
"I'm looking forward to the festival and, obviously, Denny was pretty special," said Amon.
"It's nice to see they are putting the weekend on to honour him. I was only thinking this week how long old Denny has been gone and it's hard to believe it's been so long [died racing at Bathurst in 1992].
"It's a bit unfair ... he died at 56 while a few others are still going strong; Jack Brabham, Stirling Moss and others in their 70s and 80s.
"Mind you when we stopped, we stopped [racing] but Denny got the bug back. I remember talking to him about those touring car things and those bloody trucks.
"I could never understand the truck thing but the touring cars I could understand."
Amon and Hulme were in the same race team at Shelby Ford for Le Mans 24 Hour but Amon drove with McLaren, winning in 1966. They also battled it out on the F1 circuit from 1965 to 1974. A great era for Kiwi F1 race car drivers, as McLaren was racing during the same era.
"Denny had the talent to have been in Formula 1 before he actually was and, when he did arrive, he was in a very good team in a top car."
As much as Amon is gracious about Hulme's success, and rightly so, it can be forgotten that Enzo Ferrari thought Amon was one of the best drivers he ever had and, to this day, the Tifosi still rate him highly.
It was just a pity the Ferrari cars were still works in progress reliability-wise back then before finally getting it right from the mid- to late 1970s.
The festival has hosted the world's biggest gathering of Formula 5000 cars for the past three years and they will be joined by a big field of original-spec Australian, New Zealand and US V8-engined Historic Muscle Cars.
The international Formula Junior and Formula Three category has attracted huge interest with two grids this weekend and a full grid of 37 for the second weekend.
Festival chairman Jim Barclay is delighted with the take-up from Formula Junior and Formula Three racers and car owners in Australia, Italy, New Zealand and UK. Marques include UK-built chassis from Brabham, Cooper, Elva, Emeryson, Gemini, Lola, Lotus; Italian-built racers from Autosud, Stanguellini, Taraschi and Volpini; Australian cars from Ausper, Donford, Elfin and Nota and the NZ-built FMZ.
A big field of 37 Historic Formula Fords will also face the starter with cars coming from Canada, Denmark, France, Netherlands, New Zealand and UK/Northern Ireland.
Off track, some of Hulme's other racecars and vehicles, including his famous Can-Am boat and his Scania racing truck, will be on display. The action kicks off at 9am each day.
Number 5 set to roar
Fans turning up to the New Zealand Festival of Motorsport honouring Denny Hulme will get a very real treat.
The phrase ''some things take time'' could not be more apt in this instance. After 43 years, Denny Hulme's 1968 McLaren M8A-2 Can-Am championship-winning car
will roar back into action after more than a generation of silence.
Hulme drove the bright orange number five car in six races in September and October 1968. He won three, finished second, fifth and suffered a DNF because of a broken conrod. Despite the hiccup, Hulme won the championship from the man who built the cars, Bruce McLaren.
The car was then used as a spare in 1969. Other high profile drivers at the time were Dan Gurney, Chris Amon and Bruce McLaren, who won his last race in it before his death in 1970.
The same year the car was sold to American Lothar Motschen bacher who drove it in seven Can-Am races before it was damaged and written off.
Hulme brought the car to NZ in the 1970s and the Bruce McLaren Trust gained ownership in 1997. The Trust then set up funds-dependent restoration. Finally, at this weekend's festival, fans will see the car turning a few laps under its own power for the first time
since 1970.
For this article and more by the NZ Herald click here
Shane Van Gisbergen confirmed for full V8 SuperTourer Series
· Thursday 17th January, 2013 7:11pm
V8 Supercar refugee Shane Van Gisbergen has come out of his brief touring car ‘retirement’ to join the BNT V8 SuperTourer Championship this year.
The 23-year-old, who walked away from a lucrative career at the Stone Brothers citing personal reasons in November, will drive the Falcon raced by Colin Corkery last season.
Corkery’s car experienced several engine failures last season and is undergoing a full rebuild in preparation for van Gisbergen’s arrival.
It is understood that van Gisbergen will side with Corkery’s co-driver, the decorated Dutch racer Jeroen Bleekemolen, for the endurance races. Corkery is believed to be undergoing an operation which will put him out for the season.
Mark Petch, managing director of V8 SuperTourers, said: “It’s fantastic to have yet another champion join the BNT V8 SuperTourer Series, as we move forward to official recognition as the country’s Premier Touring Car Championship.
“Shane is really going to put the cat among the pigeons, that’s for sure.”
van Gisbergen was candid in an interview with TV3, opening up about his frustration about his time in V8 Supercars last season when the Stone Brothers team were in the process of changing over from Ford to Mercedes-Benz AMG E63s and were in the throes of being taken over by Erebus Motorsport.
“We weren’t happy last year. We had won races the year before and we didn’t even really come close last year and all the changes that were happening for this year just wasn’t something to look forward to,” van Gisbergen told TV3.
“It’s been worse because people have put the word retirement out there. I never said retirement. That means final. I just said I was leaving for a bit. That could be a week, a year who cares?”
“It’s a pretty exciting series the SuperTourers. I watched every race last year.”
van Gisbergen became disillusioned with the politics in Australia, something he hopes to escape from in the V8 SuperTourer series.
V8 SuperTourers had been highly active in chasing Kiwi van Gisbergen since this website’s older brother Speedcafe.com broke news in November that he was about to turn his back on the Aussie series.
It is a major shot-in-the-arm for V8ST who have established the tin top series as the country’s premier class after just one full season of racing.
van Gisbergen said that packing up and returning to Auckland from the Gold Coast was the hardest thing he’s had to do.
The V8ST Championship does not clash with any V8 Supercar dates which leaves the door open for van Gisbergen to explore a return to Australia and do both series if he chooses.
As reported in an earlier story Van Gisbergen is being linked to a return to V8 Supercars this year with the Gold Coast-based Tekno Autosports Commodore team.
Although there has been no confirmation on a second driver alongside Jonathon Webb.
2013 BNT V8 SUPERCARS
Round 1: Feb 16-17, Hampton Downs
Round 2: Mar 9-10, TBA
Round 3: May 25-26 Pukekohe (sprint event)
Round 4: Aug 31-Sept 1 Fathers Day 400 Taupo Ricoh Motorsport Park
Round 5: Oct 19-20 ‘Ice Breaker’ Hampton Downs
Round 6: Nov 9-10 South Island Spring Festival TBA
Round 7: Dec 7-8 Pukekohe 500
Mitch Evans confirms GP2 seat with Arden International
Star teenage racer Mitch Evans has signed with Arden International for the GP2 season.
The Kiwi, who won the 2012 GP3 Championship in a nail-biting finish at Monza with MW Arden, has taken a major step in his quest to climb to the pinnacle and gain an F1 drive.
Evans, 18, hinted at the deal when he posted a comment on Twitter suggesting something big was about to break. CLICK HERE to read earlier story on Speedcafe.co.nz
The 2010 Toyota Racing Series winner scored three wins and four pole positions during his signature GP3 year in Europe last season.
Evans is a protege of Aussie Red Bull F1 driver Mark Webber who has assisted his career greatly in England where he lives with the grand prix racer and his partner Ann Neal.
Arden Sporting Director Julian Rouse said the squad had formed a great relationship with Evans.
“We have a great relationship with him and have seen him grow in the last two years in a Championship that was created to bring great drivers in the GP2 Series,” Rouse said.
“We tested Mitch at the Barcelona and Jerez tests at the end of last year and were encouraged by his performance especially as he was in the top 10 with drivers who have several years (of) GP2 experience.
Evans was ecstatic at the development which sees him in the key feeder category to F1.
“I want to thank Mark Webber and Ann Neal and everyone behind the scenes that have made this possible. I am hugely grateful for the chance to race in the GP2 series,” Evans said.
“I have full trust in the team that they will give me the best opportunity to have a successful rookie season. I cannot wait for the season to get underway.”
Evans spent time back home in New Zealand and attended the official test day at Hampton Downs for the Toyota Racing Series last month.
The announcement completes the Arden International line-up after the squad recently signed Johnny Cecotto jr.
For this article by Speed Cafe click here
Smith says ‘we’ll be there’ in down-to-the-wire Hampton Downs prep
Though work on it is not – quite – complete yet, New Zealand motor racing’s ageless super-veteran, Ken Smith, says he will be back behind the wheel of his ex Danny Ongais Lola T332 Formula 5000 car at the first of two NZ Festival of Motor Racing – celebrating Denny Hulme meetings at Hampton Downs this weekend.
Smith and long-time crew members Barry Miller and Phil Richardson bought the car from a museum in Los Angeles three years ago and Miller had just completed a ground-up rebuild when a differential malfunction pitched Smith and car into a concrete pitwall at high speed at the second round of the 2011/12 MSC NZ F5000 Tasman Cup Revival Series at Manfeild 14 months ago.
Smith, now 71, and contesting his 55th consecutive New Zealand motor racing season, broke a bone in his left ankle and the beautifully rebuilt and finished car – painted and trimmed in the bright red La Valise travel agency colours Smith’s original T332 wore in the early 1970s – was for all intents and purposes a write-off.
Despite the injury and damage Smith completed the 2011/12 season in the Lola T430 he had driven previously and Miller began the mammoth task of stripping and re-building the T332 for a second time.
It’s that job he has all but completed, Smith confident enough to confirm that it will indeed be ready by Friday….or Saturday!
“We’ll be there don’t you worry about that,” he said on Monday. “It’s almost finished as we speak but, you know, these jobs always take longer than you think. We’ll be right by the weekend though. ”
There was considerable interest in the new car when Smith gave it its original New Zealand debut at the Lady Wigram Trophy Race meeting at Christchurch’s Powerbuilt Tools Raceway at Ruapuna Park in November 2011.
Smith a three-time winner of the New Zealand Grand Prix, and four-time winner of the Lady Wigram trophy, enjoyed some of his greatest early career successes behind the wheel of his original Lola T332. But though he knows where that car is, its Melbourne owner Andrew Robson has made it clear it is not for sale, even to the man who enjoyed so much success in it first time round.
Smith, of course, has enjoyed even more success second time around in a later model Lola T430, winning the MSC NZ F5000 Tasman Cup Revival Series title three years in a row from 2009 to 2011. That’s not stopped him keeping his eye out for a T332 to buy, however, and he says that after a second rebuild in as many years the ex Ongais Lola is a tribute to the man responsible for both, Barry Miller.
“Just about everything’s new, from the tub to the suspension uprights and wheels, as well as the bodywork which we had to get out of England. It’s looking brilliant, Barry has made a magic job of it.”
The NZ Festival meetings have always attracted a strong field of Formula 5000 single-seaters and this year’s are no different with 32 entries over the two weekends.
After two championship rounds of this season’s MSC series – one in Australia, one here – defending title holder Steve Ross (McRae GM1) from Dunedin leads the points standings from Aucklanders Aaron Burson (McRae GM1), Ken Smith, and David Banks (Talon MR1A). Leading the Class A (for very early series cars) standings, meanwhile, is Alan Dunkley, also from Auckland, who drives a distinctive high-wing Lola T140.
The two NZ Festival meeting rounds of the MSC series have attracted a number of Formula 5000 drivers from overseas with six coming from Australia, three from the United Kingdom, two from the United States, and one from Monaco.
Heading the Australian squad is 2012/13 MSC series round one race winner Bryan Sala from Melbourne who will drive a Matich A50/51. Joining him are fellow Victorians Paul Zazryn (Lola T332), and Bill Hemming (Elfin MR8), South Australian John Bryant (Lola T140), and Rod Carroll (Lola T140) and Aaron Lewis (Matich A50) from New South Wales.
The UK will again be represented by regular MSC series visitors Mike Whatley (Lola T300 & Surtees TS8), Greg Thornton (McRae GM1) and Mark Dwyer (Lola T400), the United States by US-based Australian Bruce Leeson (McLaren M10B) and category original Eric Haga (Lola T190), and the Republic of Monaco by expat Brit Peter Dunn (March 73A) – from Monaco.
There will be a total of three MSC NZ F5000 Tasman Cup Revival Series races at Hampton Downs this weekend, with qualifying and the first eight lap race on Saturday then a second eight-lap race on Sunday morning before a 15-lap final in the afternoon.
The two NZ Festival of Motor Racing – celebrating Denny Hulme meetings are again expected to attract large crowds with cars either once driven by or associated with Hulme, New Zealand’s only Formula 1 World Champion, being shipped in from all over the world for display and/or demonstration.
After the two rounds at the NZ Festival meetings at Hampton Downs the MSC series title chase heads south for the penultimate round at the annual Skope Classic meeting at Christchurch’s Powerbuilt Tools Raceway at Ruapuna Park over the February 02-03 weekend and the final at Invercargill’s Teretonga Park a fortnight later.
The MSC F5000 Tasman Cup Revival Series is organised and run with the support of sponsors MSC, NZ Express Transport, Bonney’s Specialized Bulk Transport, Mobil Lubricants, Pacifica, Avon Tyres and Exide.
By Fast Company
For this article and more by the motornews click here
Countdown to New Zealand's biggest historic motorsport festival
The countdown is on to the country's biggest annual historic motorsport event - the New Zealand Festival of Motor Racing’s ‘Gulf Denny Hulme Festival’.
The unique-to-New Zealand format of two full weekends of racing at Hampton Downs on January 18-20 and 25-27 will this year mark the life and career of the country's only Formula One world champion, the late Denny Hulme. It will also once again see the world's biggest annual gathering of iconic 'big banger' Formula 5000 cars in action at the North Waikato race track.
The golden era of another of motor racing's most celebrated classes - the mighty US-based Can-Am series of the sixties and seventies - will also be revived to celebrate one of the category's biggest stars - Hulme himself. Hulme was Can-Am champion twice in 1968 and in 1970 and runner up in 1967, 1969 and 1972 while racing for legendary Kiwi driver and constructor Bruce McLaren.
Many of the big V8-powered sports cars from the heyday of the championship still run in historic racing events throughout the world and festival organisers have attracted a number of the Can- Am racers to compete for the Denny Hulme Trophy - a unique trophy that will be presented by the late 1967 Formula 1 World Champion's wife Greeta Hulme to the winner of the nine race championship. The McLaren Trust M8A Hulme car will be demonstrating on track having competed its restoration as will a Matich SR4.
The Can-Am cars will not be the only historic V8 racing cars in action. The New Zealand Festival of Motor Racing has played host over the past three years to the world's biggest gathering of Formula 5000 cars and these will race again in the 2013 event as will one of New Zealand's biggest ever fields of original specification Australian, New Zealand and US V8-engined Historic Muscle Cars. The classic years of Group A racing will also be re-visited with a field of 30 plus cars travelling from all over New Zealand to take part in the event.
It's in the international Formula Junior and Formula Three category - another class in which Hulme raced - that interest has soared, with two grids on the first of the back-to-back weekends and a full grid of 37 for the second weekend.
Festival Chairman Jim Barclay is delighted with the 44 entries from Formula Junior and Formula Three racers and car owners in Australia, Italy, New Zealand and UK. Marques confirmed so far include UK-built chassis from Brabham, Cooper, Elva, Emeryson, Gemini, Lola, Lotus; Italian-built racers from Autosud, Stanguellini, Taraschi and Volpini; Australian cars from Ausper, Donford, Elfin and Nota and the NZ-built FMZ.
Formula Junior was an open wheel formula racing class first adopted in October 1958 by the CSI (International Sporting Commission, the part of the FIA that then regulated motorsports). The class was intended to provide an entry level class where drivers could use inexpensive mechanical components from ordinary automobiles.
The idea to form the new class came from Count Giovanni "Johnny" Lurani who saw the need for a 'first-steps' class for single-seater racing cars for younger drivers. Kiwi legend Hulme was not the only driver with a background in the class. Jim Clark, Peter Arundell, Trevor Taylor and John Surtees were also regulars.
A very big field of 37 Historic Formula Fords will also face the starter with cars coming from Canada, Denmark, France, Netherlands, New Zealand and UK/Northern Ireland.
Off track, there will be a large display of some of Denny's other race cars and vehicles, including his famous Can-Am boat and his Scania racing truck. The Red Checkers will also be in action over the second weekend of the event.
Action kicks off at 9.00am each day and more details are available at www.nzfmr.co.nz - there are still tickets available but organisers recommend purchasing in advance for Grandstand seats. General Admission tickets are available in advance or on the gate.
Hampton Downs will celebrate one of the most passionate eras of motor racing with the first of the double-header New Zealand Festival of Motor Racing celebrating Denny Hulme is scheduled from January 18-20.
Featured will be the North American-based Can-Am series which rose to great heights in the 1960’s and 1970’s before slipping away and then being reborn before ultimately paving way for the more popular IMSA and CART series from the mid 1980’s.
It was the golden era of Can-Am however when Hulme, New Zealand’s only F1 world champion in 1967, was very much the benchmark being Can-Am champion in 1968 and 1970 and runner-up in 1967, 1969 and 1971 for his compatriot Bruce McLaren.
The Works McLaren team dominated, taking over from early Can-Am challenger Lola but in the early 1970’s the balance of power swing back to Porsche which had honed the mighty 917K into the mightiest road racing car ever built.
Only three of the six 917-30 Porsches, or ‘turbopanzer’ as it was otherwise known, ever raced. This car produced a mind-blowing 1580bhp in qualifying trim and last year the unraced chassis #4 was sold at auction for a record $4million ($4.4m including auctioneer’s commission). Roger Penske and drivers Mark Donohue (Penske’s first professionally signed driver) and George Follmer orchestrated the 917 Can-Am legend of the early 1970’s.
The monstrous 917-30 used a 5.4litre flat 12 cylinder and enjoys legendary status however many of the big V8 sports cars continue to run in historic racing around the world.
Festival organisers are anticipating up to 20 Can-Am racers will head to Hampton Downs for the Denny Hulme Trophy meetings from January 18-20 and January 25-27.
Hulme’s wife Greeta will present the winner of the six-race championship a trophy named in honour of New Zealand’s only grand prix world champion.
Other famous manufacturers who played in Can-Am were Shadow, Chaparral, BRM, March, Ferrari, Ford and Matich.
Along with Kiwis Hulme and McLaren, Chris Amon, Howden Ganley and Graeme Lawrence, other Can-Am stars where Donohue, Mario Andretti, Jack Brabham, Vic Elford, George Follmer, Peter Gethin, Dan Gurney, Jim Hall, Phil Hill, David Hobbs, Jacky Ickx, Parnelli Jones, Jackie Oliver, Sam Posey, Brian Redman, Peter Revson, Pedro Rodríguez, Swede Savage, Jody Scheckter, Jo Siffert, Jackie Stewart, John Surtees and the late actor Paul Newman.
“At the peak of the series, Can-Am machines were the fastest racing cars in the world, quicker even than Formula One and highly innovative with a rule book that gave a virtual clean sheet of paper to the racing car designers of the time. Spectacular is really the only word that describes the cars,” said Festival of Motor Racing organiser Jim Barclay.
“Denny was one of Can-Am’s biggest names and the Denny Hulme Trophy to be presented by Greeta and her family will give every race fan in New Zealand, both old and young, the chance to go back in time and witness one of the sport’s greatest ever classes.”
While the Can-Am cars will be a mouth-watering showcase the festival will attract a huge gathering of Formula 5000 cars from the Antipodes and the US.
For this article and more by Speed Cafe please click here or go to www.speedcafe.co.nz
AIR FORCE ANNOUNCES GULF DENNY HULME FOR 2013
One of the highlights of the Festival is always what goes on in the air and for the Gulf Denny Hulme Festival, the event will welcome the popular Red Checkers formation aerobatic display team
They have already been finalising arrangements for their displays during 2013, and this will include Hampton Downs on 26 and 27 January 2013.
Made up of senior instructors from the Air Force’s Central Flying School and Pilot Training Squadron and coupled with a strong support crew, the team will be led by Officer Commanding Central Flying School, Squadron Leader (SQNLDR) Oliver Bint.
“We perform a wide range of formation and solo aerobatics” said SQNLDR Bint. “The team’s history can be traced back to the late 1940s in Wigram, and we have been flying under the Red Checkers name since 1967.”
In addition to their full time positions during the week, flying most weekends from January through ‘til May and performing at upwards of 25 airshows and events around the country, makes for a busy time for the team members.
“The Red Checkers give the New Zealand public a chance to see our military flying skills. The exciting flying routines entertain the public while also providing public relations and recruiting opportunities for the Air Force. We’ll no doubt get a chance to meet the next generation of military aviators in our travels”, said SQNLDR Bint.
For more information go to www.nzfmr.co.nz
An entirely new Board of directors has been overwhelmingly elected to NZ Vee Eight Entrants Group Ltd, the company representing the interests of NZV8 race car owners. The previous directors stood down at the company’s AGM on 9th December and did not offer themselves for re-election.
The new Board comprises prominent long-term motor racing identities, Greg Lancaster and Lyall Williamson along with current V8 Challenge Cup Co-ordinator, Stephen Gillard.
They have been charged with:
1. Negotiating a multi-year agreement with V8 SuperTourers for NZV8s to be a major support category for V8 SuperTourers;
2. Ensuring parity between NZV8 cars;
3. Significantly reducing the cost of competing in NZV8s; and
4. Producing a long term category plan for consideration by NZV8 shareholders by 31 May 2013.
New Chairman, Greg Lancaster has spelt out the new Board’s prime aims as a re-emergence of major Tier 1 race meetings and to see NZV8s resume its original role as a high profile, but significantly lower cost, support race category.
The new Board has today concluded an agreement with V8 SuperTourers Ltd that will cement a mutually beneficial relationship which will see NZV8s become a major support category to V8 SuperTourers.
“Concurrently with reaching the agreement with V8 SuperTourers, communication with shareholders is being addressed, commencing with them being canvassed for their views on performance parity and competition costs reduction” said Lancaster.
Lancaster also outlined the exacting deadline for adoption by NZV8 shareholders of a new business plan by the end of May 2013.
He does however, not expect to see significant change on track until the later meetings of 2013 and with the first fruits of the new business plan in 2015. “We are, after all, only three weeks out from the first outing of 2013 at Teretonga,” said Lancaster.
As part of the arrangements agreed with V8 SuperTourers today, all VEEGA’s legal proceedings have been resolved with immediate effect.
V8 SuperTourers has thanked the new Board for renewing relations between the two categories. “We look forward to working together for the good of the sport” says V8 SuperTourers Managing Director, Mark Petch.
“NZV8 is delighted to have established this rapport with V8 SuperTourers who are leading New Zealand motorsport into a new era” says Lancaster. “The founders of V8 SuperTourers have done a remarkable job to develop their idea from the drawing board to what we see today in only two years and their efforts have dramatically raised the profile of V8 racing in this country. Their efforts have hugely benefitted New Zealand motorsport”.
Media: V8 SuperTourers 21st December 2012
For more information click here
Motorsport: A good year for going quickly
The good, the bad and the unlucky we review the year for Kiwis on the world's circuits ... and look forward to more top displays next year
This has been one of the best years in motorsport - not just in New Zealand but also around the world - for a long time.
Sure, a few drivers dominated again, but in many cases they were pushed hard most of the season. A standout was Formula One, where fans saw more different race winners than the sport has had for years.
A sorry sight was the spat in New Zealand between the warring V8 factions, which appears still not to have been resolved.
But there have been outstanding performances in 2012 - drivers who excelled through hard work, talent and the need to win.
THE GOOD
Mitch Evans
The young Aucklander took to his second season in GP3 with a vengeance - winning the championship with Mark Webber's MW Arden team. Evans took on the best young drivers in the world in one of the most competitive stepping-stones to Formula One.
His season started with wins in Catalunya, Valencia and Hockenheim before he got the speed wobbles later in the season. Hanging tough like a true veteran, belying his 19 years, Evans won the series by two points.
His march to his ultimate goal continues next year when he steps up a class into GP2.
"It's starting to sink in a bit now that I did win the title," he said. "It gives me a bit of confidence that I can race at that level and there are certainly no negatives about winning the championship. Also, the title win didn't come easy, and that's helped me to learn to take the good with bad and you never know what's going to happen in a race. It's helped with my mental strength a lot."
Hayden Paddon
New Zealand's first world rally champion's move into the S2000 class made a perfect start when He and co-driver John Kennard won in Portugal and New Zealand. Then then it all turned to custard.
The pair led the title race after the first four rounds and looked good for consecutive world titles. But after the New Zealand round the wheels came off.
In Finland and afterwards, the mechanical gods turned their backs on Paddon, Kennard and the rest of the team. This, coupled with a few uncharacteristic driver errors, meant the game was up.
"In all honesty it is a season that I am happy to see the back of, after a series of setbacks throughout the year," Paddon said. "However, I have learnt a lot and we have been able to set some of the fastest stage times on all rallies that we have competed in."
Craig Baird
Often the unsung hero of Kiwi motorsport - probably better regarded in Europe and the Porsche factory than at home - Baird (above) cleaned up his 10th Porsche title in 2012 by winning the Australian Carrera Cup with a round to go.
He may not be getting faster as he gets older, but Baird is certainly a crafty competitor. While the rest of the field was getting the hang of their cars, Baird scorched out to a four-race winning burst, followed by a five-win streak later in the season.
He had some serious competition in Jonny Reid and Alex Davison, but still came out on top. He has had more wins in a Porsche than just about any man alive.
Levi Sherwood
Kiwi motocross riders tasted success with Darryll King winning the Veteran Motocross World Cup and Josh Coppins winning the Aussie MX1 title, but young Levi Sherwood stood atop the world.
After suffering some serious t injuries over the past 18 months, Sherwood took on the best X-Fighters in the world and was crowned world champion. Not too shabby for a young bloke from a Manawatu farm who's made it on his own as one of the most respected freestyle motocross riders and the youngest title-holder at 21.
"It's been a long series and there's been ups and downs," he said. "I'm not as much of a free spirit as I used to be. Before the crashes I would just think of doing a backflip, or whatever, and once it was in my head I just had to go and do it straight away. Now it's a lot easier to decide not to do something. So there's more to come yet."
Scott McLaughlin
The new kid on the V8 Supercars block with all the goods to be a bright star is a Kiwi. With Shane van Gisbergen leaving the sport, Scott McLaughlin could be the driver to take it to the Aussies.
After winning the 2012 Development Series, McLaughlin signed with Gary Rogers Motorsport to replace Michael Caruso. In his first Bathurst 1000, McLaughlin finished sixth with Jonathon Webb. At the Sydney 500 Rogers gave him the keys to the team's main car, which the young Kiwi bought home 17th.
"All signed up now and I'm pretty happy," he said. "There were a few options on the table for me but I'm really happy with this one. And I think it's the right one for me. This is what I've been working towards from way back when I was in karts."
THE BAD
Shane van Gisbergen
His decision to leave the sport in which he's spent his career can't have been easy. But when the fun's gone out of it or you need a rest, it's always best to walk away.
Van Gisbergen was one of the shining lights in V8 Supercars and was part of a championship-winning team in SBR. But the young fellow wanted his life back so he negotiated his way out of his contract and headed home.
"It's a bit weird and I'm sad to be leaving but I'm also really excited about the future," he said. "It's sort of like leaving a family [SBR] as I've been here 5 years. I'm looking forward to being 18, 19, 21 etcetera and going and having some fun. Don't get me wrong, it's been good in V8s, but it's time I just went and had some fun and do different stuff." Maybe rallying? Watch this space.
Richie Stanaway
His march towards his third consecutive overseas championship came to a sudden halt on June 5 when he was in a big accident at Spa Francorchamps, breaking two vertebrae and has been in rehab since.
After dominating the German ADAC and F3 series, Stanaway was relishing the idea of stepping up to the Formula Renault championship.
"It's not been very easy at all, but I guess it's things like this that make you stronger," he said. "I'm definitely looking ahead now and I'm keen to get back in the car as soon as I can."
He managed a few laps at Hampton Downs this week as promotion for the Toyota Racing Series.
Greg Murphy
The four-time Bathurst winner has had a few lean years and is a free agent in 2013. By his own admission, 2012 was his worst season, indicated by two DNFs in Sydney, and Murphy isn't overly confident of the phone ringing in the next few weeks.
"I'm pretty annoyed by how it's all panned out and the crap performances this year. I feel bad for everyone involved, including all my sponsors. Nothing seems very positive at the moment and everything is out of my control."
By Eric Thompson
For this article by the NZ Herald and more click here
An ever-growing international field is taking on a Kiwi champion in the new year's Toyota Racing Series
Defending Toyota Racing Series champion Nick Cassidy is out to prove he can best the young overseas drivers turning up for the series starting in January.
But organisers have attracted a quality field Downunder, each wanting to be the first overseas driver to win the championship in eight years, and Cassidy will have his work cut out.
A further seven drivers, including Cassidy, were announced at the first TRS test session at Hampton Downs last week, led by Alex Lynn, who raced last season and has had a great season in the British Formula Three championship.
As well as winning the 2012 title, Cassidy won the New Zealand Grand Prix. He won four races, notched nine podium finishes and set three fastest laps. After his TRS season Cassidy competed in several rounds of the Formula Renault 2.0 with Fortec Motorsport and tested a GP3 car with Status GP at Valencia, Spain.
The 18-year-old will swap to the M2 Competition team for this series, raced over five weekends.
Lynn arrives from an impressive debut at last month's Macau Grand Prix. He took pole position on the daunting street circuit - the first rookie to do so since 2006 - and finished on the podium in both the qualification race and the Formula 3 Grand Prix.
In 2011 Lynn was ninth in TRS with one win, three podium finishes and a fastest lap. He dominated the UK Formula Renault 2.0 series with 12 wins from 20 starts, a series record. He finished fourth in this year's British Formula 3 series with a win, two pole positions, nine podium finishes and five fastest laps.
Also returning is Thailand's Tanart Sathienthirakul, who competed as a rookie this year.
He made a capable transition to wings-and-slicks racecars and raced in the Formula Renault 2.0 series this year. Sathienthirakul, 20, will race with ETEC Motorsport.
Alongside Sathienthirakul will be 19-year-old Colombian Tatiana Calderon. She has a strong background in karting, finishing sixth in the 2011 US Star Mazda Championship and ninth in the Formula 3 Open series in Europe. Other imports include Jann Mardenborough (Britain), 16-year-old Akash Nandy (Malaysia), and Norwegian Dennis Olsen.
For this article and more by the NZ Herald please click here
Top NZ drivers reunite at Hampton Downs
By Shaun Summerfield
Sport Reporter
While his deal to drive in the Formula One feeder class is being put together, Mitch Evans is enjoying a Christmas break at home in New Zealand.
But there's just no keeping the GP3 world champ out of a car, with a pre-season run at Hampton Downs today. Evans is returning a favour to the Toyota Racing Series, which provided the GP winner's stepping stone to Europe.
“It gives us a really good platform to what we want to do and give young kids an opportunity,” says Evans.
Young is a relative term. Evans is only 18. Even Brendon Hartley, considered a TRS veteran, is just 23. But he's already tested for the Red Bull, Torro Roso and Mercedes F1 teams.
“I sometimes forget how much experience I have,” says Hartley. “[It] actually scared me before when I realised that the series has been going for nine years and I won the first race nine years ago.”
Today’s pre-season shakedown at Hampton Downs turned into an impromptu reunion for New Zealand’s three top European-based drivers.
For Richie Stanaway it was also a comeback. This was his first time in a race car since June, when a crash in Belgium left him with a broken back.
“It's nice to come out and do a few laps to get my confidence back, and we'll have to see how this next season goes,” says Stanaway.
While Stanaway has an eye on a future spot with the Lotus F1 team, Hartley is enjoying his double role with Mercedes, testing Lewis Hamilton's new car while competing in the Le Mans Series.
And even on today’s low-key practice day, there was competition to be the fastest Kiwi.
“We're all super competitive,” says Evans. “We all want to make it to the top, but we're also from the same country. So we've got to give each other a little bit of support, I guess.”
Evans hasn't ruled out a crack at this season’s New Zealand GP, although it's GP2 and another world title he wants most.
3 News
Read more and watch the video: http://www.3news.co.nz/Top-NZ-drivers-reunite-at-Hampton-Downs/tabid/415/articleID/280712/Default.aspx#ixzz2FMZ5BpF6
For the New Zealand Festival of Motor Racing December Newsletter click here
People, and awful Aucklanders in particular, have been rude about Hamilton for as long as anyone can recall. A whole school of conversation is devoted to ways of driving south and avoiding Hamilton. There are jokes and T-shirts.
People in Hamilton are used to this nonsense. When I tell Aimee at Hamilton Promotion I want to include her place in my series about the towns everyone's rotten about, she knows exactly where I'm coming from, but of course she knows those out-of-towners have got it wrong.
Like everyone I talk to in Hamilton, she loves the place.
It's easier to get to Hamilton from Auckland than it used to be thanks to slick new roading. But a sensitive visitor should be careful about how to approach Hamilton and its endless outskirts, which can rush up on you if care isn't taken as you whizz down State Highway 1.
It's important to enter a difficult destination in the best way possible and the best way to approach the river city is by not crossing the river until you're in town.
So hook a left off SH1 just north of Ngaruawahia on to the back road to Gordonton, which is just a short run from downtown Hamilton. It's worth a stop at Gordonton, which comes these days with an added and unlikely attraction - a 50ha tea estate called Zealong.
You can sit in its tea house amid the rolling plantation of tea plants and sip delicate oolong tea, hand-picked, processed and packed locally. Don't ask for milk and sugar, but do ask for their sampler plate. It's delicious and just the boost you need before encountering the distinct charms of Hamilton.
Like some other of our lonesome towns, it's a bit on the flat side, which can be baffling to visitors. Its major star, the mighty Waikato River, is useless as a landmark, lurking as it does way down below its banks. Hamilton has a more sudden charm when approached from the east and across one of the city's six bridges where you get a good gasp of a glance at the Waikato.
Victoria St is the heart of downtown, shadowing the river with its own river of retail. This is the part of town to be in and I stay in a well-appointed apartment at the Quest on Ward St, just off Victoria.
No need to eat in. There are restaurants all around.
Hamilton is up to its hungry ears in restaurants which, along with bars and clubs, are sprinkled on and off Victoria from Bryce St in the north to Hood St at the south end.
The river demands attention first, though, and you can get a close encounter with New Zealand's Mississippi by taking an amble on the river walkway, under trees and bridges, pondering where you'd get out were you to take a dive and try to swim across the scary snake of a thing. Huntly, with luck.
Back up on Victoria St, the Keystone, with Monteith's beers on tap, is a nice spot to take in the last of the day's sun. Lemongrass House, on Victoria, is one of many good ethnic restaurants, though some locals are still adjusting to all the new tastes.
I hear a woman asking for "the closest thing you have to butter chicken". "This is a Thai restaurant," the owner explains with a smile, "but I think I know what you'd like."
Fortified, next morning, after serious coffee at a funky place across the river called Mavis and Co, I make for Hamilton Gardens, a riverside pleasure park of such proportions you could spend a day wandering and still not find it all.
The best bits I stumbled on were the themed gardens - a Japanese Garden of Contemplation, an Italian Renaissance Garden, an Indian Char Bagh Garden. All quite Alice in Wonderland and a good way to start a day in a strange city.
And Hamilton is a little strange. It's our only major city parked well away from the coast, which may be why it makes Aucklanders nervous.
It is a city built from the richness of Waikato soil and an adventurous visitor could find a serious reminder by driving towards the airport to Mystery Creek and its Agricultural Museum, which these days caters to schools and pre-booked tour groups. It's a bit of a hidden gem, though a large one. I had no idea we invented the rotary milking shed.
But a brewery was calling. It's a new one called Good George Brewing, which is making and selling beer and food in funky style in a converted church in Frankton, Hamilton's industrial zone. Its brewer, Kelly Ryan, learned his craft with the famous indie brewer Epic and he knows his stuff.
At the other end of Hamilton's cultural spectrum is the city's splendid art gallery, which shares a stylish home with the museum on the riverbank at the arty south end of Victoria.
And, on the walk back up Victoria, there's Browser's, a second-hand bookshop that could trap a booklover for hours.
And it's impossible to leave Hamilton without visiting the zoo, which is maybe the country's best, with spider monkeys swinging in real trees and a sizeable wetlands area.
I left town feeling I hadn't seen - or drunk or eaten - the half of Hamilton. Which means I might have to go back. How will I explain that to my Auckland friends?
By Colin Hogg
For this article and more by the NZ Herald click here
Champ will be hard to catch in return to 1000cc class.
Dennis Charlett is counting down the hours until he accepts his latest big motorcycling challenge - and so, probably are many of his race fans.
The 2012 Suzuki Tri Series begins at Hampton Downs, just north of Huntly, this weekend and the champion Christchurch racer is fizzing to go.
Charlett finished runner-up to fellow Suzuki racer Glen Skachill, of Wellington, in the 600cc class last season, but this year he is stepping up in the horsepower stakes and planning to take another step up on the podium.
The three-time former and present New Zealand 600cc supersport champion will be back on a 1000cc superbike this for season, a frenzied few months of activity that starts with the popular Suzuki Tri Series before running on to the nationals in January and March.
He last raced a superbike in New Zealand in 2004, finishing fourth overall that season, before heading overseas to clinch the South Australian and Victorian superbike titles in 2006.
He returned to win the New Zealand 600cc supersport title in 2008 before making it back-to-back wins by again dominating the 600cc class last year and this year.
He feels he has the pace to win the formula one/superbike class at the Tri Series and, if his early warm-up stints on the ex-Andrew Stroud Suzuki GSX-R1000 are anything to go by, he may be right.
"I want to use the Tri Series to measure where I am at as regards a possible result in the nationals and, although I don't want to risk it all in the Tri Series with the national title my main aim, this Tri Series has enormous status on its own and I'd certainly love to win there too," said the 44-year-old Charlett.
"I'm going pretty well at the moment and I expect to improve some more when the racing proper starts. There's nothing like actual racing to sharpen you up. "Racing the 1000cc superbike has rejuvenated me.
"The superbike is quite a different beast to ride and I have to be careful on the throttle. You have to have a lot of respect for the throttle."
Charlett he says he's very grateful for the support he's been given to allow him to create the Underground Brown Race Team.
"If it wasn't for Tony Brown I wouldn't be able to do this at all. He has been a massive help to me."
In addition to facing four-time consecutive Tri Series winner and defending F1 titleholder Andrew Stroud, Charlett will have to cope with such blazingly fast individuals as Christchurch rider James Smith (Honda), Hamilton's Nick Cole (Kawasaki), Wellington's Sloan Frost (BMW), Feilding's Craig Shirriffs (Suzuki), New Plymouth's Hayden Fitzgerald (Suzuki) and Whakatane's Tony Rees (Honda).
Thomas Kreutz is also expected to challenge for the title.
Kreutz is the reigning German supersport champion and he will be racing both the F1 and F2 class on a Yamaha R6.
The Suzuki Tri Series features races for F1, F2, F3, sidecars, post-classic pre '89, BEARS, and 450cc supermoto.
The Tri Series heads to Manfeild, on the outskirts of Feilding, for round two of the Tri Series the following weekend, December 16, and it then wraps up with the traditional Cemetery Circuit event, on the public streets of Wanganui, on Boxing Day.
By Andy McGechan
For this article by the NZ Herald and more click here
Pictures/Andy McGechan, BikesportNZ.com
Andrew Stroud has stamped his class on the field with his Suzuki GSX-R1000 superbike.Pictures/Andy McGechan, BikesportNZ.com
Hamilton's Andrew Stroud may feel as if he has a target on his back - and for good reason.
In just over a week's time the 44-year-old multi-time New Zealand superbike champion will embark on what may be his last season of racing with a big line-up of talented rivals determined to wipe the No1 from the front of his Suzuki GSX-R1000 superbike.
But, as usual, Stroud has one thing on his mind, to win, and, if he does so again this season he will make it five Suzuki Tri Series wins in a row.
The Suzuki Tri Series starts at Hampton Downs, just north of Huntly, on Saturday, December 8, heads to Manfeild in the Manawatu for round two a week later, on December 16, and then wraps up with the traditional Cemetery Circuit event, on the public streets of Wanganui, on Boxing Day.
Stroud firmly rubber-stamped his ownership of the Suzuki Tri Series when he scored his fourth consecutive title win on Wanganui's streets just after last Christmas, but he says it is getting tougher and tougher each year.
Fellow Hamilton rider Nick Cole (Kawasaki ZX-10R) was Suzuki Tri Series runner-up last year and he'll be back again this year to have another shot.
"This could be my last Suzuki Tri-Series," says father-of-nine Stroud. "Suzuki has been so good to me over the past 12 years and it would be great to wrap up the title for them in Wanganui, right in their back yard.
"Everyone is getting faster so it's never easy. Riders such as Nick Cole, Sloan Frost, James Smith and Craig Shirriffs are all extremely fast."
The Suzuki Tri Series has extra sponsorship this year - thanks to additional support from Wanganui.com - lifting the prizemoney to $30,000.
In addition, the Cemetery Circuit series finale will this year celebrate the 60th anniversary of the great race in Wanganui with a get-together on Christmas Eve and an anniversary dinner and prizegiving on Boxing Day at the Wanganui Racecourse.
"The whole Suzuki Tri Series, and the Cemetery Circuit event in particular, is like a good wine," says series promoter Allan "Flea,' Willacy, "it just gets better with age."
In addition to Stroud, Cole, Frost, Smith and Shirriffs, the event has enticed multiple former champion and street racer Tony Rees, of Whakatane, to enter.
Other talented individuals in the line-up include Taranaki father and son Terry and Hayden Fitzgerald, Auckland's Ray Clee, Wellington's Glen Skachill and Christchurch's Ryan Hampton, while national 600 supersport champion Dennis Charlett, of Christchurch, steps up to do battle on a 1000cc Suzuki superbike this season.
Stroud knows he is up against it, but the smart pundits are probably still picking the Suzuki ace to make it five in a row.
The series features races for F1, F2, F3, sidecars, post-classic pre-89, BEARS, and 450cc supermoto.
2012 Suzuki International Tri-Series calendar:
Round 1: Hampton Downs, December 8
Round 2: Manfeild, December 16
Round 3: Wanganui Cemetery Circuit, December 26
For this article and more by the NZ Herald click here
Seven sleek and gleaming BMWs are lined up on a racing track, engines revving. Lined up alongside is a group of equally glittering and eager women.
We're being thrown the keys and told we can drive them as fast as we want. It sounds like a fantasy, but it's real.
We're at Hampton Downs raceway, in North Waikato, on an ultimate BMW driver experience, organised just for us and liltingly labelled Ladies' Luxury Laps.
We all know sex sells, but this time the premier car company is turning the marketing maxim on its head. Instead of draping women over cars for photographs, it's putting us behind the wheel.
BMW knows women are key decision-makers in buying vehicles and it has identified them as a target market.
The day has been organised as a follow-up to Fashion Week, which BMW co-sponsored. About 20 fashion writers and celebrities are at the racetrack for a luxury day out with luxury cars.
The celebrities include Olympic gold medallist and kayaker Lisa Carrington and former Miss New Zealand turned broadcaster Amber Peebles, but we all receive the royal treatment.
I'm neither famous nor that fashionable, but have slipped in on the action, because our in-house fashionista isn't that fond of driving.
I have some driving credentials. I've done a weekend rally-driving course and have a motorbike licence. I may not have driven a sports car through Paris, but I have driven a rental car at 180kmh on the autobahn in Germany where, like Hampton Downs, you can legally drive as fast as you want.
So speed? No problem. Bring it on.
It appears I'm not the only one feeling like this. The other women at the track are mostly young and immaculately made up.
Like butterflies, they flit around the cars. A BMW representative says it's the most BMWs the company has ever had in one place at one time in New Zealand.
The day starts with putting seven of the most luxurious, reliable and thrilling BMWs through their paces on the track. We take turns test-driving all seven.
We slalom through cones, drive racing lines to experience the cars' performance and manoeuvrability on straights and corners, then go as fast as we want down a stretch of track.
It's all done in safe conditions. We take turns. It's not raining. The acceleration test is relatively short. I put my foot flat to the floor and reach a top speed of only 146kmh, but a better driver could have achieved more.
My first experience is the BMW X5. It's stately and stable. If I were a mother of 2.2 kids, I would be happy to have this in my garage. Not only does it manage motorways and streets with equal authority, but it can also be used to tow big things, including those found on farms.
My co-driver and I agree it gets an A for the family-oriented, the older driver and the multitasker - say, a busy mum with a business and kids.
But for those looking for a super-fast blast around the track, especially the corners, we turn to the other cars for more of a thrill. Three, in particular, catch the girls' interest.
The BMW M5 is the hottest supercar on the track on the day. There are a lot of Ms about this car - most powerful, most glistening and most expensive.
You need a cool $229,000 to get your hands on one of these babies.
In our case, it's a particularly fetching metallic blue, making it a standout on the racetrack.
It is fitting that the car was released this year, for 2012 is the 40th anniversary of the BMW M (the M stands for Motorsport).
Just recently, BMW launched the M6 - the fastest two-door car the company has produced, having in common with the M5 a twin-turbo engine.
The M5 is marketed as one of the world's most powerful sports-performance touring sedans, performing in both racing conditions and everyday traffic. With racing-inspired technology, it can go from 0 to 100kmh in 4.4 seconds. That's fast.
The luxury features are almost endless - electric glass roof, professional navigation system with 3-D map views, 16-speaker audio system with hard drive to save music and so on.
It's a fantastic car, no question, and all who drive it on the day fall a little bit in love.
Next in the lineup is the BMW M3, a sporty coupe that takes my fancy a little more, because it's more feminine. A nippy little number, this two-door has everything the glamazon could want. Not only does it "think in bends", it also features a silhouette with long, lean lines. What women can't get through diet, exercise and pilates, we can achieve through this car.
But just when I think I have found a near-perfect mix of fashion and motoring finesse, we meet the BMW 335i M Sport sedan. This car has an extra sparkle which, I have to say, made it "the one" for me among the BMWs.
If it were trying to chat me up, it had me at hello, or even at first glance, resplendent as it was in its alpine white colour scheme.
Next time I'm in Paris, this would be my BMW of choice. With a sporty but elegant outline, it makes a style statement on the road. For a modern woman, a vehicle combining sophistication, racing specifications and practicality is pretty hard to go past.
The car is also clever. Like other BMWs, it can turn itself on and off at the lights or in stationary traffic to conserve fuel and the monitor displays all the key driving and navigation information you need.
Later in the day, we get to drive a range of BMW four-wheel-drives, including a BMW X3 and X6, over a purpose-built obstacle course. This includes driving a near-vertical drop to test the vehicles' hill descent function.
This enables you to pre-select a speed of between 8kmh and 20kmh and involves the rather freakish feeling of travelling downhill with your foot off the brake as the vehicle does the braking for you.
We also do hill starts without having to use the handbrake as, again, the car does the thinking for you.
We then get to experience a "hot lap" - hurtling around the track with an accomplished BMW racing driver at the wheel.
I was lucky, getting the front passenger seat in the M5, and can report it's a rush. At 240kmh, the experience rates as a favourite life experience, up there with rally driving, bungy jumping and parachuting.
You can pay to do a BMW Driving Experience at race circuits around New Zealand, including at Hampton Downs.
This practical driving course is designed to improve your driving skills and confidence. You spend 90 per cent of your time on the track, doing slalom driving, lapping, steering and braking exercises.
You also get a hot-lap ride with an experienced instructor, trained to international BMW standards.
BMW offers various options, including days for women and corporate days for men and women. Shout a loved one or your staff. It could make a great Christmas gift.
Details: see bmwdrivertraining.co.nz
- © Fairfax NZ News
For this article please click here
Christchurch Superbike rider Ryan Hampton has again reigned supreme in the Bluff Hill Climb event of the Burt Munro Challenge.
The 23-year-old won his third consecutive open class title with a time of 44.74sec on his Honda CBR 1000 bike, shattering his previous record of 45.99sec, which he set last year.
Hampton's lighting-quick time over the 1.4km course, came in the first of his three timed runs.
Invercargill's Shane Livingstone finished second in the open class on his Suzuki GSXR 1000 with a top time of 49.32sec, while Rotorua's Malcolm Pearce was third in 52.43sec.
A thrilling battle was fought out in the up to 600cc class with Oamaru's Chris Manson running out the victor with a best time of 46.59sec on his last run.
Manson's time pipped Christchurch rider Jason Feaver, who thought he had achieved a winning time, when he powered up the hill with a 46.94sec dash on his final ascent.
Other class winners today were Wellington's Chris Swallow in the classic pre 63s, Glenham's Adam Dennis (pre 82), Edendale's Ricky Stewart (pre 89) and Gisborne's Ian Newman in the quad bikes.
Words:Southland Times Pic NZSBK.net
For this article click here
A taste for the open road
MasterChef judge Josh Emett's passion isn't tied to the kitchen
While most Kiwis spend their OE taking in the sights of Europe, for MasterChef judge Josh Emett his road trip in a VW Golf GTi was taking in some of the best restaurants of the continent.
The seven-week, 8000km journey in 2005 started from his London base and took in France, Spain, Italy and Austria with a tent for accommodation and the 1998 hatchback as transport.
As a two Michelin star chef, Emett is as passionate about cars as he is about food. So it's fitting that, as BMW NZ's latest ambassador, he's hosting special classes at Taste of Auckland at Victoria Park from tomorrow through to Sunday.
As part of his role, Emett drives a BMW X3 3-litre diesel at his Queenstown base where he runs his new Rata restaurant, and a M3 cabriolet when in Auckland while filming the fourth season of TVOne's MasterChef or working on his range of pre-prepared meals.
But Emett was already a BMW convert before becoming an ambassador in August.
While working in New York for Gordon Ramsay, Emett owned a M3, and when he moved to Melbourne to establishing Ramsay's Maze restaurant, he bought a 1 Series for himself and wife Helen to drive.
Now, as a dad of two pre-schooler sons, the mid-size SUV X3 suits Emett's New Zealand lifestyle.
"It's an amazing vehicle and it has plenty of grunt. The first thing Helen said to me when she drove it was, 'Oh my God, I'm in love with this car'.
"As it's a diesel it has plenty of torque, plus it's really nippy. It's also easy to get the boys in and out of their carseats."
He's driven it "all around Queenstown" plus trips to Dunedin and around the central Otago region.
While in Auckland he's been able to extend his skills in the M3 thanks to lessons at Hampton Downs with BMW NZ's driving instructor Mike Eady.
"I learnt how to take corners and where the apex are, when to accelerate, when to brake, what the car can do. It helped me become a better driver," he said.
Emett first learned to drive growing up on a Waikato farm, thanks to the family tractor and motorbikes, before earning his license on his 15th birthday.
His first car was a Mazda 323 that he owned for three years "and drove it into ground and only changed the tyres once".
With a move to Auckland to work at the famous Cin Cin restaurant in the early 1990s came a change in cars - a burgundy Toyota Corolla GT.
"I drove that car everywhere."
In winter, Emett and pals would finish their shift at Cin Cin and drive in the Corolla to the central North Island ski fields.But unlike the Mazda, the Corolla received some attention from Emett.
"Once I won $600 on the dogs so I used the money to stick a new engine in the car," he said.
Emett sold the Corolla to finance his career move to London. For the next five years he was car-less, although his CV gained such impressive workplaces as Claridges restaurant and the Savoy Grill.
When he did become a car owner again at age 26, his wheels were a 1989 Mercedes-Benz 300ce - although the relationship was short-lived as it was stolen from outside his London home.
The replacement was the OE-mobile, the 1988 Golf, which he drove "all over Europe" with a friend.
"It was a massive trip. For seven weeks we ate and ate ... the only thing that was certain was we knew that on such days we had to be at certain restaurants," he said.
These days, Emett's itinerary is more defined. The restaurant he drives to in the X3 is his own, Rata, although with a cookbook and a few other projects on the boil, he'll be clocking up more miles next year.
* We have two tickets for one session of Taste of Auckland to give away. Email us at driven@apn.co.nz with the subject line Josh Emett and tell us what BMW he drives in Queenstown.
By Liz Dobson
For this article and more by the NZ Herald please click here
2012 Suzuki Tri-Series
OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE
Thursday, November 15, 2012
Suzuki Tri-Series Revs Up
The 2011 Suzuki Tri-Series drew thousands of motorcycle race fans from all over New Zealand and the 2012 edition is shaping up to be even bigger.
A record Formula 1 field of top riders will guarantee the best action on NZ soil for some time, each gunning for a share of the $30,000 series prize purse, plus an extra $6000 prize money from Wanganui.com spread over the three rounds at Hampton Downs, Manfield and Wanganui during December.
Defending F1 champion Andrew Stroud returns on a new Suzuki GSXR1000 to defend ‘his’ Suzuki Tri-Series, which this year celebrates the 60th anniversary of the Cemetery Circuit. The Hamilton-based racer has won the last four consecutive series and is more than keen to add an unbeaten fifth when the chequered flag falls in the final race during round three, at Wanganui on Boxing Day.
The 44 year professional old alludes to an approaching decision, “You never know, this could be my last Suzuki Tri-Series. Suzuki have been so good to me over the last 12 years it’d be great to wrap up the title for them in their back yard, as Suzuki NZ are based in Wanganui – right on the race track!,” Stroud says.
“I’ll be trying. I’m not there just to ride around, but everyone is getting faster, especially Nick Cole, Sloan Frost, James Smith, and Craig Shirriffs, they were all going fast at the end of last season, so it’s never easy.”
Stroud didn’t have NZ’s largest road race series all his own way last year, after fellow Hamiltonian Nick Cole (Red Devil Racing Kawasaki ZX-10R), plus Australians Robbie Bugden and Dan Stauffer took their share of the spoils. With the Australians not racing this year, it will be down to Cole and any one of a number of super-fast Kiwi Superbike riders to lead the pack.
Cole returns even more determined to improve on his second placing in the 2011 series. “We’ve been working in the off-season developing the Kawasaki more, and we’ve made some big changes, this year I’ll be on Pirelli tyres. I want to win races, and the series, that’s our goal,” Cole said.
A surprise 2010 race winner at Hampton Downs on a BMW S1000RR, Sloan Frost, 31, is riding stronger than ever on the latest and much improved Bavarian model. “The 2012 Valvoline BMW is really a step forward and is a lot easier to ride. They’ve done exactly what I’ve been wanting, the triple clamps, frame and the swingarm are a little bit different, which give the bike heaps more traction, and it also has more mid-range punch! Frost explains. “I want to win, and I know I’m capable of winning now - I’ve beaten everybody before so it’s just a matter of beating them all at once.”
With some stunning performances during the final rounds of the NZ championship last summer James Smith will want to lead from the front. Smith, of Christchurch, has joined the Castrol Honda team and this season will be racing a Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade Superbike.
Also on a Honda Fireblade for the first time is former NZ Superbike champ Tony Rees (Whakatane), who will be racing all three rounds, as well as the spectacular riding Ryan Hampton (Christchurch) on his Hampton Honda CBR1000RR.
Stepping onto a Superbike for the first time since 2004 is three-time NZ 600 Supersport champion Dennis Charlett, also from Christchurch. Charlett will race Stroud’s proven GSXR1000 from last season in his new Underground Brown team, and the 2007 South Australia and Victoria Superbike champ should not be underestimated in the big bike class.
A very fit Hayden Fitzgerald has also switched to a Suzuki NZ supported GSXR1000, and already likes its impressive torque, which he says is suited to NZ tracks, and his style. Fitzgerald was fourth in last year’s series and the New Plymouth rider wants to improve. “I’ve had one outing and it’s showing a lot of potential! It has a lot of mambo down low that will help this year,” Fitzgerald says.
Ray Clee came close to winning both races at Manfeild last year on his RCM Suzuki GSXR1000, and finished the Suzuki Tri-Series third. Joining him in the F1 category for the first time will be Australia domiciled Karl Morgan, on a similar Suzuki.
Glen Skachill is returning to defend his Formula 2 title, having won the past three years in a row. But it won’t be easy for the Wellington rider with talented racers including Jaden Hassan on his Home Buyers Reports Yamaha NZ R6, John Oliver (Bulls), Jeremy Holmes (Invercargill), Avalon Biddle (Orewa) on a Repsol Suzuki GSXR600 (fresh from her European campaign), and Adam Chambers from the Hawkes Bay.
Supermoto series winner Toby Summers will add some class on his Yamaha R6, but also keep watch on a promising David Hall (Te Awamutu) in his second year, and young newcomers to the F2 class Seth Devereau (Christchurch) and Aucklander Daniel Mettam.
Ironman Rhys Holmes (Katikati) will again ride two classes, a Yamaha R6 in F2 and his BMW S1000RR in BEARS.
Successful German rider Thomas Kreutz will travel to NZ to race his Yamaha R6 in both F1 and F2 classes. He was second in the German Superbike championship in 2010, and placed second last year in Supersport.
F1 Sidecars are always a major attraction for spectators and this year no less than 17 outfits are entered. Everyone will be out to put one across the defending champion combination of Adam Unsworth and Stu Dawe on their Windle F1. Former NZ champ Aaron Lovell makes a return after almost a decade away from the sport, with champion passenger Dennis Simonson doing swinging duties. But Andy Scrivener and swinger Steve Bryan (Taupo, Sowersby Hayabusa 1300) plus the Chris Lawrance/Richard Lawrance (Auckland, Yamaha R1) pairing may pose the biggest threats.
All the top riders will be racing in the favourite support classes including Post Classic Pre ‘89, Formula 3, BEARS, and 450 Supermoto. With big names attending such as Sean Donnelly, Glen Williams, Scott Moir, Eddie Kattenburg, Steve Bridge, Dave Cole, Glen Hayden, Russell Josiah, Richard and Simon Dibben, Duncan Hart, Nick Kampenhout, and many more.
Travelling from Australia to race at Wanganui in the Pre ’89 category are Murray West (CR750) and Marcus de Caux on a TZ750.
Race fans at Wanganui will be treated to a special 60th anniversary Legendary Rider parade lap at midday, with many former Cemetery Circuit winners including Aaron Slight, Andrew Stroud on the Britten, Bob & Rod Coleman, John Hepburn and Tony Rees. More Cemetery Circuit ‘Legends’ are expected!
Plus, multi-Marlboro Series and Wanganui winner Pat Hennen will make a special return to the circuit where he made his name and will be guest of honour at the 60th reunion dinner in Wanganui on Boxing Day evening.
Organiser Allan Willacy says, “American Pat Hennen is coming back especially for the 60th reunion, and we have one of his bikes he won on [Suzuki TR750] on display in Wanganui at the information centre. It’s fantastic to have Pat Hennen back, he was third in the World 500cc Grand Prix championship, so it’s great to have him here!”
Hennen won three successive Marlboro Series for Suzuki over the summers of 1974/’75, 1975/’76 and 1976’77 riding a mix of Suzuki TR500s, a TR750, and an RG500 during his final year. The Californian won six races at Wanganui and he was also the first American rider to win a World 500cc GP.
With nine premier class titles, Andrew Stroud is the most successful motorcycle road racer within NZ shores. “Andrew Stroud has done so much and won so many races in NZ for many years, he is the guy everyone tries to knock off the pedestal. Since we started the Tri-Series he has been the winner and no one else has taken that title off him. So to win again would be fantastic for Andrew, and our sponsor Suzuki!”
Catch the former World Superbike, 500cc Grand Prix and world famous Britten rider in action at the 2012 Suzuki Tri-Series at Hampton Downs on December 8, Manfield on December 16, and Wanganui on Boxing Day.
Gate sales for Wanganui are $30 for adults although you can save $10 for early bird pricing online at www.cemeterycircuit.co.nz. Super Passes are also available, at $60.
ENDS
Words by Terry Stevenson
2012 Suzuki International Tri-Series Schedule;
Rnd 1: Hampton Downs, December 8
Rnd 2: Manfeild, December 16
Rnd 3: Wanganui Cemetery Circuit, December 26
Photos: Selection of images from the 2011 Suzuki Tri-Series provided.
Photo credits to: Terry Stevenson
For further information or high resolution photographs contact;
Press, Terry Stevenson 027 222-5656, Email; tappit@paradise.net.nz
Organiser, Allan Willacy 021 212-6873, Email; admin@cemeterycircuit.co.nz
Or visit www.cemeterycircuit.co.nz
October Newsletter
We are looking forward to a busy summer season and this is what it looks like!
Congratulations to Eddie Freeman who broke 2 land speed records on Saturday 27 October at Ohakea Air Force Base. Eddie Freeman broke the records in a Twin-Turbo V10 Lamborghini Superleggera worth more than $450,000.
As Eddie said "It's been a long time in the making, so now there's a little bit of relief and satisfaction that the car and me are both in one piece."
When setting the record Eddie Freeman had to average the speed out over two runs, into the wind and against it.
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To do hot laps or drive this car around Hampton Downs go to www.freemanxexperience.co.nz
The 2012 NAC Drift Nationals was held here on Sunday October 7. With 6000 people lining the fence of the drift section, 22 drifters spent the morning practicing the judged line to get it dialed in for qualifying. It was also the debut of many new cars and setups. So the four hour practice session was extra valuable to get them up to speed and any bugs ironed out of the new cars.
Vehicles like Daynom Templeman’s brand new Achilles FD RX-7. A re-shell of his old 20B powered RX-7, it has been engineered to be a much more competitive package and is destined to compete in Formula D Asia. Mad Mike’s Speedhunters/Red Bull RX-8 also made its competition debut with its new livery, wheels, Kiwi-RE 20B and suspension set-ups, much like Daynom’s RX-7, it was re-engineered to be a much more competitive package.
All day on the skid pan a 4&Rotary Drift Cross demonstration took place with a good mix of 4WD’s, RWD’s and even a FWD or two. Qualifying ran a best of three passes format. Although some drivers like Nico Reid who took fourth spot, elected to run one strong pass and use that as the qualifying score. After three runs Mad Mike claimed the number one spot followed by Daynom Templeman and Bruce Tannock
In the final both drivers put on a great show, with nothing able to dictate the outcome forcing them to a one more time. On Mike’s lead run it was again extremely close to call however Mad Mike in a Turbo charged 20B Triple Rotor RX8 was appointed the NAC drift title for the second year in a row.
During labour weekend we had the inaugural Barry Sheene Trans-Tasman Challenge.
It was the largest International Road Race meeting in NZ's history, surpassing the Marlboro Series, is how the Barry Sheene Trans-Tasman Challenge panned out. There were 35 Australian riders taking on the kiwis (lots of good old fashioned rivalry), there were 350 race bikes and over 250 riders including internationals Robbie Phillis and IOM Winner Cameron Donald racing. That put a community of between 1,000 to 1200 people in the pits as family and pit crews helped their riders or swingers, all enthusiasts of older motorcycles.
Photo credit: Doug Cornes Photography. Search for him on facebook to see more!
Plenty of general public turned up to watch the racing and purchased a Barry Sheene tee-shirt and there was tons of variety amongst the machinery entered and people kept saying “I haven’t seen you in 30 years, this is just like old times” as familiar faces bumped into each other as fellow competitors, pits crews or fans that just wandered up. And here are a couple of World Superbike friends waiting in the coffee line, Aaron Slight and Robbie Phillis.
Caption; 'Eeees just me bloody mechanic mate'
Did you catch us on The Ridges on 3 October??
Sally and Jamie Ridge did hot laps with Greg Murphy and John McIntyre. Watch the footage here: http://ondemand.tv3.co.nz/The-Ridges-Season-1-Ep-4/tabid/59/articleID/8290/Default.aspx
We have been doing more asphalting too, preparing for the summer season and thanks to Hamilton Asphalts for their support and a great job!
Have you ever wondered about having an event or function at Hampton Downs? We have a Conference Open Day on Wednesday 7 November 2012 – for those of you who are thinking of coming please RSVP your company and name to admin@hamptondowns.com
Another event that is coming up fast is the Suzuki Tri Series on Saturday 8 December. Motorcycle racing is one of the most spectacular sports of any kind. Impossibly high lean angles are matched by incredibly fast Superbike acceleration rates, and the occasional spill.
NZ’s biggest road race motorcycle series this summer kicks off at Hampton Downs with over 200 bikes entered. This event is prior to the 60th running of the famous Cemetery Circuit in Wanganui, on Boxing Day.
There is $30,000 in prize money up for grabs and heading the F1 Superbike class is defending four-time Suzuki Tri-Series champion Andrew Stroud and his Suzuki GSX-R1000.
The nine-time former and reigning national superbike champion from Hamilton finished runner-up at the 2011 series opener at Hampton Downs in December and snatched the points lead when he won the day at round two at Manfeild a week later.
He was beaten on the twisty streets of Wanganui’s fabled Cemetery Circuit on Boxing Day’s series finale but that didn’t matter because he had earlier accumulated enough points to rubber-stamp his “ownership” of the Suzuki Tri Series.
Stroud has won the superbike component of the series every year since the inaugural running in 2008 and will be hoping to extend that to a fifth title when the 2012 series kicks off this December.
Last year we had riders like Sloan Frost, Robbie Bugden, Canadian number two Andrew Nelson, Rhys Holmes, Dan Stauffer (Yamaha), Nick Prestige (Ducati) , Dion Sellers (BMW) , Steve Bridge (Ducati) and Jamie Galway (Triumph), Scott Moir (Honda) and Darren Love. We look forward to seeing them again soon.
All the support classes will return including F3 Sportbikes, Post Classics (which promises to be a thriller this year), BEARS and Ultra Lites.
Gate sales are $20 for adults, $5 for kids 5-14yrs and under 5 free. There is also early bird ticketing on www.hdticketing.co.nz for $15 per adult.
New event! Formula Challenge are running a “Survive the Slide” skidpan session on Monday 17 December. It will be split into groups of 4 drivers with each session lasting 1 ½ hrs (30 min theory, 45 min practical, 15 min debrief). The first session starts at 08.30 and it is open to any drivers but we are aiming it towards young drivers. The cost is $250 per driver incl GST. We are doing this in conjunction with Holden Driver Training from Hamilton.
The idea is to give drivers a basic understanding of what causes a car to slide and the physics behind it then a chance to feel and correct the situation if it ever arises by using their own cars. For more information please contact Elton Goonan on elton@fcr.co.nz or 0273 676 852.
As we write this our first Playday at Hampton’s twilight is on. There are over 40 cars out in the evening sun enjoying the track which is great to see. For more upcoming dates head to www.hdticketing.co.nz
Christmas is now less than 2 months away! Are you stuck for ideas for a unique Christmas Party? – Book your team in with us and drive a V8 Race Car and enjoy excellent food. Contact us for more information on (09) 20 6504 or email admin@hamptondowns.com for options tailored to you.
Today is the last day for early bird tickets for the New Zealand Festival of Motor Racing celebrating Denny Hulme in January 2013. On the website (www.nzfmr.co.nz) there are also now evening functions for both Saturday nights. Come and join us for a BBQ and meet the personalities from the Denny Hulme era – only $30 a person.
An update for the cars - Pierre Tonetti of Italy will be bringing not one but two 1963 Brabham BT6s to compete in a big Australasian programme this summer that will include racing at Taupo prior to the two weekends of the Festival.
Using the second and more recent of his two cars – chassis FJ-18-63 – pictured, Tonetti currently leads the Lurani Trophy in 2012 with the last race at the Mugello Circuit.
This car belongs to Ethan Lind out Brisbane, it’s a 1964 Falcon Hardtop Sprint, 289 (4700cc) engine. Ethan’s a part of the Australian Trans Am group and this will be his first trip to NZ. Photo credit: credit Ian Welsh of Shifting Focus.
We are excited to announce that Meguiar’s will be hosting the 'Meguiar's Show and Shine' – this will be held in the pit paddock alongside the Skid Pan. This is a great opportunity for you to show your cars, plus win one of the many prizes to be awarded and attend at a reduced entry. Prizes include daily People’s Choice Award, spot prizes and many others. The Overall People’s Choice Award with the most votes will be announced on the last Sunday of the event. The winner will receive the Meguiar's Overall People’s Choice Award Cup and a Meguiar's product package. The Meguiar's Car Club Award will be given to the Car Club whose entrants received the most votes. So the more cars entered the more votes! The winning car club will receive the Meguiar's Show and Shine Car Club Cup and a one day free hirage of the Hampton Downs Skid Pan.
Tickets for entrants, plus family and friends are at a special rate of $20 per day for the 'Meguiar's Show and Shine'. This includes the entry of the car into the 'Meguiar's Show and Shine' and full access to the NZ Festival of Motor Racing (including Pit Access). If you would like to enter please email chris@nzfmr.co.nz
Happy Halloween
Correction from last newsletter:
“We were supplied with a photograph and told it was Craig Stacey’s 1969 Lola T163 Can-Am car. We included the photograph in our October Newsletter only to find out after the event that the photograph was not of Craig nor of Craig’s car. We apologise for the misunderstanding.”
Eddie Freeman hits 383km/h on his way to taking land speed crown.
It could well have been the fastest thing on the Ohakea Air Force Base runway since our Skyhawks were mothballed.
And Kiwi speedster Eddie Freeman certainly had the afterburners on when his Lamborghini smashed the New Zealand land speed record yesterday.
Freeman averaged an incredible 355.485km/h. The previous record stood at 348.23km/h.
The Castrol Trophy for the land speed record had been held by Owen Evans since 1996. Evans nearly paid with his life when he lost control of his Porsche 911 Turbo during one of his attempts, a horrific crash that was caught on camera.
An elated Freeman said he too had been shaken about.
"It was pretty intense.
"There was poor visibility and the car was vibrating but things held up well and I'm delighted."
Freeman was attempting the record in a Lamborghini Superleggera, a supercar producing 530bhp and capable in its standard specification of a top speed of 315km/h.
The $450,000 car was modified at one of the world's leading automotive tuners in the US to prepare it for the attempt.
Now the Superleggera is capable of producing close to 1300 rear-wheel horsepower.
Dad-of-two Freeman, who runs a supercar driving business at Hampton Downs Motorsport Park in the North Waikato, has been gearing up for the attempt for two years.
During yesterday's record-breaking run, he hit a top speed of 383km/h, which was averaged at 355.485km/h after two runs.
Freeman said previous record-holder Evans had met him recently to pass on a few tips and wish him all the best.
Evans, yesterday racing at the Pukekohe raceway, congratulated Freeman for beating his record.
"People don't realise how difficult it is to achieve speeds like that and I'll be more than happy to hand the trophy over to Eddie," Evans said.
"I was just so glad he didn't have an incident during the attempt like the one that happened to me."
And Evans joked: "Eddie did a great job but I hope it doesn't mean I'll now be expected to get back in the Porsche and go for 400km/h.
"I think my wife would have something to say about that, after what I put her through the last time."
By Russell Blackstock
For this article by the NZ Herald and more please click here
Teen sensation lacks for nothing in the talent and bravery departments.
Nine countries in seven months, South Islander Jake Lewis has certainly clocked up the air miles on his way to becoming New Zealand's next big thing in motorcycling.
Back in April, the 17-year-old double New Zealand road-racing champion left his Rangiora home bound for Europe, travelling with his former national road-race father Rob.
This was just weeks after clinching the national 600 superstock title at the New Zealand Superbike Championships' final round at Taupo.
And the victory that day had signalled his second consecutive season of celebrating national championship glory - he picked up the New Zealand 125GP title last year - and in both instances he had been making his debut in the class.
This year he was riding a Bob McCleary Yamaha R6, a huge leap in horsepower from the 125cc bike he rode a season earlier, but he has proven to be a quick learner and certainly lacks for nothing in the talent and bravery departments.
In was with all this in mind that the two Lewis men decided to hit the road, to see how far this sport could take them.
"I left to compete in the European Junior Cup, but, after a few races, we decided it was not really where I wanted to go," said Jake Lewis.
"We were given the opportunity to step up to race in the European Superstock 600 competition and jumped at the chance.
"We didn't really have a base as such ... we lived in a camper van and just drove from country to country, event to event."
The intrepid Kiwi pair travelled through and raced in Italy, Spain, France, the United Kingdom, the Czech Republic, San Marino, the Netherlands, Germany and Portugal, returning home only last week.
"It was a bit hard at first dealing with the food and languages but we generally found a few people at each stop who could speak English. It was a struggle to work out at times what we were eating, but the food was actually really great.
"Watching the racing, I thought I would be among the top 15 in the 600cc class, but when I got on the track, I realised just how fast these riders were. It was definitely an eye-opener, " said Lewis.
"Motorsport is the No1 sport in Europe, next to soccer, and I was blown away by the quality of the riders.
"I really felt I learned a lot and I'm now much faster than I was.
"I feel really at home now on a 600 and will be racing the New Zealand Superbike Championships on a Bob McCleary Yamaha R6 in the 600cc supersport class this coming season."
The five-round national championships kick off in Christchurch on January 5-6, with rounds to follow in Timaru (January 12-13), Invercargill (January 19-20), Hampton Downs (March 16-17) and, finally, the series wraps up in Taupo on March 23-24.
By Andy McGechan
For this article and more by the NZ Herald click here
Maserati: Life in the fast lane
By Matt Greenop
Saturday Oct 20, 2012
The Maserati name is synonymous with leather-bound luxury and performance.
My Maserati, Joe Walsh's song says, "goes 185". I glance down at the speedo on the Maserati MC Stradale as we cross the start/finish line at Phillip Island. It's 230km/h.
Walsh was, of course, referring to 185mph, quite creatively too considering the top speed of Maseratis in the 70s when Life's Been Good came out.
That said, jumping on the brakes at 230km/h before pushing through that first complex of corners on this challenging bit of bitumen is plenty, thanks, especially with $350,000 worth of metal under my bum.
We're at the famous Victoria circuit to sample the latest GranTurismo Sport models - an upgrade over the outgoing S model - on the track and in the surrounding countryside.
Despite being home to some fantastic four-wheel racing, Phillip Island is known for its motorcycle madness including the upcoming MotoGP round that will see Aussie hero Casey Stoner's last race on home soil before he retires from the sport.
It's also known for being extremely windy and for some corners that have an ability to turn men of steel into quivering wrecks. It was my first outing here.
To break us into the new model range slowly, the assembled scribes were paired up and sent out into the wilds around Phillip Island - the natural habitat of that most evil and humourless of beings, the Victorian Police Officer. These creatures are known for their ability to write you a massive ticket before you even know they're there. The previous day one hapless writer had been stung for 82km/h in an 80km zone.
There are two new models above the standard 4.2-litre V8-powered GranTurismo, both packing the stroppier 335kW 4.7-litre V8, one mated to a six-speed auto, the other to the fantastic robotic six-speed MC Shift sequential manual.
The MC Shift is fitted to the rear transaxle as opposed to the automatic's more traditional engine-attached spot - giving the added benefit of more rear-weight balance, moving the backward pork to 47 per cent front, 53 per cent rear for the roboclutched machine. The 4.7 has gained 7kW over the S model, and also sits in the aforementioned MC Stradale - the ultimate road and track variant of the GranTurismo, very closely related to the Trofeo racecar. This mean machine forgoes some creature comforts and Maserati lux to trim its fat by 110kg, becoming a hard-fettled road weapon that is, frankly, more at home on a racetrack.
Both the automatic and "manual" version of the GranTurismo proved perfectly able out on the road, with the slight weight bias change and minuscule gap in shift times the most notable differences. The auto changed cleanly in fully automatic mode but, as I've noted before, if you're driving a performance coupe you really should drive it.
The roads we were testing on did have some similarities to New Zealand's and there was a definite stability advantage when running the auto in manual mode. Scrubbing speed off when heading into a corner was far easier when using the paddle shifter to knock back gears before getting back on the gas.
The manual, on the other hand, was undoubtedly the better handling of the two, with faster downshifts and quicker response on the upshift, although changing midway through the rev range with half-throttle on wasn't the smoothest.
It's the 520Nm serving of torque and screaming 7500rpm redline that makes the GranTurismo experience feel like you're at the wheel of a purposeful Italian coupe, although there's 1880kg to push along.
The Maserati name is synonymous with leather-bound luxury and performance, and getting the balance between comfort and sheer driving enjoyment is never an easy task. Either way, none of these machines are going to save the planet - combined consumption is 14.3L/100 for the auto and 15.5L for the manual. The C02 action is pretty impressive as well - 331g/km in the auto, and a bunny-killing 360 for the manual. .
Maserati is occasionally scorned for claiming every slightest change as a revolution, and while the Sport designation of the new car is valid, there's not a huge jump from the S.
The new front seats, electrically adjusted on both sides and supportive for both the back and legs, especially when cornering fast, proved a worthy addition; even when sitting in the passenger seat with a similarly motivated writer flexing his right foot, the car felt comfortable and stable. Rear seat room has been well engineered so normal-sized people can use them. The front seats electrically slide forward to allow for reasonably easy access but realistically, if you want to use all four seats all of the time, the beautiful Maserati Quattroporte could be a better option.
When you're feeling quiet, the car complies, its clever exhaust system following a serpentine route to the exits, losing noise and energy in the process. Hit the Sport button, and a pair of pneumatic valves open up before the rear silencers when it hits the rev range sweet spot, and it's all on.
Everything feels more comfortable than really seems appropriate when the V8 is bellowing from its redline. It is certainly a luxury machine, but despite its weightiness, the GranTurismo Sport is more than capable on winding backroads.
Absorbing some of the nastier bits of these demanding roads is the excellent Skyhook suspension system, with continuous automatic damping control, which includes anti-dive and anti-squat technology using the forged aluminium wishbone set-up front and rear to great effect.
It uses sensors to establish just what the road surface is doing and responds near-instantly, soaking up surface changes with aplomb. Surprise potholes - a staple of Kiwi motoring - don't give Skyhook enough notice, so slamming 1.8 tonnes of Italian craftsmanship into a hole doesn't really change from its usual jarring experience.
Ventilated, cross-drilled discs are shod with six-pot monobloc calipers at the front and four-pots at the rear, allowing for solid, stable braking and an extremely progressive pedal feel. ABS and electronic brake force distribution make for an incredibly comfortable stopping experience, even when in a panic from high speed, the clever suspension and well-sorted brake systems combining for exceptional stability while pulling the car up without too much unwanted feedback from the big 20-inch wheels and tyres.
Manhandling the big car through some of these roads, grabbing each upshift with the right foot buried in the deep carpet, the next line of that song kept popping into my head: "I lost my licence, now I can't drive".
So we headed back to the track with the promise of comparing the MC Stradale to its more refined stablemates.
The MC Stradale has no electric seats, no rear seats, far less deadening and a whole heap more attitude. It also has a Race mode, which sets the exhaust essentially as a straight pipe, making the 4.7-litre symphony the only driving soundtrack you'll ever really need.
Looking through the list of where the 110kg weight saving came from is very interesting. There's the 20-inch flow-formed alloys, 2kg less just from wiring, there's 25kg gone in excess sound deadening, 26kg with the new carbon fibre seats, and the carbon ceramic Brembo brakes are good for a 16kg trim.
When you get this car rolling it's a vital, living being, and for the first lap was like a bitey dog at the end of a chain while the Italian race driver next to me pointed out a few of the more technical issues - double-apex, massive elevation drop into a hairpin, anyone? - but once let go, it's simply amazing.
The lighter weight is obvious through the high-speed esses, and when punched on the exit of a corner, it fires into the distance with far more urgency - everything about the car feels, tighter, quicker and more responsive. Driving it on the road on a daily basis is probably only recommended for those with a miswired central nervous system - it's hard riding, stroppy as all hell, and allows less fine-tuning of seating position (courtesy of those featherlight seats). It's a track car that's road legal, really.
Jumping into the automatic GranTurismo Sport next really showed up the difference between it and its MC Shift-fitted robomanual counterpart. The six-speed sequential is more positive and faster on the upshift and allows for the same stable and straight stopping experience when downshifting into tough corners, the well-vented brakes maintaining their cool and the calipers allowing for a very progressive brake experience rather than the "bury it and hang on" approach. Slight adjustments could easily be made without drowning you in fear-bred adrenalin.
My pick is the $325,000 MC Shift - the rear transaxle siting of the gearbox adds to the balance, and helps to drive fast, while the gearbox is perfectly matched to that singsong V8. There's a $30K price-break for the $295,000 auto, and while it's a very tractable machine for an automatic, the robotic manual really does offer the best of both worlds.
But if you've got a spare space in your garage and want something that can be punted around country roads or Hampton Downs at pace, the MC Stradale is hard to go, or get, past.
For this article and more by the NZ Herald click here
Not long to go with Festival Early Bird tickets
Photo credit: Pat Kerr
Time to get your hands on Early Bird ticket deals for the 2013 New Zealand Festival of Motor Racing - which will celebrate the country's only Formula One champion Denny Hulme over two weekends of intense historic motor racing on January 18-20 and 25-27 - is running out!
The great offers for the Hampton Downs meeting expire on October 31st. The 2013 event will include fat fields of F5000, Formula junior and Group A cars, as well as a Can-Am revival mini-series, some amazing demonstration cars and a huge array of static displays of vehicles raced or owned by Denny.
The Denny Hulme themed event will be the fourth New Zealand Festival of Motor Racing and will take place over the two weekends of January 18-20 and 25-27 at the Hampton Downs race circuit - and will be sponsored by iconic motor sport brand Gulf.
As well as being an F1 champ, Denny Hulme was also synonymous with Can-Am and there will be six Gulf-backed Can Am to celebrate one of the classes that Denny Hulme raced and won in. Hulme was Can-Am champion twice in 1968 and in 1970 and runner up in 1967, 1969 and 1971 while racing for driver and constructor Bruce McLaren.
Many of the big V8-powered Can Am sports cars from the heyday of the championship still run in historic racing events throughout the world and festival organisers hope up to 20 of the Can- Am racers will compete on January 18-20 and January 25-27 for the Denny Hulme Trophy - a unique cup that will be presented by the late 1967 Formula 1 World Champion's wife Greeta Hulme to the winner of the championship.
The Can-Am cars will not be the only historic V8 racing cars in action at the Gulf Denny Hulme Festival. The even has played host over the past three years to the world's biggest gathering of Formula 5000 cars and these will race again in the 2013 event as will a big field of Australian, New Zealand and US V8-engined Historic Muscle Cars, Group A cars and Formula Juniors.
You have until October 31st to get your Early bird tickets from
www.nzfmr.co.nz - visit there and click on Tickets!
Gulf goes back to the future and confirms Festival of Motor Racing title sponsorship
Gulf Oil - one of motorsport’s most famous brands - has announced it will provide title backing to the New Zealand Festival of Motor Racing next year when the event celebrates one of New Zealand – and the brand’s most celebrated drivers – Denny Hulme.
The Denny Hulme themed event will be the fourth New Zealand Festival of Motor Racing and will take place over the two weekends of January 18-20 and 25-27 at the Hampton Downs race circuit.
Gulf’s iconic logo is – quite simply - synonymous with motor sport and the light blue and orange colours of the brand have adorned some of the sport’s most famous racing cars for decades – the Gulf Ford GT40s and the Gulf Le Mans Porsches for example and of course, the discreetly Gulf-branded orange McLaren Can Am cars that will be such a feature of the 2013 Gulf Denny Hulme festival weekends.
In recent years the brand has enjoyed a high profile in motorsport again, gracing Le Mans once more on a variety of Audi and Aston Martin machines.
A new player to the New Zealand lubricant market, Gulf is being distributed in Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands by New Zealand farmer owned co-operative CRT. In June 2011, Gulf was launched in Auckland, fittingly enough at Hampton Downs. A series of racing events and road shows were then used to profile the brand – even attracting the attention of other world famous icons such as Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason.
Although the product range is new to this country, Gulf is hardly a new name to New Zealand motor racing and has a heritage that goes back to the 1960s. Today, Gulf is proud to support the Bruce McLaren Trust.
The title sponsorship of the event will also include specific naming of the Can Am revival races, of which six will be run over the two weekends of the event to celebrate one of the classes that Denny Hulme – a Gulf-backed driver himself – raced and won in. Hulme was Can-Am champion twice in 1968 and in 1970 and runner up in 1967, 1969 and 1971 while racing for driver and constructor Bruce McLaren.
Many of the big V8-powered Can Am sports cars from the heyday of the championship still run in historic racing events throughout the world and festival organisers hope up to 20 of the Can- Am racers will compete on January 18-20 and January 25-27 for the Denny Hulme Trophy - a unique cup that will be presented by the late 1967 Formula 1 World Champion's wife Greeta Hulme to the winner of the six race championship.
Gulf will have a presence on all competing cars at the event as well as on track signage and will host both of the event’s celebratory BBQ events that take place on each of the Saturdays. Racers and spectators will also be able to check out – and buy – anything from the brands latest range of products. The company will also help promote the Festival in the build-up to the event.
The Can-Am cars will not be the only historic V8 racing cars in action at the Gulf Denny Hulme Festival. The even has played host over the past three years to the world's biggest gathering of Formula 5000 cars and these will race again in the 2013 event as will a big field of Australian, New Zealand and US V8-engined Historic Muscle Cars, Group A cars and Formula Juniors.
For more information about the NZ Festival of Motor Racing in January 2013 go to www.nzfmr.co.nz
September Newsletter
Well we’ve kicked off the new motorsport season with the HRC Ice Breaker. This was the first big meeting of the new season and 218 cars faced the starter. The biggest class was the BMW E30’s with 54 cars entered, possibly the largest class in New Zealand.
New classes appearing for the first time was 2 litre BMW and the car setting the pace was Gordon Legge. Usually Gordon is producing TV shows but this meeting he produced a stunning performance on the track. The other class making its first appearance was Historic Muscle cars and class founder Dale Mathers lead the field home in his immaculate Mustang. Premier event was the open BMW class and that wily old fox (well not that old) Warwick Mortimer is the man to beat. The first 9 cars are lapping within 2 seconds of each other so the competition is close.
The man to beat in Avon Formula Ford was Grant Campbell but it was motoring journalist Michael Clark who won the final race of the day.
The weather was fine on Saturday with only rain on Sunday morning, 36 races and 12 practices were fitted into finishing before 5pm each day and with large number of entrants taking advantage of Friday practice a great weekend was had by all. It was also great to see competitors making use of the pits.
Images from ‘Time and Place Photography’ - check them out at on.fb.me/UvJcv4
It has been confirmed that the final round of Tier One NZV8’s is being held at Hampton Downs on 10 – 12 May 2013. They will start in Teretonga in January 2013 and work their way up the country, finishing at Hampton Downs for the first time.
Caption: Angus Fogg’s Radio Sport Falcon (NZ V8 Touring Car Champion 2011-12) – photographer Geoff Ridder.
Hampton Downs was fortunate to have Dafydd Broom, Consultant Design Engineer with Apex Circuit Design Ltd, visit for a few days to review the plans for the circuit extension/Club Circuit that Woods Engineers have prepared.
Although not part of the original design panel, Dafydd had heard all about Hampton Downs from Clive Bowen, the Managing Director of Apex.
In Clive’s words, “Hampton Downs are our poster boys, because they integrated the circuit, apartments and business park for a total package. By European standards it was also built at a very reasonable cost.”
Tony Roberts, Woods engineers and Dafydd walked the preloaded track extension and discussed the finer points of where the pit entrance would be, the transition areas between the circuits and the modern thinking on run-off areas.
Dafydd commented that it was interesting how circuit design was constantly evolving with new products and ideas. He said that the initial design of Hampton Downs was outstanding and everyone was very excited that the development of the next stage was moving forward
This photograph from 2009 shows the extent of the work that was carried out on the build of the track extension – all the hard works been done!
We have a busy programme of days coming up with Playday at Hamptons including groups for Cars, Racing Cars, Bikes, Karts and Prestige. Take a look on the website and pre-register on www.hdticketing.co.nz
Make sure you mark October 7 down in your diary, because this is going to be one event that no one wants to miss. NAC Drift Nationals descend on NZ’s premiere motorsport facility Hampton Downs Motorsport Park; the day will see a top 32 format involving New Zealand’s top drivers as they battle it out for cash, prizes and bragging rights. Other entertainment on the day will include an exhibition round of 4&Rotary’s Drift Cross on the skid pan, The Bathurst 1000 on a big screen, trade displays, car shows and something special NAC Drift Nationals are currently planning.
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EXCITING SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITY FOR NZ MOTORSPORT – last few days to enter!
NAC Insurance is proud to announce an exciting new chapter in its continuing relationship with New Zealand motorsport: the NAC Motorsport Team.
The NAC Insurance Motorsport Team annual sponsorship package will provide funding and media exposure for a team of young, up-and-coming motorsport talent, that aims to reward self-starters who want to become the motorsport stars of tomorrow.
The NAC Motorsport Team concept looks to enable talent not only through financial support and traditional print and web-based media exposure, but also through the provision of a social media platform that will promote the recipients and help them establish a fan base. Team members will be expected to generate their own online multimedia content that will be promoted through targeted social media platforms in order to help establish them as personalities in the motorsport scene.
Recipients will be chosen via an online talent search. Drivers are required to submit a self-produced creative video interview stating the case as to why they are deserving of sponsorship. The successful applicants will then be determined via public vote to form the inaugural 2012 NAC Motorsport Team.
Entries are currently open on the NAC Insurance website, www.nac.co.nz, and the deadline for applications is 5pm, October 1, 2012.
For more information contact Kate Smith on 09 983 3366 or 029 983 3366 kate.smith@iag.co.nz
The Barry Sheene Trans-Tasman Challenge is coming up fast and entries are pouring in, come and view this inaugural event. There are 2 containers coming out from Australia and 1 from the South Island. A notable Australian rider competing is ‘Mr Superbike’ Robbie Phillis who will be racing for the Australian Team at the Barry Sheene TT, another one is also Cameron Donald, who has just come back from a summer racing in Europe.
Athol Williams is also bringing his 'Top Fuel' Drag bike along to Hampton Downs on the Sunday and Monday and will fire it up for the crowds at approximately 2pm on Sunday and 3pm on the Monday. The bike is believed to be the fastest machine of its type ever built in New Zealand and in 2009 was winner of the Australian ANDRA Championship Series with a best time of 6.16 sec @ 238mph and that same year set track records at every Australian track except Perth. The MPH is the 6th fastest ever run in the World, not bad for a Kiwi built machine of 1550cc with 1500 HP. This is one machine you will all want to see.
Harleys Thunder into Hamptons - This picture is of the No27 rider Noel Howe stable that includes a 1961 Noton Navigator 350cc (not shown), a pair of Harley Davidson V-Twins plus a 1965 Ducati Monza 250cc. Also a local GS1000E in race trim will bound to be in action at Hampton Downs BSTT.
The photo above was taken at Hawkesbury in the early 1970s, probably 1972-73 and gives new meaning to 'get off the grass', or 'talk about a close shave', or 'this rider is cutting the corner fine'. Expect to see some great racing in the classic, post classic, and modern sidecars this Labour weekend, and hopefully not too many close shaves on the grass.
The big question on every ones lips in New Zealand is how many McIntosh Suzukis will be at the Barry Sheene. The exact number of frames/machines produced varies on a number of websites but 40 seems to be a number many believe to be an accurate production figure, with 26 believed to still exist. The majority went to Australia and I believe most of them were the Bathurst Replicas. The first model in New Zealand was powered by the GS1000 motor and won at Haweksbury on debut in 1980 with the late Dr Roger Freeth as pilot. He enjoyed considerable success racing in Australia. A beautifuly restored McIntosh Suzuki machine won 'Best Suzuki at the National Classic Bike Show' held in Auckland recently. I guess all the enthusiasts and photographers amongst us will now have to wait till this inaugural event.
Glen Hindle is bringing his Maxton TR3 350cc to the BSTT in NZ. Glen is the current 350cc Post Classic lap record holder at both Philip Island and Eastern Creek and was Australian 350cc post Classic Champion in 2009. Glen didn’t take up road racing till his late 20s and got into 'historic racing' in 2004. His late dad Bryan Hindle was an Australian Yamaha Factory rider and won a number of Australian titles. With team mate Len Atlee he won the first Castrol 6hr in 1970 on a Triumph T120 650cc Bonneville. We suspect Glen will be one of the quick visitors to watch at Hampton Downs. Pic - Glen in Acton at Eastern Creek
ADMISSION:
SATURDAY $10.00
SUNDAY OR MONDAY $20.00
3 DAY PASS $35.00
CHILDREN UNDER 15 YEARS FREE
For more information please go to www.barrysheenetranstasman.co.nz
Like the Hampton Downs Facebook page and enter the NEW COMPETITION to win a double pass to the Barry Sheene Trans-Tasman Challenge. There are 3 chances to win so enter now.
Want a Christmas party filled with laughter, team work, excellent food and exhilarating fun – book your team in with us and drive a V8 Race Car. Contact us for more information on (09) 20 6504 or email admin@hamptondowns.com for options tailored to you.
For the New Zealand Festival of Motor Racing celebrating Denny Hulme, Gulf Oil has come on board as the naming rights sponsor. We welcome them on board and look forward to another outstanding Festival of Motor Racing event.
Some of the many notable cars (mouth-watering entries!) and drivers confirmed so far for the Festival are:
Duncan MacKellar from Queensland and his simply stunning ex-Vic Elford 1971 McLaren M8E Can-Am.
Malcolm Wishart's Cooper T65. FJ/15/63 was shown at the 1963 London Motor Show fitted with Hydrolastic suspension. This was quickly changed to coil springs and the car was then run as one of three Tyrrell Team Works Cars.
The Ralt RT2 of Peter McLaughlin from the USA was the second RT2 (there were only five built) and was one of the cars run by the Toleman team in European F2 for the 1979 season.
The Grant Clearwater ex-Denny Hulme Brabham BT16 F2 car will join the FJ & F3 grid at the Festival. Although it is a F2 car, it is only 1000cc so it will race with the FJ & F3 cars. As car #52 Denny was second in this car in the British Eagle Trophy at Brands Hatch on 30 Aug 1965.
We're working on getting the 1991 Scania truck as a static display too!
This one made its debut at the 2012 festival and will be back for more in the hands of Matt Foster from Wanganui. Ex Paul Radisich and a steering column set up built by a young Johnny Mac!
The Mike Price owned ex-Denny Hulme 1982 SS Commodore. This is the car running in 1982 but it also ran in 1983 when it was run by the Midgley brothers.
Something a little different that we can confirm will be in attendance at the Festival, among a hat full of notable ex-Denny Hulme competition vehicles. Denny's first competition car - a Red MGTF.
And another Can-Am car as interest grows - this one is the Bill Hemming (Victoria) 1966 Elfin 400 Repco.
The Roger Williams’ McLaren Can-Am car is based on the 1971 McLaren M8E Can-Am cars that were built as ‘customer’ cars by Trojan in UK.
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Tickets are from $30 – don’t miss the early bird special that finishes on 31 October 2012.
Nizfest has a new owner and is returning to Hampton Downs, keep a look out for dates in 2013.
Are you tired of missing out on motorsport events because you didn't know they were on until it was too late? Well, die-hard motoring enthusiast Brent Shaw is too, so he's created an automotive events website to help us keep up to date with automotive events across New Zealand, so you'll never miss an event again. KiwiMotoring covers all types of motoring events, including circuit racing, drag racing, drifting, rallying, speedway, car shows, and more.
The website has only been live for 9 months, but it has had nearly 600 events, 130+ car and motorcycle clubs, and close to 100 motoring venues listed already.
It's free to join, view and list events, and is ideal for clubs and promoters looking for increased awareness and participation at their events. Our upcoming events at Hampton Downs are regularly listed on KiwiMotoring, and the feedback we are getting is fantastic! Check out the website and be sure to register for free, as we know Brent has some exciting new features planned in the near future! Check out the website - http://www.kiwimotoring.com/
Van Gisbergen amped for drifting debut
Shane van Gisbergen is having a crack at drifting. The Kiwi V8 Supercar star has signed up for the D1NZ National Drifting Championship Series' Legends Challenge.
The challenge, which will take place at the fourth round of this season's series at Hampton Downs in March next year, will pit the top D1NZ drivers against New Zealand touring car drivers from V8 Supercars and V8 SuperTourers.
Stone Brothers driver van Gisbergen is a keen follower of the D1NZ series and jumped at the chance to sign up for the event.
"I've always been a fan of anything that goes sideways, starting from watching my Dad rallying to when I first started racing Speedway, but I have never had a go at 'proper' drifting so it's going to be pretty awesome to get the opportunity to do so with D1NZ," he said this week.
Each V8 "legend" will pair with a local drifter and learn the ropes in their car before the Challenge meeting.
Van Gisbergen's partner is Shane Allen, who drives the Rattla Motorsport Ford Falcon V8.
Overseeing development of all drivers will be champion Curt Whittaker in his Nissan Skyline.
"I've seen photos and video of the Rattla Motorsport Ford Falcon and I can't wait to get behind the wheel and have a go myself," van Gisbergen said.
"It will be quite challenging, but I'm sure with a few laps I think I'll be able to get the hang of it."
The Legends Challenge is the first of a number of promotional initiatives D1NZ CEO Brendon White will introduce this year.
Another announcement is a new alignment with BP Ultimate 98 for the BP Ultimate Triple Crown - three Trophy Rounds which will give drivers an extra incentive to contest the penultimate round of the D1NZ Championship at Ruapuna Park in Christchurch.
For this article and more by the NZ Herald click here
Mid-month update for news!
Just a couple of things we thought would be useful to know now rather than at the end of the month.
EXCITING SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITY FOR NZ MOTORSPORT
NAC Insurance is proud to announce an exciting new chapter in its continuing relationship with New Zealand motorsport: the NAC Motorsport Team.
The NAC Insurance Motorsport Team annual sponsorship package will provide funding and media exposure for a team of young, up-and-coming motorsport talent, that aims to reward self-starters who want to become the motorsport stars of tomorrow.
The NAC Motorsport Team concept looks to enable talent not only through financial support and traditional print and web-based media exposure, but also through the provision of a social media platform that will promote the recipients and help them establish a fan base. Team members will be expected to generate their own online multimedia content that will be promoted through targeted social media platforms in order to help establish them as personalities in the motorsport scene.
Recipients will be chosen via an online talent search. Drivers are required to submit a self-produced creative video interview stating the case as to why they are deserving of sponsorship. The successful applicants will then be determined via public vote to form the inaugural 2012 NAC Motorsport Team.
For more information contact: Kate Smith (NAC) on 09 983 3366 or 029 983 3366
If you want to get your car out on the circuit – there are two options this weekend: Motorsport Services is offering testing on Saturday to 10 cars only. It will be an open pit lane from 9am – 4pm. To book email Karly on karly@motorsport-services.com
The second option is this Sunday 23 September is a Playday at Hampton’s track day – the last 6 have sold out so don’t miss out on this one. This Sunday is for cars only so there will be a place for you.
For the next track day on Sunday 30 September there are a few spots left in the bike groups for Medium and Fast but the cars are fully booked.
Some humour to help you through the week
Which one shall we buy?
Cars and stars ready to celebrate as championship turns 10.
D1NZ champ Gaz Whiter in action in his Nissan Silvia S15. Photo / Michael Cunningham
The D1NZ national drifting championship series will celebrate its 10-year anniversary this season with capacity fields in the D1 and Pro-Am categories and a new "taking it to the people" calendar - and might even include a challenge against some V8 SuperTourer talent.
"This is the summer that drifting in New Zealand is going to come of age," says D1NZ CEO Brendon White. "We've got the stars, we've got the cars, we've got a quick-fire format which is a proven crowd-puller and we've got rounds from Whangarei in the north to Christchurch in the south. It's going to be massive."
Crowd numbers have already increased by over 50 per cent since the move - two years ago - from a winter to a summer season with NZ's fastest growing extreme motorsport. And if early indications are anything to go by, White says, they could be up by that much again at some, if not all, rounds this season.
"The buzz started much earlier this year, back in July in fact, when we had our annual dinner and awards function. We've already got more entries than we have ever had before - close to 40 in D1 and between 30 and 40 for Pro-Am - and advance ticket sales are also well ahead of where they were this time last year."
White himself is particularly looking forward to the two "custom" rounds - at Whangarei in December and a new "summer spectacular" in Tauranga in January - as well as a return to the South Island, to Christchurch's Powerbuilt Tools Raceway at Ruapuna Park, in March.
"It's about taking the sport to the fans. Where the venues continue to work for us and our fans we'll continue to use permanent facilities like Manfeild and Hampton Downs, but it's the temporary ones which everyone - drivers and spectators alike - remember."
This summer's series kicks off at Manfeild in late October before heading to a new venue in Whangarei in December, a high-summer meeting at Tauranga in January, rounds at Hampton Downs and Christchurch's Powerbuilt Tools Raceway in March, before a grand final event at Pukekohe Park Raceway in April/May.
Entries already confirmed include those of 2011/12 D1NZ series champion Curt Whittaker (Nissan Skyline R34), high-profile Auckland-based international "Mad Mike" Whiddett (Mazda RX7) and former title-holders Gary "Gaz" Whiter (Nissan S14) from Dargaville and Daniel "Fanga Dan" Woolhouse (Holden Commodore).
The D1Pro-Am category will also have two female entrants in Tauranga's Jodie Verhulst (Toyota Supra) and Hamilton's Bex Bennett (Nissan Skyline) plus a huge influx of new drivers.
Last season's Pro-Am champion Cam Vernon (Nissan Skyline R32) is one of a number of drivers from that category stepping up to the D1NZ Pro ranks.
White is also working on a Legends Challenge that will see some of the top New Zealand D1 drivers take on their opposite numbers from Australia's V8 Supercar series and NZ's V8 SuperTourer series at the Hampton Downs round in March.
For this article by the NZ Herald and more click here
Kiwi and Aussie win
Kiwi Steve Ross and top Aussie Bryan Sala ended up sharing the spoils at the opening round of the 2012/13 MSC NZ F5000 Tasman Cup Revival Series in Sydney over the weekend.
Sala won race one from Ross, who came good in race two by winning from Roger Williams and Aaron Burson, while Sala and Smith retired with mechanical issues. Race three provided the fireworks with Smith and Sala rocketing through the pack to finish behind race winner Ross.
The second round is back in New Zealand at the end of October (at the Lady Wigram Trophy meeting at Ruapuna) and then the two NZ Festival of Motor Racing - celebrating Denny Hulme - meetings at Hampton Downs in January.
August Newsletter
HAMPTON DOWNS RESOURCE CONSENT APPROVED
Resource consent enabling daily spectator numbers to be increased from 20,000 to 50,000 for major events has been approved for the Hampton Downs International motor racing circuit.
The Waikato District Council approved the Resource Consent application this week and the documentation was received by Hampton Downs management today.
“This is the start of an exciting new development phase for Hampton Downs,” said Tony Roberts, the Managing Director of the 450 acre Motorsport Park located 60km south of central Auckland.
“This is a very important day for the future of Hampton Downs as New Zealand’s premier motor racing facility” said Roberts, “This approval enables Hampton Downs to host major national and international events; and also removes the impediment that V8 Supercars said prevented it from bringing their event to New Zealand’s best race circuit.”
“Hampton Downs is just 40 minutes from the centre of Auckland City and the road is dual carriageway motorway for the entire 60kms. Already Hampton Downs has 250,000 people passing through its gates each year and 2.5 million people reside within 90 minutes of the circuit. This consent allows for the continuing development of Hampton Downs.”
Hampton Downs worked closely with the Waikato District Council and the New Zealand Transport Agency to develop practical solutions for the anticipated traffic volume at major event with up to 50,000 spectators per day.
“In particular I would like to thank Nath Pritchard and the team at Waikato District Council who provided assistance in processing this Resource Consent and the support of the New Zealand Transport Agency, who worked through the issues in a positive manner”
Parking will be available for up to 9,150 vehicles at the Motorsport Park, and to accommodate the remaining car parking demand and ensure that traffic is efficiently distributed on the roading network, park-and-ride facilities will be established at Mercer and the nearby Meremere Drag racing facility.
“This Resource Consent secures our long term future because the way is now clear for Hampton Downs to fully achieve its potential; and become a significant event centre and tourist attraction for the Auckland and Waikato regions.”
“Future development will provide significant economic benefits for both Auckland and the Waikato region.”
Construction of the Hampton Downs Motorsport Park commenced in early 2007, with the original Resource Consent authorising the establishment and operation of the Motorsport Park and the establishment of various business, industrial and rural-residential uses on and around the Motorsport Park site, including 80 apartments.
Additionally we’ve had a big month, we viewed a lot of Olympics and felt proud to be New Zealanders as we watched our athletes compete. The Porsche club and vintage car club have had track days and the NZV8’s enjoyed a media day. The new Toyota 86 launched the new model at Hampton Downs last week with special guests Australian Rally Champion Neil Bates and kiwi motorsport legend Chris Amon.
We hosted New Zealand’s only 12 Hour Race on Sunday 5 August. It was a great day with 4 options, the 1 hour, 4 hour, 6 hour and 12 hour. Congratulations to Malcolm Niall, Brett Niall and Clint Harvey who won the 12 hour race in a Porsche 997. Commiserations to Glenn Smith, Andre Heimgartner, John Goodacre and Matt Kingsley who were leading in a Porsche RSR until a few minutes before the chequered flag. For a full race report by Robin Curtis please go to the Hampton Downs website.
Thanks to LSDesignsnz Photography for the outstanding shots below. We will be announcing next year’s event and the format shortly.
HRC Motorsport Open Day on Sunday 26th August was a most successful day with over 150 drivers turning up to have a go!
The first session was behind a safety car and speeds were limited to 100 kph. This enables the whole family to pile into the car and cruise around the race track.
The second session was a bit more serious with no speed limit, safety gear on with the only limitation no passing on corners. All sorts of cars had a go from a Mini Moke to two V8 SuperTourers using the occasion to “run” their cars in. The Chester’s V8 SuperTourer had been engineless 4 hours before it went on the track.
A number of drivers took the opportunity to have a drive on the skid pan both dry and wet.
At the end of the day we had lots of happy drivers, a few cars with no brakes and some new converts to motor racing. These days are ideal for drivers who just want a taste of motor racing before they make a commitment.
A special thanks to all the racing drivers who gave hot laps to all the marshals and volunteers.
We have already had requests to run more of these days, so we will in 2013 - keep posted for new dates.
Go onto the Hampton Downs Facebook page to enter the competition to win a V8 Race Car Experience – ideal for Father’s Day! The competition finishes on Thursday 30 August at 5pm so be quick to enter.
NEW - Corporate Hospitality Suites
This is a fantastic opportunity to lease a corporate hospitality suite at New Zealand’s most vibrant motorsport complex, Hampton Downs. Situated just 40 minutes from downtown Auckland or Hamilton, this is a perfect venue to entertain you clients and staff. With over 28 race meetings a year, covering everything from V8SuperTourers, the Festival of Motorsport, NZ Superbikes, D1NZ Drift Series, to the Roycroft Vintage Car Meeting, there is something for everyone’s taste.
Your large, 52m² corporate hospitality suite is suitable for up to 25 people, with a front straight viewing balcony and a covered outdoor viewing area looking over the circuit to the north.
Your corporate suite will have an indoor carpeted area with a kitchenette incorporating a basin and a fridge. A data link to all suites is provided for live race feed and timing updates.
Construction of the Corporate Hospitality Suites is planned to take place during the off season of 2013.
TRACK SIGNAGE - Have your company logo/sign viewed by 250,000 visitors per annum to Hampton Downs and a potential television audience in excess of 1,000,000 viewers. Pricing starts at $1,500.
This offer is for a limited time and expires 31st October 2012. For more information contact Gary Upson on gary.upson@hamptondowns.com or 09 280 6500
The HRC Icebreaker is fast approaching on 15 / 16 September with over 250 entrants it’s a great meeting to start the season off! The classes are BMW Race Series, Arrow Wheels Sports & GT, AES/TradeZone, Alfa Romeo Trofeo Series, Formula Ford, Historics/ Formula Junior, Super Historics/Formula Suzuki/Sports Cars, Formula Junior, Historic Muscle Cars, Under 3 Litre Historic Saloons & GT, Classic Trial.
Racing starts at 12pm Saturday and 9.30am Sunday. Its $20 for adults with children under 12 free. Come Saturday and get free admission for Sunday.
NAC drift nationals are here on Sunday 7 October – they even have a big screen so you can watch Bathurst too. Head to www.performancecar.co.nz
Playday at Hampton’s track days are very popular so we thought we would list the upcoming dates for you.
1September – Bikes and Cars – SOLD OUT
12 September – Prestige group (afternoon) and twilight in the dark (5pm – 7pm)
14 September – Race car only test day (prior to the Icebreaker race meeting)
Sunday 23 September – Cars – additional date due to demand
Sunday 30 September – Cars, Bikes and Karts – almost sold out
12 October - Race car only test day
28 October – Cars and Bikes – limited space
31 October – twilight session for cars
The Barry Sheene Trans-Tasman Challenge on Labour Weekend (20 – 22 October) is shaping up to be a memorable weekend with 2 containers coming from Australia and 1 from the South Island. There will be some remarkable machinery and we are looking forward to seeing lots of NZ and Australian star riders and ‘Mr Superbike’ - Australian rider Robbie Phillis. Robbie is a multiple Australian Superbike Champion and Kawasaki Works rider achieving third place in the 1991 & 1992 World Superbike Championships, with four wins and twenty-three podiums. Don’t forget if you have a Pre ’89 road machine you can ride the track during the special lunchtime parade. For more information head to www.barrysheenetranstasman.co.nz
We have also updated the events calendar on the Hampton Downs website – take a look and give us your thoughts.
Don’t forget to watch the Paralympics which starts today! Keep a special eye out for Sue Reid who has been training at Hampton Downs in the road cycling. She’s been bronze twice at the world championships and was fourth this season in the time trial at the World Cup in Spain. The trials and events span from 5 - 7 September at Brands Hatch.
Media Release
28th August 2012
HAMPTON DOWNS RESOURCE CONSENT APPROVED
Resource consent enabling daily spectator numbers to be increased from 20,000 to 50,000 for major events has been approved for the Hampton Downs International motor racing circuit.
The Waikato District Council approved the Resource Consent application this week and the documentation was received by Hampton Downs management today.
“This is the start of an exciting new development phase for Hampton Downs,” said Tony Roberts, the Managing Director of the 450 acre Motorsport Park located 60km south of central Auckland.
“This is a very important day for the future of Hampton Downs as New Zealand’s premier motor racing facility” said Roberts, “This approval enables Hampton Downs to host major national and international events; and also removes the impediment that V8 Supercars said prevented it from bringing their event to New Zealand’s best race circuit.”
“Hampton Downs is just 40 minutes from the centre of Auckland City and the road is dual carriageway motorway for the entire 60kms. Already Hampton Downs has 250,000 people passing through its gates each year and 2.5 million people reside within 90 minutes of the circuit. This consent allows for the continuing development of Hampton Downs.”
Hampton Downs worked closely with the Waikato District Council and the New Zealand Transport Agency to develop practical solutions for the anticipated traffic volume at major event with up to 50,000 spectators per day.
“In particular I would like to thank Nath Pritchard and the team at Waikato District Council who provided assistance in processing this Resource Consent and the support of the New Zealand Transport Agency, who worked through the issues in a positive manner”
Parking will be available for up to 9,150 vehicles at the Motorsport Park, and to accommodate the remaining car parking demand and ensure that traffic is efficiently distributed on the roading network, park-and-ride facilities will be established at Mercer and the nearby Meremere Drag racing facility.
“This Resource Consent secures our long term future because the way is now clear for Hampton Downs to fully achieve its potential; and become a significant event centre and tourist attraction for the Auckland and Waikato regions.”
“Future development will provide significant economic benefits for both Auckland and the Waikato region.”
Construction of the Hampton Downs Motorsport Park commenced in early 2007, with the original Resource Consent authorising the establishment and operation of the Motorsport Park and the establishment of various business, industrial and rural-residential uses on and around the Motorsport Park site, including 80 apartments.
For further information please contact:
Tony Roberts
Managing Director Hampton Downs
Telephone: +64-9-280 6584
Mobile: +64-21-133 2895
Email: tony@hamptondowns.com
Toyota may have racing heritage but in New Zealand it's been better known for reliable if uninspiring everyday runabouts. This sexy 86 coupe could rejuvenate that image.
What's new
There are facts aplenty on the internet, so we'll keep it brief. Developed with Subaru, the 86 is a brand new, lightweight sports coupe fitted with a normally aspirated, horizontally opposed 147kW/205Nm 2.0-litre engine that's mounted low in the frame and well back, to achieve a 53-47 front-rear weight balance.
There's a six-speed manual that needs just a flick of the wrist to operate or a six-speed auto, a Torsen limited slip diff to assist throttle-happy corner exits and a MacPherson strut front and double wishbone rear suspension that's performance-oriented, yet not so firm it's unmanageable during everyday driving.
The company line
To develop back-to-basics driving fun in which power to weight and excellent balance values handling nirvana over outright power. To re-inject sexy sportiness into a safe-and-sensible brand at an affordable price, the entry car pitched at $41,986 and the GT at $47,986 with TRD packs to polish track-day appeal.
What we say
Just driving it out of town tells you this car is something special.
Rev it and it howls and jerks at the leash; it steers on a dime, swivels round corners, and delivers the seat-of-the-pants feel of an old-time sports car.
Yet it does that while providing modern safety levels (seven airbags, ABS brakes, ESP you can de-select for the track), modern comforts (heated leather seats in some variants) and a tractable nature that means this club-day racer will also tackle the daily commute.
On the road
Our rainy Rotorua to Hampton Downs drive proved how well this car deals to highways and byways, its lively handling prompting a vigorous approach to corners and confidence when driving conditions deteriorate.
But the track delivered a revelation. A few laps of coaching with four-time Australian rally champion and V8 supercar driver Neil Bates cut my lap time by three seconds to 1.30.2, just 1.4 seconds off his own time.
He cites an event at which the 86 lost drag and dyno wars to supercharged Walkinshaw Commodores but beat them on the track. When asked for the one thing that makes this car stand out Bates says, "It'd be the steering. It feels like it's got a race car rack in it, it's very quick ratio steering and the steering weight and feel is just perfect. Electric power steering has come a long way."
Apart from that? "Balance, that's why we took you drifting as it shows how well-balanced the car is. You can do anything with it, and control it, which comes from such a low centre of gravity and such great front to rear balance."
Why you'll buy one
This is an eighty-grand car at forty grand; the most four-wheeled fun for your dollar - so good that Bates has bought one. "They're an amazing car, not the world's most powerful but all about fun."
Why you won't?
You regularly carry rear-seat passengers, always drive sedately and associate sport with chips and the couch.
By Jacqui Madelin
For this article and more by the NZ Herald click here
The super sporty 86 coupe is selling faster than hot cakes.
Australia rally champion Neal Bates sums up Toyota's new sports coupe, the 86, in one sentence, "it's the most fun you can have without losing your licence".
At the New Zealand launch this week, the Toyota Australia driving instructor was flown in to highlight the capacity of the vehicle. And it's a vehicle Bates knows well. After testing the vehicle for Toyota he bought one - a white manual, of course - to use at his Canberra home.
As the sports version of the 86 was so popular in Australia, Bates had to use his Toyota contacts to track down a model that hadn't been presold, and eventually surprised a dealer in small town who had one available.
Demand for Australia's top spec model (the GTS) is such that there is a two year waiting list, said Bates.
The pre-launch demand here was just as strong as Australia with the 120 allotted models snapped up. It's no surprise really, as it's been a long time since Toyota has had a sports car in its lineup.
The 2-litre rear wheel drive coupe will be available in two specifications - the 86 and the racier GT86 - while the company brought in 20 versions of the Toyota Racing Development (TRD) package available (see p13).
Toyota NZ's General Manager of Sales, Steve Prangnell, said, "Our stock situation is good, but we know from what's been happening overseas that demand will exceed supply, and we're expecting the same situation here in New Zealand."
The six-speed manual base model 86 was priced at $41,986, a $1000 more for the automatic version while the manual GT86 would have the price tag of $46,986, and again another $1000 for automatic. To give the GT86 a sportier road presence, a sports aero kit was priced at $1600.
The sports coupe was a joint project between Toyota and Subaru, the result of Toyota's 17 per cent share in Subaru parent Fuji Heavy Industries. Subaru's version, the BRZ, cars land in New Zealand in December with the 12 cars already pre-sold.
The 86 and BRZ shared a normally aspirated 2-litre twin-cam flat-four that develops 147kW of power at 7000rpm and 205Nm of torque at 6600rpm.
Toyota chose natural aspiration for 86 to optimise acceleration response, improving the 'connection' between throttle application and power delivery to the rear wheels.
At 4.240m the 86 is shorter than a Corolla hatch and at 1.285m high is lower than a Yaris hatch, while the wide rear - and dual exhausts in the 86 and GT86 - create a dynamic look.
Inside the sports seats and streamlined fascia highlight value for money in this coupe - and even the two rear passengers seats could handle an adult - though anyone around 1.8m would find it a struggle.
But to back up Bates' "fun" theory, and test the handling and capability of the 86, the launch included an afternoon at Hampton Downs racetrack after a road trip from Rotorua, via Thames. A speed trial (or three) on the track, plus a lesson then spin (literally for some) on the skid pad showed its extensive handling and capability.
With the track day finishing, Bates reminded the media that the speed we reached on the track, and his hot lap combined with a drifting session, should stay on the track.
Easy advice from a man who is paid to drive fast around a track. Instead I fell asleep dreaming about driving fast around Hampton Downs.
By Liz Dobson
For this article by the NZ Herald and more click here
Race Report by Robin Curtis
Disaster for Smith's Porsche RSR in 12 Hour Race
The Porsche RSR of Glenn Smith, co-driven by Andre Heimgartner, John Goodacre and Matt Kingsley had dominated the Hampton Downs 12 Hour race for 11 hours and 54 minutes, having covered 573 laps - over 20 more than the then second placed 997 of Malcolm and Brent Niall and Clint Harvey, but with about six minutes to go, the RSR began dropping oil and caught fire, putting it out of the race and handing the win to the Niall/Niall/Harvey Porsche 997 which covered 550 laps at the finish with the 996 of Phil Hood, Jeff Lowrey, David Glasson, and Bruce Stewart second on 548 laps and the very new works-built Seat Leon Supercopa of Aussies Simon Piavanini, Mark Pilatti and Jeff Watts third on 545 laps. Then came the Porsche 996 of Kevin Gallichan, Sam Fillmore and Todd Murphy on 533 laps and the Mini Cooper of James Kirpatrick, Simon Sceats and Ryan Bailey on 468 laps. The RSR - which had won the race last year in the hands of its then owner Klark and Tony Quin and Andre Heimgartner and had previously won the Dubai 24 hour race, had had little trouble until those fateful last laps, suffering minor damage on its left rear wheel guard after a brush with another competitor, and pitting later to repair a broken front splitter, but never losing its lead.
This event was an official Motorsport NZ sanctioned series, which attracted ten drivers from Australia. Apart from the 12 Hour race, run from 9am to 9pm, there were three races run within it for those not wanting to race the full distance. The One Hour race was won by Mark Maddren in his Porsche GT3 Cup car from Kel McBeath in his Panoz GT. Hampton Downs part-owner, Chris Watson won the four hour race in his BMW 33i, sharing the drive with his son James. They won by 3 laps from the Honda Integra of David Grigor and Gavin Yortt with the BMW 325 E36 of Cameron McCormack and Troy Bell third. The six hour race was won by Arie and Bruce Brooks and Dave Goodwin in their Series 6 Mazda RX7 by nine laps from the Porsche 996TT of Mike Driver, Steve Parker and Aaron Harris after the Porsche lost ground with some minor power steering problems and having to change a half shaft.
Other cars classified as non-finishers were the Lester, Ellingham, Robinson 997, and the Bert, Callum and Chris Quin Datsun 1600SSS.
July Newsletter
We're past the shortest day now and are heading for summer (or we are meant to be)!
Recently we’ve had the Brass Monkey race meeting which was popular (despite the weather), filming days, V8 Ute hot laps, F5000’s testing, a weekend for caravans and drifting test days. The paralympians are also doing more training here before they head off to London.
The inaugural Motorsport Club Awards Night on the 7 July was a big success with everyone glamming up, huge amount of volunteer sections were represented from marshals, fire rescue, FIV administration, pit lane, RATS, race control, spectator marshals, circuit owners and clerks of course. Congratulations to Kim Fisher, winner of the Delwyn Elliott Memorial trophy for Sportsmanship, Dedication, Enthusiasm and Carter Rinkin for winning the Motorsport Club Volunteer of the Year ably displaying Commitment and Leadership. No doubt about it, our races couldn't run without the team of volunteers behind us.
Great result for New Zealand at the big Can Am race at Elkhart Lake over the weekend with Kiwi Roger Williams coming out as the winner in the Historic Can-Am race. The win was most appropriate as Roger hails from Auckland, New Zealand, hometown to Bruce McLaren.
Roll on the NZ Festival of Motor Racing which will be a Can-Am revival and more wins for our own Can-Am ace! The results were: 1. Roger Williams M8E/F 2. Toby Bean Lola Coupe 3. Tom Malloy Lola Coupe 4. Ed Swart M8FP 5. James Stengel M8FP
The New Zealand Festival of Motor Racing in January has the highest ever F5000 entries with 42! Even the Formula Junior class has over 52 entries, mainly from Australia and the UK. Jim Richards has already confirmed he will be at the NZFMR Denny Hulme Festival in January 2013 to race one of his cars. He has not yet decided which one - it could be his Historic Muscle Car, or his ex JPS BMW M3 Group A (a car he raced himself in 1987). He is currently restoring his recently acquired 1960 Lotus 18 Formula Junior - a car he has always yearned to own after seeing one race at Ardmore when he was just a wee lad. Whatever car he brings, the Festival will be delighted to see Jim back in 2013. The early bird tickets are available until 31 October at www.nzfmr.co.nz
We had a large stand at Speedshow this year and enjoyed chatting to a lot of supporters, providing event information and options for how to get on the track! Big thanks to Roger Williams who provided his 1974 Greeenwood Corvette. This was the first time NZ has seen this car and it created quite a stir! Welcome to those who have just joined this newsletter from the speedshow.
This weekend is the Hampton Downs 12 hour endurance race - come and watch NZ’s only 12 hour race on Sunday 5 August. There are 10 entries from overseas and some interesting entrants to watch like the Porsche 997 RSR - this car has previously won the Dubai 24 hour race, the new Seat Leon Supercopa, a Series 6 Rx7, a BMW M3, Porsche 996 GT3 and a Panoz GT!
The Hampton Downs 12 hour Endurance Race is now an official Motorsport NZ Sanctioned Endurance Race. The winner will get their name printed in the NZ Motorsport Manual as the 2012 winner of the 12 hour Endurance Series. Past winners include Rick Cooper and Tony Quinn.
Within the 12 hour race are also separate races with 1 hour, 4 hours and 6 hours options. If you enter any of the races you instantly go into the draw to win a $500 CASH PRIZE. This will be drawn at random and given on the day, all you have to do is start the race! For more information go to www.hamptondowns12hour.com
There’s also a Facebook competition going – like our Hampton Downs page and go in to win 6 general admission tickets to the 12 hour Endurance Race. Ends on Wednesday 1st August 2012 at 5pm!
There is a Vintage Car Open Day on Sunday 12 August 2012. Come along to watch the pre 1960 vehicles blow away the cobwebs in style! If you have a pre-1960 come and join in - this is a GREAT OPPORTUNITY for you, your wife, your son, your daughter, your grandchildren (with a full driving license) to have the experience of track racing. For more information call us on (09) 280 6504 or talk to Graeme Banks from the Waitemata Vintage Car Club on (09) 444 8447.
To watch footage of Vintage racing from the Roycroft Trophy in April this year - the Metalman Roycroft Classic Car Race will air on TV3 Gillette Motorsport at 2.30pm Sunday August 19, 2012.
An ideal introduction to Motorsport is the HRC Motorsport Open Day on Sunday 26 August.
• Session One 9am-11am- Just drive around the circuit in your own car at under 100km/h behind the safety car. This is a great way to experience driving around the circuit at a comfortable pace for $30 per car.
• Session Two 11am-2pm- This part of the day will be for drivers who want to experience the track at a faster pace. Drivers will have to wear helmets and overalls (which are available for hire) to drive around Hampton Downs at a faster pace in small groups for $50 per car.
• There will be a gymkhana course on the Skid Pan for $20.
This day is for car enthusiasts to just have a go on Hampton Downs in a non-competitive environment. To thank the marshals and volunteers this is a free event for you.
For more information and to pre-register go to www.hdticketing.co.nz
Playday at Hamptons (formerly Public Open Days and Playday on Track) is an ideal day to take your car or bike on the circuit. The last 4 have sold out – including this Saturday 4 August. There are a couple of spots left for the bikes in the medium level if you’re quick. The next date is 1 September and 30 September and there is a twilight session on Wednesday 12 September.
There is also a new test day for racing cars only – funnily enough called ‘Race Car Only Test Day’.
Cars will be grouped by speed into approximately plus 1min: 22, minus 1min: 22 and open wheelers have their own group. The format of the day will be 20 minute session times per group. It is $135 per car if you pre-register at www.hdticketing.co.nz The next dates are Friday 14 September 2012 (prior to the HRC Ice Breaker) and Friday 12 October 2012.
There is also a new page dedicated to Motorcycle Track Days at Hampton Downs. The main provider is currently Playday at Hamptons. Check out the dates and format.
People will come out of hibernation soon to for the Historic Racing Club Icebreaker meeting which boasts an entry list of over 200 entrants. It’s on 14 – 15 September and the classes are BMW Race Series, Arrow Wheels Sports & GT, AES/TradeZone, Alfa Romeo Trofeo Series, Formula Ford, Historics/ Formula Junior, Super Historics/Formula Suzuki/Sports Cars , Formula Junior, Historic Muscle Cars, Classic Trial.
The inaugural Barry Sheene Trans-Tasman Festival is being held on Labour Weekend (20 – 22 Oct 2012) hosted by the The New Zealand Classic Motorcycle Racing Register (Est. 1978).
There will be 3 days of racing, with Classics and Classic superbikes for the New Zealand Classic Tourist Trophy’s, the New Zealand Post Classic Grand Prix’s and Gold Cup Series along with the Barry Sheene Trans-Tasman Challenge Trophy. Additional to these events will be selected feature races and New Zealand and Australian Sidecars in action. The event will see many New Zealand & Australian stars in action on some of the best Classic & Classic Superbike race machines in the world, including ‘Mr Superbike’ himself, Australian rider Robbie Phillis.
Robbie was several times Australian Superbike Champion and Kawasaki Works rider achieving third place in the 1991 & 1992 World Superbike Championships, with four wins and twenty-three podiums.
Two containers with a mix of Classic’s, Post Classic’s and Sidecars are being bought over for this event. Some of the best presented machinery in the world, showcasing these iconic eras will be there, plus the action filled modern sidecar races, making this a not to miss weekend.
This event will appeal to a large cross-section of the New Zealand Motorcycle and Motorsport community. Bringing together some of the great classic race machinery of the 1960s, past masters of the late 1970s from the Marlboro Series era and the early decade of the World Superbikes, mixed with today’s New Zealand road race stars on older machines. And if you have a Pre ’89 road machine you can ride the track during the special lunchtime parade.
Tickets start from $10 and under 15’s are free. For more information go www.barrysheenetranstasman.co.nz
For the Hampton Downs Event 2012 / 2013 Season Highlights see below.
Olympics have started up too, we laughed at Mr Beans cameo (why run when you have wheels!) and the Queen’s entrance that’s for sure. Listen out for our own Richard Gee commentating the rowing too!
Look out for the next facebook competition – could be ideal for your dad on Father’s Day.
THE ENDURANCE RACE IS CONFIRMED FOR: SATURDAY 4 - SUNDAY 5 AUGUST 2012
We’ve hit the golden number; take a look at some of the cars that have entered the 12 hour Hampton Downs Endurance race:
There is the Porsche 997 RSR, this car won the Hampton Downs 12 hour last year and has also previously won the Dubai 24 hour race. We will be watching with interest!
Another international team will be joining us, they will be some of the first people to drive Motorsport Services new Seat Leon Supercopa! These cars are built for enduros and we are looking forward to what this car can do at the Hampton Downs Race Track. The team consists of Jeff Watts, Simon Piavanini and Mark Pilatti all from Australia.
Todd Murphy and 2 others will be competing in his BMW135i. This car has done the Bathurst12hour 2012 with Motorsport Services and also competing in the North and South Island Endurance Series. Main Sponsor is Murphy Buses Ltd
There are a range of race times so you have a chance to win in the 1 hour, 4 hour, 6 hour or 12 hour race!
If you are contemplating the event and are a little daunted by 12 hours… enter any of the other races within the big race (1, 4 and 6 hour events!) If you are still going at the end just top up your entry and keep going!
If you enter any of the races you also go in to win a:
$500 cash prize (drawn at random) to be given on the day. So all you have to do is start the race!
The classes are:
0 -2000cc
2000cc and over non Turbo
2000cc and over Turbo
Diesel
Slicks and DOT rates radials are allowed.
We have a range of competitors from NZ and Australia – come and join in the only 12 hour race in NZ!
If you have a car and need drivers, let us know.. we have drivers looking for a team!
If you are a driver looking for a team, again let us know.. we do already know of a few spots!
We will have racegas and 98 available at the circuit and can be delivered to your garage!
Hankook tyres will be there with a range of tyres and full tyre changing and balancing available right in the garages
Endurance racing and in particular 12 hours are now regarded as being Premier Events. The Bathurst 12 hour is a great example, gaining a huge following and starting to rival the “Great Race” as more and more international drivers and their exotic cars take to the grid.
Come and take part in this unique and thrilling event. Spectators are $10 each with children under 12 free.
Catering is available at the circuit restaurant and as always there are apartments available for your families to be comfortable in while you race away the day and night!
For more information and to enter go to www.hamptondowns12hour.com or call on (09) 280 6593
Although winter chills are sweeping the country the nation's top superbike road-racers are already thinking about a long, hot summer.
The popular annual Suzuki Tri Series, followed by the five-round Superbike Championships, will ensure that the engines keep booming from early December until late March.
With sponsorship dollars for sports events harder to come by with each passing year, Tri Series organiser Alan "Flea" Willacy said he was thrilled that Suzuki New Zealand had again come to the party, confirming sponsorship of the series for the next two years.
The Boxing Day street race event in Wanganui is again the third and final round of that Suzuki Tri Series competition.
This year will also mark the 60th running of the Cemetery Circuit race.
"It's fantastic to have this support from Suzuki this year and in 2013 as well," said Willacy.
The Cemetery Circuit event is one of New Zealand's biggest bike races, an important event on the Kiwi race calendar, a spectacular one-day show that attracts many thousands of race fans each summer and lures top-class motorcycle racers from throughout New Zealand and overseas.
Suzuki rider Andrew Stroud made it four consecutive Tri Series outright wins when he wrapped up the superbike title again on Boxing Day last year.
The nine-time former national superbike champion from Hamilton was runner-up at last year's series opener at Hampton Downs in December and snatched the points lead when he won the day at round two at Manfeild a week later.
He was beaten on the twisty streets of Wanganui's Cemetery Circuit in Boxing Day's series finale, Yamaha's Dan Stauffer again proving to be the best that day. But that didn't matter because Stroud had accumulated enough points to rubber-stamp his "ownership" of the Suzuki Tri Series.
Stroud has won the superbike component of the series every year since the inaugural running in 2008 and will be hoping to extend that to a fifth title when the series starts again in December.
For the New Zealand Superbike Championships that follow hard in the wheel tracks of the Tri Series, Stroud can again expect stiff competition from Australian Robbie Bugden - who stole Stroud's thunder and raced his way to Kiwi superbike title No4 last summer - as well as Wellington's Sloan Frost, Hamilton's Nick Cole, Feilding's Craig Shirriffs and Christchurch's James Smith.
Watch out for Kiwi internationals such as Yamaha riders Jake Lewis and Jaden Hassan and Honda's Avalon Biddle to also return to rev up the action in the 600cc division.
By Andy McGechan
For this article and more by NZ herald click here
The late racing driver and all-round good bloke Ashley Stitchbury used to say: "Only when you have found your way out of a corner have you found your way into it."
I used to sign off the final Good Oil column of the year with his advice. It was an attempt to reach holiday drivers, if only to say "take it easy out there".
Race drivers and qualified instructors use the same message. Brake in a straight line, let the car roll through the corners, get the steering wheel into a neutral position, don't load up the tyres, look forward, keep looking forward, trust your hand-eye judgment ...
Australian race driver Peter Hackett led a team of instructors - including New Zealand driver Daniel Gaunt and V8 Supercars pilot Dean Canto - who showed Mercedes-Benz customers and guests at Hampton Downs how to work at one with a car, in this case the high-performance AMG C63 coupes, sedans and station wagons.
Each instructor had a different approach but with one object: get round the Hampton Down circuit quickly and smoothly.
The skidpan - reportedly the most slippery in the world - was the exception.
The car takes on a life of its own and trying to balance it on the throttle was like juggling popcorn.
On the track, some instructors wanted you to brake earlier than others; some would take a slightly different line through corners; one in particular insisted I breathe deeply, relax my shoulders and arms ... all this while building up to 220km/h, before braking and rolling the car through a downhill right-hander.
Hackett wasn't there at the end of the day - he left early to fly to Melbourne to race in the third round of the Australian GT Championship. It's a rule: drivers have to be on Australian soil 24 hours before a race. He is piloting a Mercedes-Benz SLS GT3 and has had three first places.
But before he left he talked about what every driver should know.
"From my point of view there are two really critical elements to driving a car in any environment," he said. "The first one is planning ahead and looking ahead, understanding that the further ahead you look the more time you give yourself to be able to react to any situation.
"The second part of that is to understand just how long it takes to stop a car. As the conditions change, as they go from dry to wet, the stopping distance changes, too.
"Most mistakes we see on the road are forced by people who are travelling too close to the car in front, or probably more importantly, are distracted.
"This is because of technology that's now available, particularly with SMS texts and phones, At 60km/h you are travelling at almost 18m a second.
"Every 10th of a second you are travelling 1.8m. Just a 10th of a second at any speed can be critical."
Hackett said that the correct seat position is vital. "Most customers sit very high in the seat.
"The problem here is that are forced to look straight down the bonnet of the car which automatically brings their field of vision much closer.
"We encourage most people to try and sit a little bit lower in the car and that automatically lifts their field of vision up, forcing them to look further ahead.
"We don't want them so low that they are looking through the steering wheel. But we do like to try and get the centre of gravity a little bit lower."
The position of a driver's hands on the steering wheel has changed with the advent of technology like airbags, which are stored in the hub of the steering wheel.
"Nine and three should be the position," said Hackett. "Most people were taught to have their hands at 10 and two. But this was taught before power steering.
"Now with speed-sensitive power steering and also airbags, nine and three keeps your hands in a nice safe position."
What about the best seating position and the distance from the steering wheel? "Again, most people sit slouched. You have no control.
"If you look at any racing driver, they sit quite upright and quite close. You need to have a nice bend in your elbow.
A typical old school rule of thumb is that you should be able to place your wrist on top of the wheel but still keep your shoulder flat against seat.
"In a modern car we have completely adjustable seating and steering wheels. The moral of the story is make sure you have a bend in your elbow and that you can reach the top of the steering wheel without getting off the seat."
By Alastair Sloane
For this article and more by the NZ Herald click here
Friday, 29 June 2012
Press Release: New Zealand Festival of Motor Racing
A maximum permitted grid of 37 Formula Junior and Formula Three cars will take the starter's flag over the two weekends of the 2013 New Zealand Festival of Motor Racing event celebrating the life and career of former Formula Junior racer Denny Hulme.
The event will take place at the Hampton Downs race track on New Zealand's North Island over two weekends in 2013 - January 18-20 and January 25-27. The massive grids of Formula Junior cars will not be the only major draw card, however. Can-Am cars will be back in action and for the fourth year in succession, the event will play host to the world's biggest gathering of Formula 5000 cars. Iconic Historic Muscle Cars are also on the agenda.
Festival Chairman Jim Barclay has been inundated with more than 50 serious enquiries from Formula Junior racers and car owners in New Zealand, Australia, Great Britain, the USA and Europe - with interest even coming in from Italy.
"If a racer from Italy does run in the event, it will be sweet irony for a class with its roots in the country," Barclay commented.
Marques confirmed so far for the two weekends of action-packed Formula Junior racing include UK-built chassis from Brabham, Cooper, Elva, Emeryson, Gemini, Lola, Lotus; Italian-built racers from Atuosud, Stanguelini, Taraschi and Volpini; Australian cars from Ausper, CWG, Donford, Elfin and Nota, the US-built Jocko Special and the NZ-built FMZ.
Formula Junior was an open wheel formula racing class first adopted in October 1958 by the CSI (International Sporting Commission, the part of the FIA that then regulated motorsports). The class was intended to provide an entry level class where drivers could use inexpensive mechanical components from ordinary automobiles.
The idea to form the new class came from Count Giovanni "Johnny" Lurani who saw the need for a 'first-steps' class for single-seater racing cars for younger drivers. Kiwi legend Hulme was not the only driver with a background in the class. Jim Clark, Peter Arundell, Trevor Taylor and John Surtees were also regulars.
The field will include the actual Formula Junior Brabham racer piloted by Hulme pictured and now owned by New South Wales driver Ed Holly.
For more information about the New Zealand Festival of Motor Racing click here
New Zealand IndyCar driver Scott Dixon's bad luck continues in the series.
He was wrongly pinged for jumping the restart at the latest round of the series in Milwaukee. Race director Beaux Barfield said a combination of human and a computer glitch were responsible for Dixon mistakenly being issued with a drive-through penalty.
Paddon mentors Holder
Production world rally champion Hayden Paddon and his management company are extending a helping hand to young up-and-coming rally driver David Holder. Paddon will provide mentoring and guidance.
Milestone for World Rally
This weekend's Brother Rally New Zealand marks the 500th round of the World Rally Championship. The first event was held in Monte Carlo in 1973 and it first visited New Zealand in 1977. Teams from 22 different countries are based at Auckland's Viaduct Events Centre for this year's event.
Hulme's laps of honour
The New Zealand Festival of Motor Racing celebrating Denny Hulme will take place at Hampton Downs over two weekends in January. A number of the big Can-Am cars will be bellowing around the circuit honouring Hulme's success in the class. He won in 1968 and 1970 and was runner up in 1967, 1969 and 1971.
Radisich steps down
Former two-time World Touring Champion Paul Radisich has stepped down from his role as V8 SuperTourers CEO for business reasons.
Under the hood
Formula One this season has been a joy to watch with seven winners from seven races and some pretty good names haven't stood on top of the podium yet. This lottery of winners is partly due to the category not changing the rules too much during the off-season. In 2014 it's all going to change again when the new turbo charged V6 engine is introduced.
Rather than holding the cost back, it's likely to raise the cost of going racing. Renault, Ferrari and Mercedes have spent a total of about $800 million on engine development so far.
By Eric Thompson
For this article by the NZ Herald and more click here
June Newsletter
Hampton Downs played host to Round 4 of the amazing new V8 SuperTourer Championship, and crowned the series first champion when V8 icon Johnny McIntyre took the series-within-a-series Sprint Rounds title.
McIntyre overcame poor handling in the third race of the Mike Pero 250 meeting to do just enough to win the Sprint Series title - by just two points - from Jonny Reid.
McIntyre struggled throughout the final race and after 33 laps, eighth place with Reid in fourth was the lowest he could afford to be in, and with Paul Manuell all over the JMR lead driver in the final two laps, the destination of the Sprint Series title hung in the balance. Over the last lap Manuell attacked in the Orix Holden Commodore, but McIntyre got a better exit from the downhill sweeper and took a small lead into the final corner. Manuell was quicker and attacked all the way up the hill to the line, but couldn't get past the Blackwoods Paykel Ford Falcon.
The margin was just 0.2 seconds, but that was enough for McIntyre to take V8 SuperTourers' first title ahead of Jonny Reid by just two points. McIntyre finished with 2021, Reid with 2019. It's rarely closer in any racing category in the world.
While all that was being fought out midfield, Scott McLaughlin fought back from another slow getaway to win the third and final race in style - completing a clean sweep of pole positions, wins and fastest laps for MPC Team Supercheap over the Mike Pero 250 weekend. His Turn 1 pass on legend Greg Murphy oozed confidence and talent and a convenient safety car for debris on the track brought him within reach of Booth, and he passed him in style as well at Turn 2.
The opinion of all was that the epic final race saw some of the best racing action seen in New Zealand for years.
“Thanks to Steve Johnson from Event Communications & Reeco Adriaansen from College Hill Productions for providing Audio PA & Video/TV systems & support during the weekend (of The Mike Pero 250 – Hampton Downs)”.
The 2012 Summer Paralympic Games will be the fifteenth Paralympics and will take place between 29 August and 9 September 2012. Sue Reid is competing in the Paralympics and came to test the circuit with fellow cyclists Brendon Stratton and Tiffany Perry.
Part of the course in London includes Brands Hatch circuit so it makes sense for Sue to come and train at Hampton Downs.
We wish her all the best and are looking forward to watching it!
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To make a donation to Paralympics New Zealand go to http://www.givealittle.co.nz/org/pnz
Hampton Downs Motorsport Park is also pleased to announce the appointment of Gary Upson as its new Chief Executive Officer. Gary is well known for his motorsport involvement in Rally New Zealand and Rally Australia. In recent times, Gary has been NZ Brand Manager for Land Rover as part of Motorcorp Distributors Ltd.
Gary said, “I am truly excited about this new role, Hampton Downs is the future of motorsport in New Zealand and to be part of the next phase in the venue is an amazing opportunity.
Tony and Chris have done a magnificent job in developing the track and facilities to where they are at today, and they should be applauded for their efforts and commitment.
My knowledge and experience will be used in conjunction with the team at Hampton Downs to implement the capital development program including the track extension and turning Hampton Downs into a truly world class facility.
I would welcome the opportunity to have a coffee and a chat with any Hampton Downs supporter, my office is always open!
Gary who is married to Nicola has two sons, Callum and Liam.
Gary who will commence his role in July will be responsible for the day to day running of the venue and will be implementing the track extension, hospitality suites and many other improvements planned for Hampton Downs.
New visitors may have notices the new road behind the pit garages. There has also been over 500 litres of grey weatherproofing paint applied to seal the pit garage roofs.
Playday on track has amalgamated with Hampton Downs public open days to give you “Playday at Hamptons”.
The format is very similar, however we have limited the entrant numbers at all Playday at Hamptons events so that you get maximum enjoyment without a crowded track. As usual cars will be grouped by speed with a maximum of four groups, ie. cars, motorbikes, karts or prestige group.
These days have been very popular with the last two events being fully booked and this coming Sunday 24 June is also sold out! There are lots of keen people out there so you now need to pre-register to ensure your place.
July 14 is the next day and there will be a motorbike group as well. To pre-book head to www.hdticketing.co.nz or www.playdayontrack.co.nz
There will also be Race Car Test Days prior to big events, these will give you the opportunity to come and test your racing cars with other experienced racing drivers. This is exclusive to race cars only and open wheelers are welcome at these days. Speed classes will be set up on the day.
Twilight special offer! We have trialled Playday in the Dark for 2 events with a selected number of entrants and most of the entrants loved it & now we want everyone to “TRY IT” so here is a special deal: SPECIAL OFFER - WEDNESDAY 27 JUNE - ONLY $25.
Only condition is that you have been on Hampton Downs circuit before and have headlights! Pre-register on www.hdticketing.co.nz
Advance Gymkhana is coming up on Sunday 24 June 2012. The fastest time last event was 32.15, but there is a new course for this time round! We look forward to watching you master it J. Past fPast fastest times have been posted by:
4WD - Carib (non turbo)
FWD - Corolla (non turbo)
RWD - MR2astest times have been posted by 4WD – Carib (non turbo), FWD – Corrolla (non turbo) and RWD – MR2 proving that it’s not what you drive but how you drive it… Its only $30 for 5 timed runs. Registration is from 8.30am – 9.30am, 9.45am drivers briefing and 10am gymkhana starts!
The 2012 Clubsport Challenge is the only event of the year where you can compete in a bent sprint, a Hillclimb and a motorkhana all in one day! It’s on Sunday 1 July and is a great event for people looking to get involved in motor sport. Organised by the Auckland Car Club and Historic Racing Club.
You can pre-enter online now at www.motorsportentry.com or for more information contact Chris at chris@hamptondowns.com or Bob president@aucklandcarclub.org.nz for more information.
The ARB Mudfest is back again on Saturday 7 July 2012. The first Mudfest was bug and based on what the boys in the states. The 4x4 clubs turned up on mass, there were mud drags, trade stalls, mudslide even a volley ball court! To enter a vehicle its $20 or $5 to be a spectator. Check out some amazing photos from last time on Facebook – search Mudfest NZ.
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Coming up on 15TH JULY we have a new event called THE BRASS MONKEY MEETING!
This exciting, different format of racing has classes that are run in time groups! Open to all types of saloon, GT and sports cars. You will only be racing against cars with similar lap times. Time groups will be 1min10 - 1:15, 1;15-1:20, 1:20-1:25, 1:25-1:30 and 1:30+. Honda Cup will also be having a winter round at this meeting. The Honda Cup class will have two races plus a 45 minute endurance race, with a pit stop as well.
You can enter online now at www.motorsportentry.com or phone the Historic Racing Club on (09) 580 2085.
We also have a day for car enthusiasts to just have a go on Hampton Downs in a non-competitive environment. HRC is having a Motorsport Open Day on Sunday 26TH August 2012. There are two sessions and a chance to have a go at a gymkhana on the skid pan as well.
• Session One 9am-11am- Just drive around the circuit in your own car at under 100km/h behind the safety car. This is a great way to experience driving around the circuit at a comfortable pace for $30 per car.
• Session Two 11am-2pm- This part of the day will be for drivers who want to experience the track at a faster pace. Drivers will have to wear helmets and overalls (which are available for hire) to drive around Hampton Downs at a faster pace in small groups for $50 per car.
For further information and to pre-book go to www.hdticketing.co.nz or just show up on the day!
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CRC Speedshow is also approaching fast don’t forget to come and see us at the Hampton Downs stand.
It’s on 21 and 22 July and the ticket prices are only $20 for adults. This year in celebration of their 50th anniversary, CRC Speedshow has the addition of the top hot rods in NZ. Check out the stunning winner of the 2012 street rods competition, 1936 Ford coupe owned by Howard and Carol Bond of Howick, which will take a prime display position at the massive annual auto and motorsport show.
Another new event is coming up, THE BARRY SHEENE TRANS TASMAN CHALLENGE, on Labour weekend this year (20 – 22 October 2012).
The 2012 Trans-Tasman Challenge is planned to be the first of an annual Team Challenge event to be run as the second leg of the Trans-Tasman trophy held annually at the Barry Sheene Festival of Speed at Eastern Creek.
The event is open to all comers, with points scoring based in local riders being matched with an opposing Australian team member from the same class with similar lap times.
The Australians are sending a large contingent of riders and supporters to contest the event which includes Rex Wolfenden, Glen Keliher, Robbie Phillis and many other well known riders at this stage. The racing will cover all classes from Vintage right through to Pre82 & Pre89 Post Classic’s and Sidecars.
The event will be a 3 day affair, with practice, qualifying and possibly Round 1 of racing held Saturday, with social events and a full race programme Sunday & Monday. The programme will also include races for the NZCMRR TT Titles, NZPCRA GP Titles and will be the first round of the new NZPCRA Post Classic “Gold Cup” series being introduced this year.
This will become an annual event and with the interest that has been received from Australian riders and spectators the competition will be fierce indeed.
Mighty Can-Am cars set to honour Kiwi great Denny Hulme
Picture shows: From left, Barry Kirk-Burnannd and his orange 1969 McLaren M12 7800cc, with Hampton Downs’ Tony Roberts and Paul Halford with his silver 1965 McLaren M1A/B 5300cc.
The golden era of one of motor racing's most iconic classes - the mighty US-based Can-Am series of the sixties and seventies - is set to be revived in the home country of one of the category's biggest stars.
The New Zealand Festival of Motor Racing celebrating Denny Hulme will take place at the challenging Hampton Downs circuit over two weekends in January in 2013. Hulme was Can-Am champion twice in 1968 and in 1970 and runner up in 1967, 1969 and 1971 while racing for driver and constructor Bruce McLaren. Many of the big V8-powered sports cars from the heyday of the championship still run in historic racing events throughout the world and festival organisers hope up to 20 of the Can- Am racers and other sports racing cars will bring their priceless machinery to race on January 18-20 and January 25-27 for the Denny Hulme Trophy - a unique cup that will be presented by the late 1967 Formula 1 World Champion's wife Greeta Hulme to the winner of the six race championship.
The Can-Am cars will not be the only historic V8 racing cars in action. The New Zealand Festival of Motor Racing has played host over the past three years to the world's biggest gathering of Formula 5000 cars and these will race again in the 2013 event as will a big field of Australian, New Zealand and US V8-engined Historic Muscle Cars.
"Denny was one of Can-Am's biggest names and the Denny Hulme Trophy to be presented by Greeta and her family will give every race fan in New Zealand, both old and young, the chance to go back in time and witness one of the sport's greatest ever classes."
Early bird tickets are now available until 31 October 2012 on www.nzfmr.co.nz
We are also heading to view the Brother Rally New Zealand 2012, round 7 of the 2012 FIA World Rally Championship this weekend. It’s based in Auckland from 21 – 24 June. Go to www.rallynz.org.nz for more date and time details!
The Lexus LFA looks at home at Hampton Downs. The $956,000 supercar, a high-speed thoroughbred, is the only one of the 500 hand-built carbon-fibre cars to visit New Zealand.
Our own drives were cancelled given the wet conditions - fat 305/30 tyres and a slick track a recipe for potential disaster, said the clearly edgy Neil Bates, an Australian rally champ who's no stranger to tarmac, or the LFA's road manners.
This 4.8-litre V10 engine is fitted with a six-speed sequential auto transmission with launch control, a multi-step process you won't use to best that HSV from the lights, unless its driver is prepared to wait until it's primed. But that launch is impressive when viewed from pit lane, the revs climbing rapidly to a feral scream designed to replicate a Formula One car, before the throttle blips as the driver changes down for the hair-raising off-camber descent to the first turn.
Then it's my go; I'm in my helmet, clicking in the seatbelt. Bates warns the car feels good but it's slippery out there, and at that word my pen has streaked a straight line down the notebook page - he's floored it out of pit lane, 412kW pouring down and the rears flicking out of each bend like an angry bronco; 223km/h in the wet down the front straight and smacking on the massive carbon-ceramic brakes.
"I'm having to be as gentle-as, barely breathe on it or it'll go," Bates says; admitting to provoking this mighty car out of the sweeper "but not on that main straight, it's so sensitive and with that much power you have to put your foot down incredibly carefully."
Bates says the LFA is a pussycat on the road, and there is a lion-taming rain mode in case of wet. Had he trusted me with the key he'd have locked that in, and I'd have lost the chance to feel what this monster can do.
By Jacqui Madelin
For this article by NZ Herald and more click here
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Open day sold out in record time with 11 days to go.
For all those that missed out there is a special twilight in the dark on Wednesday 27 June (introduction offer of $25 per car) and playday in the dark on Friday 13 July for $75 a car.
The next full open day is on Saturday 14 July.
You can make a weekend of it, do the playday in the dark on Friday, stay in the apartments with special rates (2 people for $175), have dinner with us at the Rangiriri pub and then do the open day on Saturday 14 July. Motorsport heaven!!
To pre-register go to www.hdticketing.co.nz or call us on (09) 280 6504.
Mighty Can-Am cars set to honour Kiwi great Denny Hulme
Picture shows: From left, Barry Kirk-Burnannd and his orange 1969 McLaren M12 7800cc, with Hampton Downs’ Tony Roberts and Paul Halford with his silver 1965 McLaren M1A/B 5300cc
The golden era of one of motor racing's most iconic classes - the mighty US-based Can-Am series of the sixties and seventies - is set to be revived in the home country of one of the category's biggest stars.
The New Zealand Festival of Motor Racing celebrating Denny Hulme will take place at the challenging Hampton Downs circuit over two weekends in January in 2013. Hulme was Can-Am champion twice in 1968 and in 1970 and runner up in 1967, 1969 and 1971 while racing for driver and constructor Bruce McLaren.
Many of the big V8-powered sports cars from the heyday of the championship still run in historic racing events throughout the world and festival organisers hope up to 20 of the Can- Am racers and other sports racing cars will bring their priceless machinery to race on January 18-20 and January 25-27 for the Denny Hulme Trophy - a unique cup that will be presented by the late 1967 Formula 1 World Champion's wife Greeta Hulme to the winner of the six race championship.
The Can-Am cars will not be the only historic V8 racing cars in action. The New Zealand Festival of Motor Racing has played host over the past three years to the world's biggest gathering of Formula 5000 cars and these will race again in the 2013 eventas will a big field of Australian, New Zealand and US V8-engined Historic Muscle Cars.
On-track, the Can-Am series in 1966 was initially dominated by Lola, followed by a period from 1967-71 that became known as the 'Bruce and Denny Show' when the works McLaren team dominating until the Porsche 917 turbo was perfected and became almost unbeatable. Other manufacturers who raced in Can-Am included Shadow, Chaparral, BRM, March and Matich as well as household names Ferrari and Ford. But it was the list of drivers that really read like a Who's Who of motor racing at the time.
As well as Kiwis Hulme, McLaren, Chris Amon, Howden Ganley and Graeme Lawrence, Can-Am drivers included Mario Andretti, Jack Brabham, Mark Donohue, Vic Elford, George Follmer, Peter Gethin, Dan Gurney, Jim Hall, Phil Hill, David Hobbs, Jacky Ickx, Parnelli Jones, Jackie Oliver, Sam Posey, Brian Redman, Peter Revson, Pedro Rodríguez, Swede Savage, Jody Scheckter, Jo Siffert, Jackie Stewart and John Surtees. Hollywood movie legend Paul Newman was another to grace the tracks in the mighty machines.
"At the peak of the series, Can-Am machines were the fastest racing cars in the world, quicker even than Formula One and highly innovative with a rule book that gave a virtual clean sheet of paper to the racing car designers of the time. Spectacular is really the only word that describes the cars," said Festival of Motor Racing organiser Jim Barclay.
"Denny was one of Can-Am's biggest names and the Denny Hulme Trophy to be presented by Greeta and her family will give every race fan in New Zealand, both old and young, the chance to go back in time and witness one of the sport's greatest ever classes."
John McIntyre made the most of his chances. Photo / Geoff Ridder
Former New Zealand V8 champion John McIntyre took bragging rights by winning the inaugural sprint series title in the fledgling V8 SuperTourers championship at Hampton Downs over the weekend.
It was the Driven-sponsored International Motorsport car of Jonny Reid who held the point's lead as the cars sat on the grid for race two on Sunday, but misfortune was soon to befall him.
Early in the race, comfortably in third place, Reid's gearbox let go and he coasted forlornly to a halt on the entrance to the pit lane, his race over.
McIntyre took the advantage and went on to gain a solid third behind Andy Booth and find of the weekend Scott McLaughlin.
As the lights went out in the 35-lap third and final race of the weekend McIntyre made a good start but before long was drifting back through the pack, also a victim of gearbox problems.
However, unlike Reid, McIntyre managed to nurse the car home in eighth holding off a valiant charge from Paul Manuell.
Reid, whose team worked frantically to get the car back on the grid, finished fourth behind Greg Murphy, Booth and McLaughlin.
By fending off Manuell, McIntyre clinched the first of three titles making up the V8 SuperTourer series - sprint, endurance and overall championship - by just two points from Reid with Murphy in third.
"During the break [between race two and three] we'd tried to make the car a bit quicker again but I think we went in the wrong direction," McIntyre said.
"By around the tenth lap the gearbox started playing up - it was miss-shifting. I'd change gear but it would go back to the previous gear.
"Others just kept going past me and there was nothing I could do. I was down in ninth and saw Reid had got in front of Heimgartner, so knew I had to do more. I only just managed to get past Paul Manuell and managed to keep him behind me as the gearbox was miss-shifting really badly on the final lap.
"It came down to just two-tenths of a second at the end to hold eighth place and take the title. I managed to get what I needed out of the car, but man, it was close."
McLaughlin came back with vengeance to take pole and all three races over the weekend to put the disappointment of Manfeild behind him, where his team had to withdraw because of mechanical issues.
Podium in Portugal
Kiwi open wheel racer Chris van der Drift made up for his eight place in race one at the weekend in the Auto GP Series at Portimao, Portugal by grabbing a podium in race two.
He started on pole for race two but couldn't hold of the fast charging race one winner Adrian Quaife-Hobbs.
He gambled starting on soft tyres and the plan looked good, until safety cars ruined the teams race strategy but the New Zealander held of Sergey Sirotkin who filled out the podium.
As a result of his strong finish in race two van der Drift remains in fourth place in the championship behind Sirotkin, Pal Varhaug and Quaife-Hobbs.
The series heads to the penultimate round in late July at Curitiba, Brazil.
Richie's Belgium battle
Richie Stanaway has been hospitalised in Paris after suffering broken vertebrae in the Renault 3.5 litre championship.
Despite being quickest in Friday's practice, Stanaway crashed in qualifying and had to start from the rear of the grid. Air pressure failure meant he had to return to the pits after the warm up lap. Race two proved no better when Stanaway (20) ran up the back of Carlos Huertas in heavy rain getting airborne before smacking back into the track.
The race was red flagged when it was obvious Stanaway was having difficulty getting out of his car.
By Eric Thompson
For this article by the NZ Herald and more click here
Driven gives a shunt to two leading Falcons at Hampton Downs.
V8 SuperTourer points leader Jonny Reid will be flying different colours when he takes to Hampton Downs to defend his lead this weekend.
Reid and International Motorsport teammate Ant Pedersen - who lies fifth in the series points standings - have been two of the best performing Ford Falcon drivers in the series and this weekend will be racing in NZ Herald/Driven livery.
Driven will sponsor the two Falcons for the Hampton Downs round, and the enduro events at Taupo, Pukekohe and Powerbuilt Tools Raceway later this season.
Pedersen's cousin Haydn and Porsche drivers Ian Hayr and Wayne Tinker will bolster the five-strong International Motorsport team entry in support classes over the next two days.
Former A1GP World Cup of Motorsport race winner and series runner-up Reid has been moving up the V8 SuperTourers NZ leaderboard since the opening round of the 2012 series at Hampton Downs in February.
He finally leap-frogged fellow Ford driver John McIntyre to claim the number one spot after a breakthrough win at the tough third round at Manfeild in late April.
There Reid qualified quickest and won two of the three races to head into this weekend's sprint series 'final' with an 88-point lead over McIntyre.
Not one to rest on his laurels, the weekend after Manfeild, the 28-year-old Aucklander claimed another round victory, this time in Australia's Porsche GT3-based Carrera Cup series.
Since then he has hardly been out of a plane or car, chalking up a further Carrera Cup race win at the most recent round of that series at Phillip Island a fortnight ago, and returning to Australia earlier this week to test the V8 Supercar he will share with former kart star Michael Patrizi in the V8 Supercar series endurance races at Sandown and Bathurst.
Seat time like this is invaluable for any driver, particularly one competing in a category like the new V8 SuperTourer series, where the cars are mechanically identical. And Reid believes it will make a difference this weekend.
"I expect the competition to be very, very tough, there's no question about that, but right now with the racing I've done and the results I've achieved in Australia since Manfeild I am very excited for the weekend ahead," he said.
Teammate Ant Pedersen shares similar sentiments, despite - in stark contrast to globe-trotting Reid - having spent the past five weeks back behind a desk.
"The plan," says the young second-generation racer originally from Rotorua but now living and working in Hamilton, "is to go out there and race as hard as we can and be either at the front or as close to the front as we can."
Having already won a race - the final at the opening round in February - the 23-year-old knows he has it in him. The only problem, so far, is that he has not been as consistently quick in qualifying as he has in the races. And with good points - from 70 for pole down to 27 for 10th place - on offer in qualifying, a good performance this weekend could mean the difference between staying fifth overall or improving to third.
"The bottom line," says Pedersen," is that we haven't been qualifying near our potential. In the races we've got fantastic pace, it's just that it would make my job much easier in the races if I qualified better."
Murph wants a miracle
Greg Murphy admits he'll need a miracle to win the V8 Supercars sprint championship component - but in typical Murph style he isn't rolling over.
"We pretty well dominated the first round at Hampton Downs, and clearly we were the fastest car and the best prepared," he told Speedcafe.com. "But in the third race, there was carnage. Anything can happen.
"I don't see the top three dominating this weekend, anyway. No one has really dominated this championship. We've seen a few different guys winning races, Johnny McIntyre has really come on strong, but Foggy will get his act together fast, and there are a few others that have shown good speed, including my M3 team-mates (Paul Manuell and Richard Moore)."
Supporting SuperTourers
The V8 SuperTourers will be supported by the V8 Challenge Cup series and the Production Muscle Cars, Japanese Open and Allcomers saloon car classes.
The first 20-lap V8 SuperTourer race takes place this afternoon, with two more races tomorrow - a 25-lap spring in the morning and the 35-lap final later in the afternoon.
Points after Rnd 3
1. Jonny Reid 1626
2. John McIntyre 1538
3. Greg Murphy 1264
4. Kayne Scott 1252
5. Ant Pedersen 1240
6. Craig Baird 1153
7. Andy Booth 1038
8. Steven Richards 1030
9. Eddie Bell 883
10. Andy Knight 860
For this article and more by the NZ Herald click here
Frontrunner in V8 series is confident ... but he also knows it doesn't take much to miss out on the podium.
Drivers in the V8 SuperTourers series are returning to the battleground of Hampton Downs where the opening round of their inaugural championship took place.
International Motorsports' Jonny Reid will hit the tarmac in qualifying today knowing he is on top of the points table and is the man to beat.
Reid has been quick from day one. He has adapted well to the car and is looking to keep his challengers at bay to clinch the sprint series title.
"It's going to be one of those exciting race weekends, I think," said Reid.
"There's an extra two cars racing this weekend [Angus Fogg and Daniel Gaunt] so it should be really interesting.
"Being out in front is nothing new to me, so having a target on my back doesn't faze me and I've just got to do what I do.
"At the same time, if I look at how things have fallen for me this year, I've been successful in the first two races and then something has befallen me in the third race.
"I've either been run off the track or been hit from behind and the race three win, or podium, has been elusive.
"I'm well aware of where our weaknesses have been so far in the series and we'll focus on them and we'll be fine."
Former New Zealand V8 Champion John McIntyre had an opening round at Hampton Downs to forget. But as is befitting of a three-time national champion, he put his head down and made the best of the next couple of rounds and arrives back at the Waikato circuit in second place in the series.
"The first round at Hampton Downs we had 40kg of fuel in the boot to make the minimum weight and it felt like we had this big trailer on the back when we were racing," said McIntyre. "Now that the minimum weight has been reduced, I'm really looking forward to going back to Hampton Downs. We had an awful car there at the first round and it wasn't a lot of fun to drive.
"This weekend we need to continue our good run of form and hopefully we have a car that starts out fast and finishes fast."
Reigning NZV8 champion Angus Fogg has made the switch to the V8 SuperTourers category and has been burning the midnight oil to get his car ready for this weekend.
It would be fair to say that if it were any other team trying to get a race car built to take on some of the best tin-top racers in New Zealand in a few weeks it wouldn't happen.
But Fogg is one of those old school drivers who can build a racing machine as well as race it.
"The car is built but there are a few bits and pieces that need to be tidied up," said Fogg.
"A lot of people are surprised we've managed to get a car ready for this weekend but there you go.
"There's lots to learn and trying to catch up with the rest of boys is going to be hard but we're going to give it a good crack as we always do. It's going to be a great challenge."
With up to 70 points on offer from qualifying, 210 points for the winner of the first two races, 240 points for the feature race winner and 20 bonus points to the driver with the fastest lap in each race, there are several drivers in the hunt for the championship.
By Eric Thompson
For this article by the NZ Herald and more click here
To compare the on-road presence of the previous Lexus GS, chief engineer Yoshihiko Kanamori drove its three main competitors in the fast lane of Germany's autobahn.
When he was in the BMW 5 Series, Audi's A6 and the Mercedes-Benz E-Class, cars would pull over and let Kanamori speed past.
But in the GS it was "nein" - the Germans in front stayed put.
So, determined to beef up the looks of the fourth generation GS, Kanamori created the 'spindle' grille - an inverted trapezoid upper grille combined with a slanted lower grille, bridging the bumper mid-section to create the prominent shape.
Added to that were air ducts, daytime running lights and a rounded bonnet.
The result: an aggressive appearance that looked intimidating on any road.
So next time Kanamori hit the autobahn the Germans would instead be saying: "Mein Gott Fritz, it's a Lexus GS. Pull over to the other lane".
Back in New Zealand, Lexus decided it was also time to take on the Germans - especially the dominating Audi and BMW - so at the launch this week of the mid-sized luxury sedan it said it was offering three models with a staggering 420 combinations of specifications and colours.
The start of the bunch was the GS250 ($102,900) with a 2.5-litre 4GR-FSE engine that delivered 154kW at 6400rpm and 253Nm at 4800rpm plus a combined cycle fuel economy of 9.3 litres/100km and CO2 emissions of 215 grams/km.
Next was the GS350 ($117,900) with a 3.5 litre 2GR-FSE engine that gave 27 per cent more power and 22 per cent more torque than the present GS300.
And my pick of the bunch, the GS450h ($134,900) - with the 3.5-litre engine combined with the Lexus Hybrid Drive electric drive motor to deliver V8-like acceleration.
The range had a phenomenal amount of standard equipment: smart key entry, steering wheel paddles, 10-way driver's seat, blind spot monitor in the side mirrors and every safety feature expected of a luxury marque.
Then could come the fun part. Buyers could spec up across the three models to F Sport that added such features as dynamic rear steering (that glides a car around corners, as shown at the press launch at Hampton Downs race track) - all for $6000 to $8000 more.
Or, if you thought the 350 and 450h needs more love you could pay up to $25,500 for the luxury package - with such gadgets as pre-crash safety system with driver monitor, and rear passenger air-conditioning control and heated seats.
And if the Lexus owner still wasn't satisfied, they could add $3600 to the bill and buy a 17-speaker Mark Levinson audio system that wooed Lexus New Zealand general manager of product planning, Neeraj Lala, so much that he admitted the first time he tested a GS fitted with it he could have spent all night in the car listening to music.
Lala also reiterated the brands plan to take on the heavyweight Europeans with the GS promoted as a "luxury grand touring sports sedan".
"The new GS features a dynamic new L-Finesse design and a broader model range, which ultimately means more choice for customers.
"The new GS is better in every way. There is a model to suit every customer requirement with the widest array of engine variants in the Lexus line," said Lala. "The new Lexus GS will compete head-on in the luxury mid-sized sedan market, by offering greater specification as standard, at competitive if not class-leading prices. We believe more new customers will be attracted to the Lexus family than ever before with this new GS line-up."
While Lexus concentrated on giving the front and rear of the car a big dollop of macho, in profile the GS kept its predecessor's long cabin proportions and slingshot window design, but added 25mm to the roofline to increase rear passenger space.
Drive wise, the automatic GS range have eco, normal and sport modes for driving and Sport+ in the models with the - you guessed it - Sport package.
To test the Sport+ mode at Hampton Downs I was helped by New Zealand motoring legend Chris Amon.
Taking the 450h F Sport for its first lap, Amon was impressed with the handling and technology of the vehicle.
As for my driving? Hmm, not so impressed. He told me to start braking as we neared the end of the front straight, although this was the man who had just a few minutes earlier had the car doing 200km - and that was him driving slow.
When I took the car on to the open road I was foiled from putting the 450h through some energetic overtaking and swift handling of corners: a police car travelling in the opposite direction did a u-turn after seeing me and tailed for the next half an hour.
I'd like to think that he was so impressed with the GS's butch spindle grille that he wanted to follow me - rather then knowing that I was desperate to test the car's handling.
Oh well, there's always the autobahn with chief engineer Kanamori.
By Liz Dobson
For this article and more by the NZ Herald click here
Paris Hilton owns one and Tony Hawk has jumped one on his skateboard. Yesterday New Zealand Herald photographer Christine Cornege got a taste of how the rich and famous travel when she hit Hampton Downs in Waikato for a hot lap in a Lexus LFA supercar.
The Lexus LFA supercar was at Hampton Downs driven by Neal Bates. The car is worth nearly $1 million. Photo / Christine CornegeApproaching the sleek, blue Lexus LFA supercar, I got an immediate sense of power waiting to burst free and once inside first impressions are quickly confirmed.
With the ability to accelerate from a standstill to 100 km/h in 3.7 seconds and a top speed of 325km/h from its Yamaha-built all-alloy 4.8-litre V10 engine, I thought I'd find myself clinging to the seat.
However, piloted by Australian rally and racing driver Neal Bates, the LFA put on a smooth performance despite a wet track, braking comfortably and squealing through corners with ease like a getaway car.
Having driven at high speed on the Autobahn in Germany in a late 1980s hatchback and feeling like I was going to get airborne, I found it hard to believe we were travelling at 220km/h in the LFA and was surprised to find myself completely at ease.
The LFA is one of 13 such cars in Australasia and is in New Zealand as part of the Lexus Experience event.
Only 500 of the hand-assembled cars will be built and any Kiwis looking to join the elite club of LFA owners will face a hefty price tag.
The limited-edition car will not be for sale through New Zealand dealerships, but, General Manager of Toyota New Zealand Limited Steve Prangnell said sales could be arranged through Lexus Australia where the LFA retails for A$750,000 ($970,000).
The car is in Auckland for another week and will be open to the public to view at Lexus of North Shore from Saturday to Tuesday June 5 and Lexus of Auckland City from Wednesday June 6 to Friday June 8.
By Chrstine Cornege
For this article and more by the NZ Herald click here
Points leader Reid raring to go
Series points leader Jonny Reid heads into the final sprint round of New Zealand's new V8 SuperTourer series at Hampton Downs this weekend race-fit.
Reid and International Motorsport teammate Ant Pedersen - who lies fifth in the series points standings - have been two of the best performing drivers in the new series, and with Pedersen's cousin Haydn and Porsche drivers Ian Hayr and Wayne Tinker (who are competing in support classes at the event) they are part of a five-strong team entry this weekend.
Former A1GP World Cup of Motorsport race winner and series runner-up Reid has been moving up the V8 SuperTourers NZ leaderboard since the opening round of the series at Hampton Downs in February and finally leap-frogged fellow Ford driver John McIntyre to claim the top spot after a breakthrough round win at the third round at Manfeild in late April.
There, Reid qualified quickest and won two of the three races to head into this weekend's sprint series "final" with an 88-point lead over McIntyre.
Then, the weekend after the Manfeild round, the 28-year-old Aucklander claimed another round victory, this time in Australia's Porsche GT3-based Carrera Cup series.
Since then he has hardly been out of a plane or car, chalking up a further Carrera Cup race win at the most recent round of that series at Phillip Island a fortnight ago, and returning to Australia earlier this week to test the V8 Supercar he will will share with fellow former kart star Michael Patrizi in this year's V8 Supercar series enduro events at Sandown and Bathurst later this year.
Reid said his busy schedule would make a difference this weekend.
"I expect the competition to be very, very tough, there's no question about that, but right now with the racing I've done and the results I've achieved in Australia since Manfeild I am very excited for the weekend ahead," he said.
Having already won a race - the final at the opening round at Hampton Downs back in February - the 23-year-old Pedersen knows he has it in him.
This weekend the V8 SuperTourers will be supported by the V8 Challenge Cup series and the Production Muscle Cars, Japanese Open and Allcomers saloon car classes.
Action at the Hampton Downs circuit begins on Friday with practice and Hot Lap rides with qualifying and the first V8 SuperTourer race (over 20 laps) on Saturday afternoon and two further V8 SuperTourer races (one over 25 laps in the morning and the final over 35 laps in the afternoon) on Sunday.
2012 V8 SuperTourer NZ Series
Points after rnd 3 of 7
1. Jonny Reid 1626
2. John McIntyre 1538
3. Greg Murphy 1264
4. Kayne Scott 1252
5. Ant Pedersen 1240
6. Craig Baird 1153
7. Andy Booth 1038
8. Steven Richards 1030
9. Eddie Bell 883
10. Andy Knight 860
Calendar
2012 V8 SuperTourers NZ Series
Rnd 1 Feb 17-19 Hampton Downs
Rnd 2 April 7-8 Ruapuna Park, Christchurch
Rnd 3 April 27-29 Manfeild Feilding
Rnd 4 June 1-3 Hampton Downs
Rnd 5 September TBA
Rnd 6 October 26-28 Pukekohe Park Raceway
Rnd 7 November 24-25 Ruapuna Park Christchurch
For this article and more by NZ Herald click here
May Newsletter
Well we’ve been head’s down recently - we started off April with the D1NZ Drift Nationals.
Curt Whittaker (Team Dilusi 2JZ Nissan Skyline R34 coupe) is New Zealand's new Drift King, the Auckland driver claiming the Cody's D1NZ National Drifting Championship title in front of a record 5000-strong crowd at the final round of the 2011/12 series at Hampton Downs on Saturday 6 April.
Woolhouse was second for the round and third overall with Rotorua driver Brad Lauder (Alcotane Nissan S14) claiming the final step on the round podium after also having to go One More Time to get an advantage over eventual fourth place-getter Jason Sellers.
The 2011/12 Cody's D1NZ National Drifting Championship Pro-Am title, meanwhile, went to Cam Vernon (E&H Motors/Gull Nissan Skyline R32), the Pukekohe driver claiming his fourth round win in a row at Hampton Downs on Friday from Matamata's William Foster (Bennett Motorsport SR20 Toyota AE85) and Hamilton driver Jacob Hakaraia (DTM wheels Nissan Onevia).
The crowd at Hampton Downs was one of the biggest at a Cody's D1NZ National Drifting Championship round - the fans are four-deep at the fence!
The championship now breaks for six months before the 2013 season starts at Manfeild in October.
The Roycroft Trophy in mid-April was a huge success and a very enjoyable weekend. There were fields for Pre War & Pre 1960 Vintage Sports cars, Historic Single seaters, Sports Racing cars and Classic Saloon/ GTs joined by pre 1963 Vintage Motor Cycles. On display was also vintage speedway midgets, steam car, army tent and rides in the Charabanc. The Austin car club turned up in mass to do a display and demonstration laps, as did the MG club. The Austin seven “Duckie” form Australia was very popular and Grant Cowie’s talk was very interesting and informative.
There was a great atmosphere with trade stands in Hampton’s displaying vintage clothing and accessories, the Bruce McLaren Trust was in attendance and a Dixieland band. Spectators got in the mood by dressing in period gear. There was even helicopter rides in a *MASH* style Bell 47 (of which I was fortunate enough to go up in). Anne Thomson in her 14-litre 1906 Darracq was fittingly awarded the Roycroft Trophy this year.
See a collection of photos below. There are some excellent shots covering the weekend from nbphotography.co.nz
Waitemata branch vintage car club of NZ filmed the event with South Seas Film School to produce a dvd. It was also filmed by Sarah Bradley for an upcoming television episode on TV3, thank you to Metalman for being the sponsor.
We will let you know when this is being aired!
The final of the Auckland Car Club Summer series on Sunday 6 May proved to be a popular event. With seven classes competing; the traditional Auckland Car Club classes were joined by Historic Formula Fords, Super Historics and the Classic Trial. The old master of New Zealand Motorsport Kenny Smith won all the Super Historic and Historic Formula Ford races. It is great to see Kenny still racing at club meetings at the top of his game. Adding interest to the even were the Super Karts. The fastest Super Karts were lapping in the 1:04s – as quickly as the fabulous new V8 SuperTourers! It was pleasing to see this event had the best crowd out of any other Auckland Car Club events this season. Look for announcements soon about next seasons Summer of Motorsport in Auckland. Check out some photos on facebook by Apex Photography
We’ve had some hair raising filming days here at Hampton Downs, watch out for videos!
A new experience for you to try at Hampton Downs is Playday in Dark! The first event was very popular with entrants having a new challenge! The next evening is Friday 8 June 2012 from 5pm – 7pm. Pre-registering is essential at www.playdayontrack.co.nz or www.hdticketing.co.nz
The next Public Open Day is on Sunday 27 May. There was an excellent write up recently on the blog kiwi motoring (http://www.kiwimotoring.com/blog/post/event-public-open-day-at-hampton-downs) by Brent Shaw illustrating the diversity of cars that attend these days. As usual if you pre-register on the www.hdticketing.co.nz you get a $15 discount. The weather is looking rosy too!
The next Playday on Track is Sunday 24th June. This is a full day with a variety of classes – there is a normal group, a prestige group and a driver training group (only 5 places left). The driver training group is for anyone that wants to try a track day for the first time in a relaxed, low key, fun & friendly environment, or simply improve their driving skills, an excellent learning day for your family members to help make them safer on the roads.
We will run 2 pace cars in the group so you can follow them & learn the best way around the corners, no passing & no tail gating & we will start slowly & gradually increase the speed. There will be some classroom instruction at the beginning of the day & at lunch time & we will have instructors to sit with you and assist you.
In the afternoon we will give you the choice of going to unlimited speed, you will need a Helmet & 100% cotton or race overalls to do this part. In all previous Training days everyone has elected to go to unrestricted speed in the afternoon. We get so much good feedback from the participants who obviously learn a huge amount from the day.
For more information and to book go to www.playdayontrack.co.nz
THE MIKE PERO 250
1-3 JUNE 2012
HAMPTON DOWNS
The V8 Supertourers are back at Hampton Downs for The Mike Pero 250. Queen’s Birthday weekend will see Hampton Downs filled with New Zealand’s fastest V8 racing and most talented lineup of drivers.
Get out there and see the best names in the business pushing it to the limit… Jonny Reid, Murphy, Bairdo, Johnny Mac, Kayne Scott, Ant Pedersen and the rest will be providing the entertainment!
Racing - Saturday 2nd and Sunday 3rd of June
Tickets from $30 at Eventfinder or at the gate!
Website www.eventfinder.co.nz
Kids under 12 years Free
For Trackside Corporate Hospitality available see www.v8supertourers.co.nz
TICKET PRICES
General Admission Single Day Pass $30
General Admission Weekend Pass $45
General Admission Grandstand Single Day Pass $50
General Admission Grandstand Weekend Pass $70
Children 12 and under FREE
NOTE: Grandstand seating is limited
For more information go to www.v8supertourers.co.nz
A limited number of trackside apartments are still available for the V8 Supertourer weekend, enjoy watching the action from your own personal balcony! To book call us on (09) 280 6590
Drive three laps of Hampton Downs in a V8 race car then jump into Formula 1 style single seater for seven laps as fast as you can go. Test your skill with a shotgun before assessing your ability to handle a car in the wet on the Skid Pan track. That is four of the components making up THE ROCK Raceday Challenge. The fifth is a very real simulator racing challenge. Post the best times and achieve maximum points to give you and your team a chance to win fantastic prizes along with the kudos that goes with the 2012 ROCK RACEDAY Championship title!
To dispel any misconceptions:
YOU ARE BEHIND THE WHEEL, this is not hot laps…
You will receive the necessary training in all of the day’s events.
Your Experience will include coach transfers from Auckland to Hampton Downs, where you will enjoy a sumptuous breakfast/lunch/dinner, training and a briefing.
Nothing beats the exhilaration of a day on the racetrack. By climbing into the cockpit of
a Single Seater Racing Car and a V8 race car, you will experience the magic normally reserved for seasoned professionals.
Speaking of seasoned professionals, Greg Murphy will be there to mentor you throughout the day. You will be in with a chance to win hot laps with Greg is his V8 Supercar. Greg will also host the welcome function and prizegiving as well as signing your race day photos!
This will be an experience you and/or your clients will treasure for life so get a group together or book yourself in today.
Teams of Six, or book individually and we will allocate you to a team. To book please contact Mike Marsden on 09 304 0355 or mike@experiencegroup.co.nz
Hampton Downs will also be at the CRC SPEEDSHOW - NEW ZEALAND'S LARGEST AND MOST EXCITING SHOW ON WHEELS on 21 and 22 July – come and visit us for information about the coming season!
Held annually at Auckland's ASB Showgrounds, CRC Speedshow is a spectacular automotive showcase, featuring a multi-million dollar line-up of stunning exhibits from many of the world's leading car and motorcycle brands. Visitors can also enjoy a variety of motorsport displays, classic cars and motorcycles, trade stands, live outdoor and interactive entertainment, plus maybe get the chance to meet a star driver or two!
One complete hall is dedicated to a massive American style hot rod show, celebrating the 50th anniversary of the NZ Hot Rod Association. This is a once-only opportunity to see many of the best hot rods in Australasia under one roof.
The Ezybuy Car Auctions Live Action Arena features high octane stunt driving and drifting demonstrations, competitions and fun, with three big adrenalin pumping shows each day.
Three huge halls of displays and entertainment - test your skills on the race simulators, put your name in the many excellent prize draws run by CRC Speedshow’s passionate exhibitors and be ready to shop from the amazing array of new cars and motorbikes, motorsport and motoring-related merchandise, accessories and specialist services.
Bring the whole family – there’s plenty for children to do and see.
Make sure that you visit the CRC Speedshow website - it is updated on a regular basis with the latest news on special vehicles, guest appearances from star drivers and riders, and much more. Sign up for regular newsletters and get the news direct to your inbox or find Speedshow on Facebook. See www.speedshow.co.nz
If there’s ever a show for every kind of motoring fan, it’s CRC Speedshow. It’s New Zealand’s premier automotive and motorsport extravaganza.
One weekend only - don't miss it!
Ticket Information – Adult: $20, Child (aged 10 to 15 years): $10.00, Child under 10 years: FREE, Family (up to 2 adults and 3 children): $50.00
There are also a range of winter events coming up such as the Brass Monkey, Club sport challenge, Motorsport Open Day and Hampton Downs 12 hour endurance race. Check out the Hampton Downs website for more details.
We are proud to announce that we have 2 new employees – Felix and Alf. We are sure they’ll be a great addition to the Hampton Downs family and fit in with their eating habits!
Advanced driver training in any form is worthwhile. But there's driver training, and then there's driver training with fast, expensive cars. And better yet, somebody else's fast, expensive cars.
You're usually on to a winner when you participate in a training course run by a car company, because not only do you get the worthy upskilling box ticked, you're also embedded in a situation where education is matched in equal measure by entertainment.
You might be a student for the day, but you're also a paying customer and it's in your hosts' best interests to make sure you have a good time - and be lured by the latest products.
These types of events are becoming an integral part of business for prestige brands in particular, as they offer something special to customers. Audi, BMW, Porsche - they all do it.
This year, Audi New Zealand is upping the ante and boosting the local market for large orange cones. Launched at Hampton Downs last month was Audi Drive Experience, an amalgam of the previous Track Experience and Ice Experience programmes.
Same basic events, but with two major changes. First, the Experience has adopted a roadshow-type ethos, with instructors and cars moving around the country from Hampton Downs near Auckland, to Taupo, Manfeild, Ruapuna and the Southern Hemisphere Proving Grounds (for ice driving) from now until late in October.
The second big change is especially significant. While most similar programmes are available only to a brand's new-car customers - as has been the case for Audi to date - the latest Drive Experience is now open to anybody willing to book a place and pay the fees. A fleet of the latest Audi models is provided.
What it costs depends on what you choose to do. The entry-level Track Experience starts at $550 for a half-day, while Track Experience Pro is $800 for a full day (see audi.co.nz/drive).
The R Experience, with the marque's high-performance machines, is $1999, while Ice Experience at the SHPG costs $2500 to $3500, depending on the course you choose.
It's all good fun and quite useful in sharpening skills. The launch event held at Hampton Downs was typical of a Track Experience programme: a small amount of talking by instructors to start (basics such as seating position and track safety), then lots of hands-on help on the track.
It's never dull.
Many of the simple entry-level driving exercises are still enough to get the adrenalin pumping.
An emergency lane-change on a partially wet surface at 100km/h is enough to throw a car sideways, for example.
Cones die, of course. As does a little bit of self esteem for certain members of the motoring media who have done these courses many times and still find they're not much good at basic car control and listening to instructions.
By David Linklater
For this herald article and more by the NZ Herald click here
Press Release
I had been in stunts in a James Bond film, people envied my lifestyle....no one wishes for it now!!
As little as 18 months ago, most people would have dreamed of being in Neil Cunningham’s shoes.
In his work as a professional racing driver, the 49-year-old New Zealander was living the dream, driving multi-million-pound top-of-the-range cars. He was part of the Top Gear World Tour which visited Auckland at the beginning of 2010 and performed stunts in a black Alfa Romeo during a nail-biting car chase in the opening scenes of the James Bond film Quantum of Solace.
At his adopted home in the Swansea, Wales, he would spend his downtime surfing and going for walks along the beach, while bringing up his two young children, aged two and four.
But everything changed in 2010 when Neil experienced a pain in his foot, which spread to his leg. The pain, which initially felt like cramps, didn’t disappear but was put down to a twisted ankle.
It was only a couple of weeks later, when Neil became extremely unwell and was bed-ridden for weeks, that he knew something was seriously wrong.
“At the time I was touring the world with Top Gear,” he said. “I noticed I had a sore foot which felt like a twisted ankle but I couldn’t remember how I’d done it.
“I finished the tour and then came back home and I had some really bad leg cramps. I would struggle to get my leg straight after the cramps. I then became very ill and was in bed for two to three weeks.
“I knew that something was very wrong. I had been ill before with things like man flu but never like this – this was different.”
After deciding he needed to see a doctor, Neil was given the devastating news that he had motor neurone disease (MND).
“When I first went to the doctor I didn’t know what was going on. He said he thought I had motor neurone disease. I didn’t want to believe it. I went to see Chris Shaw at King’s College in London, who specialises in MND and he gave me great care,” Neil said. “But everything just came falling down. I had been in stunts in a James Bond film and for years people envied my lifestyle and they all wished they had my life. No one wishes for it now.”
After taking part in the Le Mans race in 2010, Neil knew he needed to give up his love of racing driving – something he had done all his adult life. With a career span nearly 3 decades, Neil is one of New Zealands most successful and experienced racing drivers.
“I had to give up my racing career pretty quickly. It wasn’t just about me – I was racing cars that were worth millions of pounds and I don’t think people would have been happy if I had crashed them.
“I found I started to lose the ability to do everyday things like wash my hair or even put my jeans on. That started happening pretty quickly after my diagnosis. If I fell over I wasn’t able to get up.
“Going from someone who was so active with a career like that to this was very difficult. It’s a completely different lifestyle.
“With two young children it’s even harder as I get very tired very easily. I have the wheelchair and I can go to the beach with the kids but I live in a hilly area and I can’t stop myself going downhill.
Neil is taking the drug riluzole, which helps to prolong his life and has found both yoga and spiritual healing has helped with his pain and movement.
“I’m always in pain but you start to get used to it. The easiest way to explain it is that it feels like I have run two or three marathons in one day.
“The cold makes it worse – it’s horrendous. When it is cold, I don’t leave the house. When we had those sunny days a few weeks ago I felt a bit like myself again, but now it’s cold again it’s a struggle.
“There are other drugs I can take but they relax you too much and you can’t walk. They are currently doing trials and stem cell research which could speed up the discovery of new treatments for MND and will have major benefits for people like me.
“I try to keep myself active and I have been having Chinese acupuncture a lot, which helps me. I’ve also been to a spiritual healer, which I know people may find odd, but it has helped. Yoga also keeps me supple and helps with my muscles. I try to stay positive with it and help people understand MND.”
A group of Neil’s friends are doing the Pedal the Peaks challenge, where they will cycle between the highest peaks in Scotland, England and Wales in three days to raise money for MND research.
Press release on behalf of Formula Challenge Group
As mentioned in the preview to round three of the V8 SuperTourers in the Weekend Herald, the mechanical gods smiles on Jonny Reid last weekend and he stormed into the championship lead.
Reid won the weekend round and is now 88 points in front of John McIntyre and 362 ahead of Greg Murphy.
The Pepsi Max V8 Supercar drivers managed a win over the weekend in race three but the opening two races belonged to Reid.
"The important thing when you can feel the tyre going away is to be as smooth as possible and drive the car as straight as possible," said Reid.
"It wasn't just Ant [Pedersen] and I this weekend, the whole team performed at the sort of level you need to win this championship and that's what's important going forward."
There is now just over a month to go before the fourth round of the new V8 SuperTourers NZ series at Hampton Downs and it is going to be a very busy month for new points leader Jonny Reid.
He will contest two rounds of this season's V8 Supercar-supporting Carrera Cup Australia series plus complete a V8 Supercar test with the team he will drive for at Sandown and Bathurst this year, Techno Autosports.
The V8 SuperTourers NZ series heads to Hampton Downs over Queen's Birthday weekend. After that there is a break before a spring round in September (at a venue yet to be decided), the 500km international enduro round at Pukekohe in October, and the series finale at Christchurch's Ruapuna Park in late November.
By Eric Thompson
For this article by the NZ Herald and more click here
As mentioned in the preview to round three of the V8 SuperTourers in the Weekend Herald, the mechanical gods smiles on Jonny Reid last weekend and he stormed into the championship lead.
Reid won the weekend round and is now 88 points in front of John McIntyre and 362 ahead of Greg Murphy.
The Pepsi Max V8 Supercar drivers managed a win over the weekend in race three but the opening two races belonged to Reid.
"The important thing when you can feel the tyre going away is to be as smooth as possible and drive the car as straight as possible," said Reid.
"It wasn't just Ant [Pedersen] and I this weekend, the whole team performed at the sort of level you need to win this championship and that's what's important going forward."
There is now just over a month to go before the fourth round of the new V8 SuperTourers NZ series at Hampton Downs and it is going to be a very busy month for new points leader Jonny Reid.
He will contest two rounds of this season's V8 Supercar-supporting Carrera Cup Australia series plus complete a V8 Supercar test with the team he will drive for at Sandown and Bathurst this year, Techno Autosports.
The V8 SuperTourers NZ series heads to Hampton Downs over Queen's Birthday weekend. After that there is a break before a spring round in September (at a venue yet to be decided), the 500km international enduro round at Pukekohe in October, and the series finale at Christchurch's Ruapuna Park in late November.
By Eric Thompson
For this article by the NZ Herald and more click here
The future of niche British carmaker Lotus is hanging in the balance now that its new Malaysian owner DRB-Hicom is deciding whether to go ahead with a $1 billion product investment over the next five years.
Previous Lotus owner Proton pledged the money for the launch of five new sports cars, including an all-aluminium Esprit supercar.
But carmaker Proton was taken over by Malaysian rival DRB-Hicom, the country's biggest car assembly operation and one of its largest corporations. The Malaysian Government owns a slice of DRB-Hicom.
Lotus CEO Danny Bahar says he expects a decision from the new owner within weeks on whether to back the investment plan, revise it or to sell Lotus. The British Government last year gave $20 million towards the programme.
Bahar said he was confident the carmaker had a strong future. "Lotus remains a special company, and I remain confident and committed that we can bring it back to the top," he told British motoring media.
"We have a healthy order book of 1127 cars, but due to the takeover it has been a very difficult financial time.
"We have spent the last two weeks discussing in detail with our new owners our investment plans and all aspects of the business, which they are now evaluating."
Bahar said that bosses at DRB realise that the uncertainty over Lotus needs to be resolved quickly. "They know the situation Lotus is in, and it is in their interest to resolve the issues as soon as possible."
He stressed that the new owners had absolutely not considered putting the carmaker into administration.
Lotus is celebrating its 60th birthday this year. Its investment plans, backed by Proton, would create 1100 new jobs, five new models, and triple sales to 6000 cars a year. Lotus currently employs 1400 workers.
Bahar - a long-time Ferrari executive before joining Lotus in 2009 - accepts that DRB could decide to revise the investment plan to build four new sports cars and an upmarket city car. The other option is to sell Lotus.
But who would buy it? It has rising debts and faces the prospect of making losses for the next four years until the new models go on sale.
The most likely buyers would be the Chinese, who bought MG. Geeley - which owns Volvo - has been mentioned. So has Toyota - Lotus has used its engines for years.
But Lotus sales have slumped badly in Britain this year, with just 35 cars sold so far, and there have been disappointing sales of its newest model, the Evora.
Bahar says there is a healthy order book of 1200 cars, and that production, which has been cut back because of the cash flow problems, would be back in full swing by next month.
Lotus' operating funds have been severely cut since DRB's takeover of Proton. Under Malaysian takeover rules, funds can only be approved for carrying out the "ordinary course of business" for a firm for a period of 60 days, and does not apply to new investment.
Lotus' cashflow problems have forced it to put back the launch date of the new Esprit from 2013 to 2014. Plans for the Esprit include challenging Ferrari for high-revving supercar honours with its 4.8-litre V8 engine.
It has delivered 425kW at around 9000rpm and 540Nm at upwards of 3000rpm in tests. But chief technical officer Wolf Zimmermann has hinted that it can deliver around 470kW at 9400rpm and about 575Nm between 5500 and 6000rpm.
Such output would give Lotus bragging rights over Ferrari's 4.5-litre V8, which revs to a maximum 9000rpm in the 458 Italia coupe and Spider convertible.
Zimmerman, who spent 20 years at Mercedes-Benz' AMG division before joining Lotus in 2009, is excited about the V8's potential but wouldn't confirm peak output.
"It is a simple design that I believe will be the best high-performance production V8 on the market," he said. The engine uses a dry sump and flat-plane crankshaft and weighs around 170kg.
The unit is modular, meaning engineers can create a four-cylinder by chopping it in half and a V6 by chopping off the final two cylinders.
The 4.8-litre unit mated to a seven-speed dual clutch gearbox will also be under the bonnet of a lightweight "R" version of the Esprit. Zimmerman said the R model would not simply be a stripped-out racer for the road, but a carefully designed evolution of the standard Esprit.
Based on projected figures for the standard car, the R could sprint from zero to 100km/h in under three seconds, and hit a top speed of 345km/h.
Built entirely from aluminium, the Esprit's target weight is 1460kg. The "torque tube"design is reminiscent of the original Esprit's backbone chassis. The car will have forged aluminium wishbone suspension and electro-hydraulic power steering.
Bahar believes the company has created a new icon in the Esprit. "In the past when people thought of the Esprit, they thought of the movies - Pretty Woman, Basic Instinct - but this time around, the car is the star of the show," he said.
"There's a fine balance in acknowledging the greatness of the past while rapidly leaping forward to the future and ensuring that this car not only does the name Esprit justice but also the Lotus brand.
"I think we've managed to find the balance. The design is aggressive. You have to see it to appreciate how low and wide the proportions are, but it still retains a level of dignity, of class and, most of all, exclusivity."
NZ expat Neville Crighton's multi-franchise Ateco Automotive operation is to distribute the Lotus range in Australia and New Zealand.
Plans for the brand here included driver training modelled on the Lotus Driving Academy and using tracks such as Hampton Downs.
"We are looking at using tracks in Australia and New Zealand for the academy," said Edward Rowe, PR chief for Ateco Automotive.
"They are an excellent sales tool for both bringing customers to the brand and demonstrating what the cars are capable of in a safe and controlled environment.
For this article and more by the NZ Herald click here
Kevin Andrew will step back in time this weekend for one of the top events on the vintage motor racing calendar.
The One Tree Hill resident will pit his 1932 MG J2 against other pre-1960 cars competing for the Roycroft Trophy at Hampton Downs raceway.
The competition is now in its second year and attracts vintage car owners from across the country because it is one of only a few opportunities to race historic vehicles on a track.
It is named after the Roycroft family who have been trailblazers for motorsport in New Zealand since the 1920s.
Mr Andrew has been a fan of vintage cars since he was a teenager and now owns a selection from different periods.
Like most members of the Waitemata branch of the Vintage Car Club of New Zealand he likes to get out regularly in his 80-year-old sportscar.
His wife used to use it for day-to-day transport until a few years ago.
Mr Andrew says it is enjoyable to drive and can reach up to 130kmh.
"It can be a little bit daunting when you are driving down the motorway past a truck that you could actually drive under."
The car usually attracts attention when Mr Andrew drives it around town – often wearing a 1930s period hat and driving gloves.
He says people are often really surprised that the car is still on the road when they find out how old it is.
As a mechanic he is able to do most of the maintenance on the car himself and says one of the reasons he is so attracted to vintage cars is they are a lot simpler than their modern equivalents.
"They're about getting back to basics," he says.
The April 14 and 15 event is really about giving the public a chance to see cars they probably wouldn't otherwise see, Mr Andrew says.
The Roycroft Trophy is awarded to the racer who shows the most vintage spirit and is not necessarily the fastest around the track.
Some of the more iconic vehicles that will be on display include the 1925 Bugatti first raced by AJ Roycroft and a rare 1931 Austin 7 Duck.
Only three Austin 7 Ducks were ever produced.
Mr Andrew says, while the car owners aren't afraid to get their cars dirty, the racing is still "gentlemanly".
The event will also feature speedway midgets and motorbike displays.
Many of the racers will be dressed in period clothing and visitors may be invited to be a passenger in the cars during the display laps throughout the weekend.
Adult tickets are $15 per day or $20 for a weekend pass. Children under 12 are free.
Visit waitemata.org or hamptondowns.com for more information.
By Emma Whittaker
For this article and more please click here
It won't be a lack of grunt that could have Anne Thomson's 1906 Grand Prix Darracq struggling to beat its rivals around the Hampton Downs race track later this week.
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Ms Thomson expects her 106-year racer, with its 14-litre, four-cylinder, push rod overhead valve Darracq engine, to reach speeds in excess of 160kmh along the track's main straight. Its lack of serious braking power, however, is what will probably hold her car back during vintage racing for the Roycroft Trophy.
"The biggest advantage the more modern cars have is their four-wheel braking," Ms Thomson said. "I only have two wheel brakes and while I have all the power in the world I have to be able to stop at the next corner. Basically my speed is determined by my braking ability."
Ms Thomson, 60, of Hamilton, started racing in 2000 and describes her style as "aggressive and feisty". "It really depends on the competition but mostly I'm there to win. That said, I get so much satisfaction from driving the Darracq, it's torquey and grunty, and it just asks to be let go so it can please you."
Ms Thomson bought the vintage racer in 2003 and can claim it as the sole surviving vehicle from the first Grand Prix at Le Mans in 1906. She has since driven it at historic events in Australia, France and Britain.
"In 2006 the French invited us to participate in the 100-year celebrations of the Grand Prix at Le Mans and it was just tremendous.
"Afterwards we took the Darracq to England for some vintage racing and we ended up just rolling them." The Roycroft Vintage Race Meeting will be held at Hampton Downs this Saturday and Sunday from 9am till 5pm.
By Aaron Leaman
For this article and more from the Waikato Times click here
Richard McWhannell makes no secret of the fact that he likes to show off his pride and joy.
HISTORIC RACER: Richard McWhannell says his Austin 7 Racer was built for speed and can reach up to 130kmh. Photo credit: Jason Oxenham
The Grey Lynn resident will pit his 1929 Austin 7 Racer against other pre-1960 cars competing for the Roycroft Trophy at Hampton Downs raceway next weekend.
Vintage car owners from across the country are attracted to the event which is one of only a few opportunities for them to race their historic vehicles on a track in New Zealand.
The competition is now in its second year and is named after the Roycroft family that has been a trail-blazer for motorsport in New Zealand since the 1920s.
Mr McWhannell holds the trophy which is awarded to a racer who is not necessarily the fastest, but displays the most vintage spirit.
One of the things that sets him apart from his counterparts is that he uses his 83-year-old car for day-to-day transport and not just for racing.
"A lot of people who have cars like this just have them sitting in sheds. I'm all about showing the thing off," he says.
Mr McWhannell says he sometimes gets a lot of attention when he goes out in the car, often dressed in driving goggles and a period hat.
The car is very economical to run and can reach up to 130kmh.
Austin 7s have been a part of Mr McWhannell's life since he was a teenager when they were the only cars he could afford.
He says they are somewhat of an obsession for him. "It's partly because they're really economical to run and partly because, as an artist, I appreciate beautiful things."
Mr McWhannell does most of the maintenance himself and says vintage cars are a comparatively inexpensive way of getting into motorsport.
He says watching vintage cars race can also be more pleasing for spectators than modern motor racing because they take longer to get around the track.
"You actually get to see the cars go past whereas modern race cars just whiz past. These races are as much about the sound and the smell as they are the speed."
The Roycroft Trophy is organised by the Waitemata Branch of the Vintage Car Club of New Zealand and will also feature speedway midgets and motorbike displays.
Many of the racers will be dressed in period clothing and visitors may be invited to be passengers in the cars during their parade laps.
Adult tickets to the April 14 and 15 event are $15 per day or $20 for a weekend pass. Children under 12 are free.
Visit waitemata.org or hamptondowns.com.
By Emma Whittaker
For this article by Auckland City Harbour News click here
April Newsletter
Welcome to April – did you get caught by April Fools? Let us know, the new air nz campaign for “Straight up fares” where they promoted flights with customers standing in the aisle, (with the height restriction of 150cm and your fare price changed depending on your girth) was a good one and had some people fooled. The other one is the sale of canned ‘Unicorn meat’ – they claim to be an excellent source of sparkles!
Over the last month we’ve had the Legends of Speed, with over 250 competitor competing for the trophy. The national superbike championship which was a sit on the edge of the seat weekend with a great St Patricks gathering on the Saturday night.
Just this week we were privileged enough to host Race for Life. This was a very memorable day and a big thanks to the organisers and volunteers. There were smiles all round.
We have been making improvements with Asphalt too. Lance Hughes (Hamilton Asphalts Ltd) has very generously supplied 25 tonne of hot mix and a laying crew to seal the pit end of Hampton Downs garages.
This means no more stones being picked up by hot tires as the cars exit the circuit. There is also an additional patch leading on to the skid pan to prevent stones being picked up there.
So good on you Lance! Your assistance is very much appreciated by all competitors. Remember the name Hamilton Asphalts if you are getting seal done.
There’s also new signage around the place letting you know about our new radio station, 106.8 FM So now you can bring an FM radio or cell phone and tune in – this is a new way to hear the commentary and keep in the loop about what’s going on. Thanks to Steve Johnson from Event Communication for your assistance.
This weekend is the D1NZ Drifting Nationals - this is a must see event, come and watch NZ’s best, Curt Whittaker, Gaz Whiter, Carl Ruiterman, Mad Mike and Cole Armstrong battle it out through a sea of smoke. Currently Aucklander Curt Whittaker is the series leader.
Pre-book online at www.ticketmaster.co.nz or just show up at the gate!
The following weekend is the highly anticipated event – The Roycroft Trophy. This year we have the over 100 entrants with Pre War & Pre 1960 Vintage Sports cars, Historic Single seaters, Sports Racing cars and Classic Saloon/ GTs joined by demonstrations from pre 1963 Vintage Motor Cycles. Making a special appearance is Anne Thomson in her 14-litre 1906 Darracq - who was fittingly awarded for an impressive performance in the challenging machine at the Lead Foot Festival last month.
The 1931 AUSTIN SEVEN “RUBBER DUCK” is also coming out from Australia and is to be a STAR as well! Grant Cowie’s Austin 7 is a rare machine indeed. Early in 1931 the Austin Motor Company built a streamlined car for record breaking, which becoming the first 750 cc car to reach 100 mph in the UK. Later in 1931 a further three cars were built for track and hill climb competitions. Due to their unusual appearance they were affectionately known as “Rubber Ducks”. They were raced by the factory in the UK and Europe up to 1934 and achieving a lap of 106.9 mph at Brooklands. There will also be a talk on Saturday afternoon from Grant Cowie about the cars history.
There will also be a live Dixieland Band and a collection of trade stands with vintage memorabilia, rare books, vintage clothing and hats. Get into the theme and dress up with us in period clothing!
For more information go to www.hamptondowns.com or pre-purchase your tickets and get $5 off at www.hdticketing.co.nz
Here's your chance to drive Hampton Downs Motorsport Park in a Formula Challenge V8 racecar then have lunch with Kiwi racing legend and 4-time Bathurst winner, Greg Murphy and hear of the exploits as a professional race driver.
The price to you, $750 per person and includes a 5 lap session in a Formula Challenge V8 racecar at Hampton Downs Motorsport Park on April 25th 2012, a picture of you with your V8 Racecar signed by Greg Murphy, lunch for 2 hosted by Greg and you'll go into the draw to win 1 of 3 hot lap rides with Greg in his V8 racecar. Only 3 spots left! Go to www.fcr.co.nz for more information and to book.
We have a new event called Playday in the DARK! It is a twilight session from 5pm – 7pm and the first date is Friday 4 May 2012. It will be run as usual, the same price ($75 per car), however the number of cars will be restricted to 2 groups. The only condition is that you must have experience on Hampton Downs to enter this event and have headlights! Pre-booking is essential at www.playdayontrack.co.nz or www.hdticketing.co.nz and people have already signed up to try out this new on-track experience!
The Hampton Downs 12hour is confirmed and will be held on the weekend of the 4th and 5th of August 2012. The event is organised and run by Hampton Downs, The Historic Racing Club, and Motorsport Services Ltd.
Hampton Downs represents the newest and perhaps the most exciting circuit in NZ, the race will run from 9am to 9pm making an exciting night race experience for competitors and spectators alike.
Entry, classes and regulations will be out in the next week, but book this date in your calendar!
Grids will be limited to 54 vehicles with 12hour entries taking precedence and then on a first come first served basis. The race will have 4 races in one with an option of a 1hour/4hour/ 6hour and of course the 12hour!
Endurance racing and in particular 12 hours are now regarded as being Premier Events. The Bathurst 12 hour is an great example, gaining a huge following and starting to rival the “Great Race” as more and more international drivers and their exotic cars take to the grid. These same competitors are actively seeking new venues and as a MotorSport NZ Sanctioned event the Hampton Downs 12 Hour Endurance Race ticks all the boxes.
As you know there are no pets allowed inside the Motorsport Park – instead put them into Paws and Claws accommodation just 2 minutes from Hampton Downs.
Their focus is to provide your cats and dogs with the best care and a happy stimulating stay with us. They live on site so your pets are safely cared for 24hrs a day. For enquiries go to
www.allbreeds4pets.co.nz or call Jon and Annamarie on (09) 232 6897.
Happy Easter from the Hampton Downs team!
Getting their drift on
Auckland-based international "Mad" Mike Whiddett leads the points standings, but heading into the final round of this season's Cody's D1NZ National Drifting Championship at Hampton Downs, the high-profile Whiddett is only one of five drivers with a mathematical chance of taking out the 2011/12 title.
With fellow Aucklander Curt Whittaker (Team Dilusi 2JZ Nissan Skyline), Whiddett has dominated this season's title chase, the pair claiming two round wins apiece.
So competitive has this season's championship been, however, that only 59 points separate the top six competitors with just one round to go this weekend.
"Everyone has had one bad round either through a mechanical failure or a silly mistake. So yeah, the pressure is definitely on," Whiddett said.
Whiddett won the most recent round of the Cody's series on a converted street course at Ruakaka near Whangarei, but Whittaker blew his car's engine on his qualifying run. He, in turn, won the fourth round of the series at the night round at Auckland's Mt Smart stadium a month before. But both Whiddett and Dargaville's Gary "Gaz" Whiter (Tectaloy Nissan S14) were eliminated before they got to the final after clipping a barrier and stalling in earlier battles.
Of the round winners, in fact, only round three victor Daynom Templeman (NAC Insurance Mazda RX7) of Auckland is not in the hunt for the overall series victory, though such is the nature of drifting he has as much of a chance as Whiddett or Whittaker of winning the final round. "Really, it's anyone's round and that's the beauty of drifting. Both Dan [Whangarei's "Fanga" Dan Woolhouse, Castrol Edge Holden Commodore] and Gaz got close at their home round yet neither has won a round yet. Mike and Curt have both been there twice but look what happened to Curt at Ruakaka? You never know until the day who is going to make it to the podium let alone the top step," series promoter Brendon White said.
The two-day final round sees the battle for the Pro-Am title contested tomorrow and the battle for D1NZ honours on Saturday.
Pro-Am is a little easier to pick with Pukekohe's Cam Vernon (E&H; Motors Nissan Skyline R32) a three-time class round winner this season, enjoying a 58-point advantage over William Foster with Vincent Hopkins a further nine points back in third.
For this article please go to Northern Advocate or click here
New Zealand IndyCar driver and two-time series champion Scott Dixon couldn't quite break his duck and win his first St Petersburg race early Monday morning NZ time, but was happy to pick up second place and a bag full of points.
In a race that saw the new Dallara DW12 (the chassis named in honour of Dan Wheldon who died last year) and a bunch of new engines race in anger for the first time, the race one of strategy and fuel consumption.
Dixon and eventual winner Helio Castroneves hit the front early on with the Kiwi, who qualified seventh, leading a race-high 37 laps to gain two bonus points. In a slight twist to the story, Dixon has been the runner-up in all of Castroneves' victories (three) at St Petersburg.
"The day was tough, you know," said Dixon."The first race back and after Dan's death it's a hard start to the season.
"We didn't quite have the speed but we had great restarts and the strategy kind of fell into our hands.
"I was pretty angry there for a while as I'm sure a few people heard on the radio.
All in all, a great day for team Target. What is nice is to actually finish this race for the first time in three or four years and we've got some good points here.
"Helio was just really fast but also able to save fuel. So we did a really good job for what we did at saving fuel, but obviously we didn't have the speed and we seemed to burn the tyres up really quick."
Dixon and Castroneves were close the whole race with the Brazilian getting past through Turn One at three quarter race distance.
Ryan Hunter-Reay finished third ahead of Andretti teammate James Hinchcliffe and Penske's Ryan Briscoe, while rookie Simon Pagenaud crossed the line just ahead of pole sitter Aussie Will Power in sixth. EJ Viso, Charlie Kimball and Justin Wilson rounded out the top 10.
Superbike across the ditch
Despite nine-time New Zealand Superbike champion Andrew Stroud's best efforts, former champion Robbie Bugden is taking the national trophy back across the ditch.
Bugden won the two races at the last round of the national championships at Taupo over the weekend to seal the title. Stroud had closed the gap on the Aussie to just 10.5 points after Hampton Downs but was off his game after crashing and could qualify only eighth.Stroud finished off sixth and fourth, leaving the Hamilton Suzuki rider second in the championship.
"We've got it done," said Bugden."We've had some ups and downs through the season. I hadn't been champion for a couple of years. We set out to win the championship and I'm so happy for the whole team."
This is his fourth New Zealand title. Racing in New Zealand during the Australian off-season helped keep him focused, Bugden said.
Stroud was gracious in defeat.
"It's good to let the Australians win sometimes, it's good for international relations," Stroud joked.
Dennis Charlett retained his 600cc Supersport title with a third in race one and then romped away with the final, although 17-year-old Aucklander Jaden Hassan closed right up at the end with his Yamaha.
Other 2012 champions: 600cc Superstock Jake Lewis, Superlite Glen Williams, 650 Pro Twins Robbie Stokes, 125 GP Seth Devereux and Prolite 250 Sam Croft.
By Eric Thompson
For these articles and more from the NZ Herald please click here
“Lance Hughes (Hamilton Asphalts Ltd) has very generously supplied 25 tonne of hot mix and a laying crew to seal the pit end of Hampton Downs garages.
This means no more stones being picked up by hot tires as the cars exit the circuit. There is also an additional patch leading on to the skid pan to prevent stones being picked up there.
So good on you Lance! Your assistance is very much appreciated by all competitors. Remember the name Hamilton Asphalts if you are getting seal done”
At the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne last weekend, 16-year-old New Zealand driver Andre Heimgartner proved his results at the opening round of the City Index Porsche Carrera Cup were no flash in the pan.
He has finished in the top 10 in five of the six races so far.
What really made the field take notice was that Heimgartner set the fastest lap time in last weekend's third race around the Albert Park Formula One road course circuit.
He did that against drivers such as championship winners Craig Baird, Alex Davison, Jonny Reid and Daniel Gaunt, former V8 Supercars champion Mark Skaife, and former Formula One driver Heinz Harold Frentzen.
The rookie Porsche pilot dominated the 2010/11 NZ Formula Ford season, winning the Ron Frost Memorial and Morri Smith trophies with eight victories over the competition.
Heimgartner partnered Stefan Webling in the 2011 Enduro series at Hampton Downs, driving a Porsche GT3 Cup car in the last round of the championship. They were running second overall until the clutch failed and they had to retire.
His form behind the Porsche did not go unnoticed and a deal was put together by a resurgent Team Kiwi Racing for the youngster to contest the City Index Porsche Carrera Cup series in Australia.
Driven grabbed a few minutes of the teenager's time on his return to New Zealand.
Driven: Congratulations on another great effort in the Carrera Cup races at the Australian Grand Prix. You must be pleased the good form from Adelaide continues?
AH: We're all pretty pleased at how things went. The more time I spend in the car, the more comfortable I feel and the harder I can push. Setting that fastest lap by half a second at Melbourne was pretty good and proves the results from Adelaide's Clipsal 500 opener weren't a fluke.
That's two rounds now, and the car seems well sorted and pretty fast. Are you pleased with how it's going?
The car's good. It's run by Todd Bickerton and Ian McNabb and they are two of the top engineers and mechanics who worked at Triple X Motorsport, who were a highly successful New Zealand Porsche team, and they know all their stuff.
Did you think you would be so far up the field so early on in the championship?
I thought I'd be up there because I've got some confidence in myself. I was hoping to be in the top 10 and I've been fortunate enough to be there and higher up at times [he's had two fourths so far]. We're quite pleased about how we're going now and finding more pace. Hopefully at the next round I'll be able to battle with the guys right at the front. You never know, though, we'll just have to see.
I have made a few changes to the way I drive the TKR car after working through the data with team engineers. That has made a significant difference to what I need to focus on.
You've only really driven a Porsche once before in anger and did pretty well. What is it about them you like?
They're great cars to drive. They're halfway between a saloon car and a single-seater. I don't really know, but the Porsche is a really nice car to drive. I did do some testing, so it wasn't too much of an ask, but I am still trying to get my head around the whole thing.
What's it been like going from a single-seater to a Porsche and then on to your V8 SuperTourer?
Fundamentally they're all the same, so it's not too different.
So what's the realistic plan for the season and where are you and the team hoping to finish?
At the moment we are sitting fourth in the championship, only three points away from third, who is Daniel Gaunt. If I can get rookie of the year, that'll be pretty good, and if I can get a top-three finish in the championship I'll be really stoked.
Heimgartner gets his next chance to grab more points at the Trading Post Perth Challenge, May 6-7.
By Eric Thompson
For this NZ Herald article and more please click here
The Auckland Motorcycle Club is planning to make the Hampton Downs event a special one this weekend for fans and non-fans alike.
"We plan on making this a full-on family event, catering for the children and the wives and partners of the petrol heads too," said club spokesman Graham Bastow.
Family entry is $45 for two adults and two children (additional children $5) while adults are $25 and kids under 15 free, if accompanied by a fee-paying adult.
"For the youngsters, there will be a range of activities supplied by the Cambridge company Event Fun," said Bastow.
There will be the biggest slides in the Southern Hemisphere plus a face painting artist.
"The emphasis is on fun."
For adults, there will be craft stalls plus motorcycle industry stands while a display of American muscle cars will keep four-wheel fans happy.
"As well as the on-track thrills and spills we will have the North Island's Nic Kroeze to entertain in the lunch break showing us what is possible on a motorcycle on one wheel and the speed at which a perfectly usable tyre can be destroyed," said Bastow.
"The American muscle cars will also get to show spectators what they sound like with a couple of laps."
He also has a tip for fans attending the event: bring a radio and tune it to 102.5FM to hear the commentary as Hampton Downs is still working on extending the public address system.
For this article and more from the NZ herald click here
Andrew Stroud faces an uphill battle as he tries to hold his Superbike title.
Defending New Zealand Superbike champion Andrew Stroud has his work cut out this weekend at the penultimate round of the national Superbike Championship.
His start to the season has been his worst in memory and to win his 10th national title is going to be an uphill struggle over the next two rounds.
Stroud lies in an unfamiliar fifth place on the table, 40.5 points adrift of the series leader, Australian Robbie Bugden. There are 50 points on offer this weekend at Hampton Downs and another 50 at Taupo the following weekend. Stroud will have to grab the lion's share if he wants to haul himself to within touching distance of Bugden and second-placed rider Sloan Frost.
"It's been good to see some of the younger guys starting to go really fast Like Sloan Frost and Nick Cole and John Ross from down South," said Stroud.
"They're certainly getting right up there and it's making it very interesting. And Robbie Bugden is totally on form. I sort of saw that coming as he was up the front at a couple of the Australian rounds last year."
Stroud has been hammered by some bad luck and the odd bad decision. "I haven't had the best of seasons so far, but it's still been good racing," he said.
"The fuel filter was blocked in the first race and then I fell off in the next one. I restarted for the New Zealand Grand Prix from the back of the grid and came through the pack to win it, or so I thought. However, I had only done 60 per cent of the race rather than the required 65 per cent, so no points there.
"Robbie had me pretty much covered at Timaru and I was too optimistic in Invercargill when I went out on slicks on a wet track that just didn't dry as I expected. Being lapped twice by the whole field sure was a new experience."
The Hampton Downs circuit is a relative newcomer to the New Zealand Superbike calendar and, although the riders have experienced the track before, it's different to anything else in the country. It's a fast, open-flowing circuit where the bikes get up to some serious speeds - 300km/h in some cases. "I like Hampton Downs and it is a bit different to anything else we have," Stroud said.
"Every corner is unique and there's quite a bit of elevation change. There're also a number of different lines you can take that will still end up in similar lap times.
"The track is wide, especially the first corner and the last corner where you can run right out into the middle and still come shooting back across the apex on the exit for really good exit speed."
Hampton Downs is one of those circuits where a rider can find exactly the spot to suit his individual race style, unlike some other tracks where there is only one fast line.
"You've got to weigh up whether you're travelling further and longer in order to get through the corner quickly," Stroud said. "You're constantly calculating which is the fastest way around the track."
If Stroud hits his straps and continues to have a fast bike, it is possible he may get one, or two, over Bugden and his other rivals - and be within touching distance of the leaders heading to Taupo next weekend.
He'll have to be on his best game and for the mechanical gremlins to cast an eye in his opponents' direction if he wants to come away with a bag-full of points.
"The bike's great and fast. Pirelli have a new 200mm-wide tyre that puts a lot of traction down, which is going to help. They are made to run with a lower tyre pressure than they used to that allows them to flatten out and leave a big footprint when leaving a corner.
"They also soak up the bumps a lot more, helping traction, so I'm hoping everything will come together."
Points after 4 rounds
Robbie Bugden 112.5
Sloan Frost 77.5
John Ross 75.5
Nick Cole 73.5
Andrew Stroud 72
By Eric Thompson
For this article and more from the NZ Herald click here
Kiwi drifting gets back to its roots this weekend, with a D1NZ championship round at the Northgate Business Park in Ruakaka, south of Whangarei.
Port Nikau, east of the city, was a popular stop on the D1NZ tour in 2009 and 2010 but the province's links with the sport go back even further than that.
"It all started," remembers the series' chief judge, Whangarei man Justin Rood," when the internet came along. Before that myself, Jairus Wharerau, Hayden Skinner and James Lucas were into the drags but one day we found these short little clips - which back then took hours to download - of factory drift cars.
"They were different to the front-wheel-drive cars we were into at the time but it sparked our interest and we ended up getting a couple of Skylines and heading down to Pukekohe."
Next thing Rood knew he and his friends are helping organise and compete in New Zealand's own drifting series with Wharerau winning the inaugural title in 2004 and Rood taking it out in 2005.
These days the 34-year-old now balances a real job with judging duties on the D1NZ circuit, and remains a passionate advocate for drifting and Driftcorp, the Whangarei-based team he established with friends.
Rood's role these days is largely behind the scenes his on-going influence on the local drift scene cannot be overstated.
Since winning the series 2004 the D1NZ title has only left the North twice, once in 2005 when New Plymouth's Adam Richards won it, and in 2007 when it went to Pukekohe driver Carl Ruiterman.
In 2006, however, it was back in the hands of a Whangarei driver, Daniel 'Fanga Dan' Woolhouse, and for the past three years it has been won by fellow Driftcorp member Gary 'Gaz' Whiter from sunny Dargaville.
This season it is Auckland's Curt Whittaker in a 2JZ-powered Nissan Skyline R34 who is leading the series, followed by Tauranga's Cole Armstrong in another R34.
High-profile Red Bull-sponsored RX7 driver 'Mad' Mike Whiddett is in third, with Whiter in an uncharacteristic fourth.
This weekend, with local money on Whiter, Woolhouse and Nelson, there is a concerted effort to raise money for Project Promise, a trust working to collect the $3million needed for a new oncology unit at Whangarei Hospital.
The sideways action starts at the Business Park on Friday with practice and testing for both Pro-Am and D1NZ cars in the morning and Top 16 Pro-Am class battles in the afternoon.
It gets serious on Saturday with D1NZ big guns qualifying from 11.30am and the Top 32 battles due to start around 1pm.
This weekend is the penultimate round of the D1NZ, with the grand final event at Hampton Downs on April 6 and 7.
For this artice and more click here
Teenage driver Andre Heimgartner made an impressive debut for Team Kiwi Racing at the season-opening Carrera Cup Australia in the Clipsal 500 meet at Adelaide over the weekend.
The 16-year-old became the youngest driver to compete in the series and claimed two fourth places in the opening races, before taking a taste of life down the field when he had to pit to change a flat tyre in the Sunday afternoon finale, finishing in 15th position.
"Andre had an amazing start to what is a big step in competition," said team boss David John of the Auckland Year 12 high school student he's entered in to the eight-round championship.
"He's well and truly settled in to racing the brand new all black TKR Porsche competitively -far in a way beyond what we'd realistically expect given the calibre of professional drivers in Australia."
Despite the final race mishap, Heimgartner said: ''Even from the first time I drove the car on Thursday, I could have never imagined we'd do as well as this. To be so close to the lap record time set in the second race - everything about it has been a highlight.
"Of course the mistake I made when I clipped the wall should be considered a low point, but the learning to race like that, making a mistake, having to do a pit stop, it was all an amazing experience."
Heimgartner will return to school before the next round at the Melbourne Grand Prix from March 15-18.
-Fairfax Media
For this article please click here
New Zealand V8 Supercars driver Greg Murphy has come close to winning the iconic series (second in 2002 and 2003) and still has the passion to fight it out at the pointy end of the championship.
The four-time Bathurst winner had a lean couple of years in the late 2000s but feels like things are starting to improve.
Ever since his move to the Kelly Brothers Racing stable, Murphy has steadily moved up the field, and finished 13th in last year's title chase.
He knows he's got to improve again this year if he's to be around in 2013 when the Car of the Future is introduced to the series.
He's hot off winning two races in the opening round of the inaugural domestic V8 SuperTourers championship, which had its first round at Hampton Downs a couple of weeks ago. The opening round of this year's V8 Supercars championship is around the streets of Adelaide for the Clipsal 500 this weekend, and Driven caught up with arguably New Zealand's best V8 tin-top racer.
Driven: You've got a new paint scheme on the car and your old number back?
Murphy: It's a really vibrant livery to kick off the year. I think it looks great and I'm stoked to be back sporting No 51. [Murphy has used the #51 exclusively in V8 Supercars since 2001, although Greg Murphy Racing used it in last year's Dunlop Series and Murphy had to use #11].
D: Another year in the main game must be good for you. Are you looking forward to this weekend?
M: I'm absolutely looking forward to the weekend. I'm always keen to go racing.
D: Things were starting to pick up for you last year. Are you hoping to continue in that vein this year?
M: We had some successes last season so this year will be all about building on those positives and pushing the Pepsi Max Crew higher up the grid. We're all pumped for a very big year in 2012. I'm a little anxious these days, though, performance-wise. I need to be back up the field more. Being part of the championship is still a very big thing and still being able to hold a position in this operation when you're not forking out heaps of money is a real honour.
D: I know by your standards finishing just outside the top 10 isn't too good, but after the past few years you guys seem to be heading in the right direction.
M: This year almost feels like an interim year because of the introduction of the Car of the Future in 2013. We still have a long way to go to take it to the likes of Triple Eight, HRT and FPR. I'm hoping we'll be able to carry through some stuff from last year. It's looking quite promising but there's still the odd question mark. The team's committed to continuing to improve the car and everything going into this season.
D: How hard is it to try to get equal with the factory teams?
M: It's bloody hard at the moment. It's all about consistency, and the cars at the top have consistent performances. That's what we're all trying to achieve but it's so hard to match the power of the factory teams.
D: Do you think any of the teams will tread water regarding spending big this year while waiting for the new car in 2013?
M: It's a difficult year to get through. Financially, teams have to get ready for 2013, so it's difficult to go and spend too much money on the development of a car that's going to be obsolete in 10 months. Whereas the full-blown teams with big budgets can still spend money now and cover what they have to do for 2013. It's just the way it is.
D: Nissan have announced they're about to enter the series with Kelly Brothers Racing. Will we see you in a Japanese car one day?
M: It's a long way away before any conversation either way will happen. I've been very loyal to Holden for many years and I have had other opportunities but didn't take them. For anyone who thinks I might have switched allegiances - that certainly hasn't happened. Just because you drive for a team that will be a factory Nissan team next year doesn't mean you will be driving one as well. I'm really happy for the Kellys that they've managed to pull off a massive coup.
By Eric Thompson
For this article and more click here
March Newsletter
What a busy few weeks – we started with spectacular racing during the NZ Festival of Motor Racing, followed by the NZ Motor Cup with IRC and Toyota racing series, the NZ classic bike summer classic meeting and then the V8 SuperTourers!
The NZ Festival of Motor Racing celebrated BMW Motorsport this year and the BMW Museum in Germany sent over the CSL Batmobile raced by Chris Amon and Hans Stuck, as well as an M1 Procar raced by Prince Leopold von Bayern. Our very own Chris Amon was in attendance and Paul Radisich raced the famous Fleetwood Mustang.
Additionally with 38 F5000’s on the grid, it was the single biggest line up in the world. The noise was like a well-orchestrated symphony. Michael Lyons, a 20 year old from the UK driving a Lola T400 HU7 Formula 5000 won the overall series and broke the lap record in race 101 setting it at 59.840.
One of the other highlights was Andy Booth's drive in Paul Halford's 5.3 litres CanAm McLaren.
The Castrol BBQ with Jim Richards in attendance sold out. People enjoyed listening to tales about his racing escapades. A Don Packwood painting of Richards in the Sidchrome Mustang also sold for over $5000 with profits going to the Bruce McLaren Trust.
The Beer Fest on the second weekend was also a big hits with over 300 people singing along to the Oompah Band (some even into the early hours). There were two paintings that were also sold at auction during the evening, one was the ex JPS BMW635CSi and the other of the BMW 3.0CSL Batmobile.
The following weekend was the New Zealand Motor Cup with a range of classes including the Toyota Racing Series. For the 20 lap feature race they were striving for one of NZ’s oldest trophies, a couple of names on this 80 year old trophy is Bruce McLaren, Chris Amon (who presented it) Stirling Moss, Jack Brabham and Graham Hill.
Defending TRS champion Mitch Evans couldn’t quite get ahead of Nick Cassidy and finished second, ahead of Hannes van Asseldonk from the Netherlands.
The much anticipated V8 SuperTourers had their first round at Hampton Downs and it certainly lived up to expectations. The fans cheered and the crowds roared as the drama of this new series unfolded.
The 30 lap feature race was spectacular and with 16 cars on the grid there were many twists and turns, cars being shunted, spinning and panels flying off as they competed for their place on the podium.
Just to name of few of the drivers in the line-up - Greg Murphy, Steven Richards, Jonny Reid, John McIntyre, Andy Booth, Kayne Scott, Craig Baird and Paul Manuell. Over the weekend the motorsport stars were inundated with fans wanting their autographs.
Thousands of race fans were on their feet for Greg Murphy when he finished up the championship leader. The final result for the series is Greg Murphy followed by Kayne Scott and Jonny Reid.
The support classes also put on an excellent show with the Central muscle cars, V8 Challenge cup, Hondas and even displays by Superkarts and some very impressive drifting demonstrations.
Merchandise was flying out the door, with a record number of hats and shirts being sold.
Shaun Sommerfield even filmed RV3’s sport news from Hampton Downs on 17th, 18th and 19th February 2012. For the footage head to TV3 on demand.
There was great coverage of the V8 SuperTourer races on TV3 sport.
We look forward to the next round at Hampton Downs on Queens Birthday Weekend in June.
We also had beautiful hot rods turn up for Mothers Chrome, they had a blast cruising the track, watching drifters, doing gymkhanas and trying out the drag strip. Check out their facebook page ‘Mothers Chrome’ for hundreds of images!
And what’s coming up we hear you ask – well we have a few treats for you!
This weekend is the Legends of Speed meeting, with over 200 entrants in a range of classes with Alfas, AES/TradeZone, Superhistorics & Formula Suzuki, Historics, Production Muscle Cars, Classic Japanese, Honda Cup, Classic Trial, Formula Ford, Formula Junior, Advanced Adhesives Allcomers Saloons and ACES +.Arrow Wheels
Its quick fire racing with $20 for adults and under 12 free.
On 17 and 18 March is the National Superbike Championship. We plan on making this a full on family event, catering for the children and the wife's/partners of the petrol heads so they don’t need the weekend pass to get their speed fix. Family entry is $45 Mum, Dad & two children (additional children $5), Adults $25, Children under 15 free if accompanied by a fee paying adult.
For the youngsters (Under 15's who will have free entry if accompanied by an adult) there will be a range of activities supplied by the Cambridge company 'Event Fun' they will be bringing several blow up apparatuses from surf board challenges, mazes and with any luck one of the biggest slides in the southern hemisphere. We will have a face painting artist and am negotiating with a caricaturist to attend who can produce quick drawings not only for the kids but other individual, race teams etc.
We will be having a range of stands from the motorcycle industry and stands from others displaying their business's wares. A display of American muscle cars and hopefully some Hogs will be there for the public to stare deep into the chrome of and we have our fingers crossed for a certain Mr John Britten's Mobil 1 sponsored pink and purple creation to be on display as well as some other exotic creations on both two and four wheels.
As well as the on track thrills and spills provided by some of the best riders from here and overseas in some of the closest racing we have seen in a long time we will have the North Islands very own Nic Kroeze to entertain in the lunch break showing us what is possible on a motorcycle on one wheel and the speed at which a perfectly usable tyre can be destroyed.
Come and enjoy a fantastic day at the circuit and watch some great racing action with Andrew Stroud in attendance!
Don’t forget your chance to put your car on the circuit during one of our Public Open Days, the next dates are Sunday 11th March and a twilight session on Friday 30th March. Check out www.hdticketing.co.nz for a discounted rate.
The Grand Final is also coming up for the D1NZ National Drifting Championship. This is a must see event, come and watch Nz’s best Curt Whittaker, Gaz Whiter, Carl Ruiterman, Madd Mike and Cole Armstrong battle it out through a sea of smoke. Currently Aucklander Curt Whittaker is the series leader.
The next highly anticipated event is the second year of the Roycroft Trophy on 14th and 15th April, which is a vintage festival celebrating this remarkable era. The meeting has been named the Roycroft Trophy in recognition of the contribution made to New Zealand motor sport by AJ, Ron and Terry Roycroft and is organised by the Waitemata Branch VCCNZ.
This year there will be fields for Pre War & Pre 1960 Vintage Sports cars, Historic Single seaters, Sports Racing cars and Classic Saloon/ GTs joined by demonstrations from pre 1963 Vintage Motor Cycles.
In addition to the racing there will be infield displays of Vintage cars, Vintage Speedway midgets, plus demonstrations of the Ralph Watson WW1 aero engine, Steam and Stationary engines
In Hampton’s pavilion there will be live Dixieland Band and a collection of trade stands with Antiques, art work, wine and delectable cuisine. In keeping with the theme drivers, riders and teams will all be in period clothing, join in ……….
Last year one of the stars was the 1906 Darraq racer, driven by Anne Thompson. This year one of the feature cars will be the Austin 7 Duck now owned by Grant Cowie in Australia, will be brought back to New Zealand for competition and demonstration.
Trade stands are 3m x 3m and only $30, if you or someone you know someone who fits this era, get them to give us a bell on (09) 280 6504 and talk to Claire.
If you have a pre-1970 car the cost is $20 and you will get special infield parking (with the other classics) and possibly a parade around the circuit.
Early bird spectator tickets are $15 per day or $20 for the weekend on the ticketing website. Group discount rates are also available, please email us on admin@hamptondowns.com
See you trackside soon!
After a year of spats, finger pointing, legal wrangles, he-said-she-said, hissy fits, name calling and more Machiavellian machinations than the man himself could have written, the V8 SuperTourers hit the grid last weekend.
There's been more than enough ink and airwaves wasted over the schism in New Zealand V8 racing. Most people are bored rigid with talking about how grown men can't just grab a box of Shiraz and lock themselves in a room until they've found a solution.
There's been a lot of talk out of the SuperTourers camp about how the opening round of seven at Hampton Downs was going to be the best thing since sliced bread. While not being as earth-shattering or life-changing as being able to pop your bread in a toaster without having to hack at it with a carving knife, the new category did put on a good show.
As promised, 16 cars were on the grid and a lot of credit has to go to chief executive Paul Radisich and his team to bring what was 18 months ago a pipe dream. The cars looked good, sounded great and the driver line-up was up there with the best from days gone by.
Putting Radisich at the head of the programme was inspired, as the run-up to actual racing had been fractious, to say the least. Also having someone of the calibre of Lyall Williamson and his International Motorsport outfit, who have been a watchword in professional racing in New Zealand, among others, added extra cache to the fledgling series.
When you have drivers like Greg Murphy and Steven Richards (who between them have six Bathurst 1000 wins), former A1GP driver Jonny Reid and former NZV8 champions John McIntyre, Kayne Scott, Andy Booth, Craig Baird and Paul Manuell, along with up-and-coming drivers like Ant Pedersen, Scott McLaughlin and Andre Heimgartner and others, it can't be all bad.
Now before any readers get the idea that the V8 Supercars is actually the best thing since sliced bread, hold your horses. There has been so much hype, good and bad, about this new series and how it might become the national championship rather than a standalone series, but last weekend was just round one.
Remember what happened with the Australian V8 Supercars when it decided to move to Hamilton? Crowds of up to 165,000 turned up at the first event, only to taper off to such an extent that there's a lot of chatter that this year could be the last event on New Zealand soil - mainly because of a bit of mismanagement and political wrangling.
The V8 SuperTourers are off down south to Ruapuna on April 7-8 - we know the Southerners love their motorsport - but it's after then that the new series will have to be handled with great foresight, finesse and care.
The racing will have to be close, fast and furious to keep the fans and television audience entertained. Fans want to see door-banging, love taps and handle-bar rubbing and the odd crash - as long as nobody gets hurt.
But that brings its own problems, as seen during race three at Hampton Downs. The first two races were a bit of a procession after the opening laps, which is totally understandable.
New toys, a new series on a new track (for V8s) and a lot of drivers who had never seen each other on a track before does make for a bit of tippy-toe caution.
Come race three all hell was let loose. Great racing by any standards. There were cars being turned around, rear shunts that would loosen a driver's fillings, bonnets being shoved up the inside of car doors, panels flying off and cars spearing off into the kitty litter.
Folk at the track and at home were on the edge of their seats - it was bloody marvellous. But the watchers don't have to pay the bills. If that sort of mayhem and madness had happened in race one it wouldn't have been surprising to see only half the 16-car field make it on to the grid for race two.
If the weekend's event is anything to go by, where reportedly 6000 turned up on Saturday and closer to 9000 arrived on Sunday, such early popularity should bode well.
Having Murphy home to strut his stuff in a domestic series for the first time in 15 years was an excellent drawcard and despite the meeting being a bit of a double-edged sword for him (he had to win, really, considering his Aussie V8 Supercar pedigree) he really seemed to enjoy the challenge.
The organisers can tick the box for round one and now it's up to them to gain more traction and get some momentum going, especially if they want the V8 SuperTourers to be the next big thing. It's early days, but gentlemen, the ball's in your court.
By Eric Thompson
For this article and more go to the NZ Herald or click here
What 18 months ago was an idea came to fruition at the weekend when the new V8 SuperTourers category hit the Hampton Downs racetrack in anger for the first time.
The schism in New Zealand V8 racing has polarised various factions, but at least the fans were treated to a great weekend's racing.
Australian V8 Supercar driver Greg Murphy showed why he is still well respected as driver by winning the inaugural V8 SuperTourer round from Kayne Scott and Jonny Reid.
Murphy arrived back home for his first domestic season in 15 years and had a point to prove to the local drivers. In a nutshell, he needed to win.
"I couldn't avoid the double-edged sword that I had to win or end up looking like an idiot," said Murphy after winning race one of the weekend.
"I have, though, been blown away by how fast everybody is and that's testament to how good the car is. It's going to create great racing and great competitiveness all through the field. It's great to get the first-round win done."
Murphy has more competitive racing kilometres under his belt than most drivers. After winning race two yesterday morning he was odds-on to clean sweep the weekend, just as he did during his time in the Australian V8 Supercars at Pukekohe.
Motor racing, however, is a fickle mistress and early in race three it appeared the drivers had decided to throw earlier caution to the winds and pull the pin.
The first racing incident involved Murphy and race leader Kayne Scott and resulted in a drive-through penalty for Murphy.
"It all sort of went pear-shaped for me when Kayne and I came together. I hit him from behind, so my fault, and the drive-through penalty put a bit of a damper on things really," said Murphy.
"And then after the safety car came out it all went crazy. I made a few positions up, then ran wide then passed a few again."
Murphy had hauled himself back into the top half of the field only for another safety car incident. At the front of the field Reid again had a commanding lead but that all soon changed.
"That restart was a disaster. The rules need looking at. It caused massive problems for Jonny Reid, who had been doing a great job up front until then.
"It was out of control, I got turned around and got going again ... It might be good for TV but there's a fair amount of car damage to be sorted by a number of teams."
When the chequered flag finally came out Ant Pedersen crossed the line ahead of John McIntyre and Scott McLaughlin with Murphy coming home in eighth.
By Eric Thompson
For this article and more by the NZ Herald click here
Greg Murphy won himself another special entry in the record books by claiming the first ever race in the new V8 SuperTourers category at Hampton Downs yesterday.
A big crowd applauded the long-time V8 hero as he brought his Holden Commodore home first after 20 hot laps of the Waikato circuit.
The new Kiwi cars are close to V8 Supercars in performance, with seven-litre engines based on Corvette motors and chassis designed for racing.
Aucklander Andy Booth, in a Holden, grabbed the early lead but Murphy hunted him down and passed him in spectacular fashion just after half-distance, the two running side by side through a series of corners before Murphy prevailed.
"That was fantastic, a lot of fun," Murphy said. "He [Booth] shot off like a scalded cat at the beginning but then I could see he was having a few slides while our car was quite comfortable and I managed to reel him in.
"I could see Kayne Scott close behind so I wanted to get past quick."
Hamilton driver Scott, also in a Holden, later passed Booth too and briefly challenged Murphy before settling for second.
Murphy said it was an honour to be the first winner in the new series, which is running independently rather than under MotorSport New Zealand auspices.
"I've been building up to this for a long time and standing on the top step of the podium is very special," he said. "We [V8 SuperTourers] have proved we're the real deal."
The new cars behaved differently from V8 Supercars in some respects – they were more nimble and had better brakes, for example – but they would still be an excellent grounding for Kiwi drivers looking to get into V8 Supercars, Murphy said.
Teams are still coming to grips with the new cars and Scott said tyre wear was a problem for many, including himself, though Murphy's tyres had seemed to be in good shape.
Scott's own tyres had been "not so good" at the end of the 20-lap race – and today's two races are 25 and 35 laps.
Booth said the event proved the concept of the new category.
"Our car was an absolute jet off the start but I think I cooked the rear tyres a bit and we also had an electrical gremlin that caused the engine to be cutting out along the straights," he said.
Former A1GP star Jonny Reid came fourth ahead of Craig Baird and Andy Knight. All three were in Ford Falcons.
Reigning NZV8 champion John McIntyre qualified only 13th of the 16 cars but advanced to ninth, while his team-mate, Steven Richards, finished 13th after spinning on lap one as the result of a hit from another car.
Ad Feedback Sixteen-year-old Aucklander Andre Heimgartner showed his talent by running mid-field till he was given a drive-through penalty.
The series takes in seven rounds, three of them being endurance races.
Matt Lockwood won the V8 Challenge Cup race for NZV8-type cars in his Ford Falcon. Shane Wigston took the opening Central Muscle Cars heat in his high-power Holden HQ, and Billy Dunn won the handicap race in this class with his Chev Camaro.
RESULTS
1 Greg Murphy (NZ/Australia) Holden; 2 Kayne Scott (Hamilton) Holden; 3 Andy Booth (Auckland) Holden; 4 Jonny Reid (Auckland) Ford; 5 Craig Baird NZ/Australia) Ford; 6 Andy Knight (Christchurch) Ford; 7 Eddie Bell (Christchurch) Ford; 8 Ant Pedersen (Hamilton) Ford; 9 John McIntyre (Nelson) Ford; 10 Scott McLaughlin (Australia) Holden.
For this article and more click here
Greg Murphy put his name in the history books today when he won the first-ever V8 SuperTourers race at Hampton Downs.
In a thrilling race to kick the series off, around 6000 race fans watched Murphy reel in a fast-starting Andy Booth to win. Surprise pole sitter Kayne Scott was second, showing himself to be a clear title contender after a late start to the series seemed to have little or no effect on his race-day pace.
"To have the first race out of the way is a huge relief and obviously standing on the top step of the podium is very special - and it will remain with me for a very long time,'' Murphy said. "It's awesome to be a part of this and really the result is fantastic for the whole team. It was a great start to the series and a great start for our car and team.''
Murphy caught and passed Booth in fine style after Booth took an early three-second lead. The two-time New Zealand V8s champion's tyres suffered as track-side temperatures hit 41 degrees, losing their edge before half distance and bringing Booth back into the clutches of first Murphy and then Scott, who himself had his mirrors full of a fired up Jonny Reid.
"Unfortunately I cooked the rear tyres, there was a small electrical gremlin and I couldn't hold them out,'' Booth said. "But what an amazing day. It's our first day of V8 SuperTourers and the concept is now proven. I'm rapt to be on the podium for the first race. With three Holdens on the podium, what more do you want?''
Reid's Ford looked one of the stronger cars in the second half of the 20-lap race, and the former A1GP driver made full use of his knowledge of the circuit and his more conservative approach with the tyres to be the man with the pace as the race entered its latter stages. Reid will be a major factor in the longer races on Sunday.
For Murphy and the crowd, though, it was the perfect result. Booth was suffering from a minor misfire affecting the car on the straights and Murphy and then Scott took advantage.
Scott surprised many to start on pole and he was full of praise afterwards for his team in getting the car to such a high standard of performance in a very limited time.
Craig Baird recovered from a lowly starting position to work his way through the field and finish fifth in his Ford. He came into contact with Steve Richards but the wily Baird continued to work his way up the field for a result that would have been a relief to crew chief Gary Pedersen.
Andre Heimgartner became the first driver in the V8 SuperTourer series to receive a drive-through penalty when he bumped Scott McLaughlin's Holden into a spin at the downhill sweeper Barrel 51. McLaughlin recovered and charged back through the field to finish 10th, clocking the fastest lap on the way.
Heimgartner was also quick during his recovery drive, but with the cars so evenly matched, a drive-through was always going to leave him bringing up the rear.
Tomorrow's races are over 25 laps and 35 laps.
For this article and more from the NZ Herald click here
Auckland's Andy Booth piloted his new Woodstock-backed VE Commodore V8SuperTourer into third position to make history in the first-ever race in the new V8SuperTourer series.
Having also started in third, Booth, the two-time New Zealand V8 touring car champ, was quick to take the lead from pole-setter Kayne Scott and second-placed qualifier Greg Murphy. Booth then extended his advantage; at one point Booth's lead over Murphy was nearly 3.5 seconds.
"I thought how can I lose?" laughed Booth at the post-race press conference. "Unfortunately I cooked the rear tyres, there was a small electrical gremlin and I couldn't hold them out. But what an amazing day! It's our first day of V8SuperTourers and the concept is now proven. I'm rapt to be on the podium for the first race! With three Holdens on the podium, what more do you want?"
The tussle for the lead between Booth and Murphy was the race highlight, lasting more than a lap around the twisting curves and changing elevations of Hampton Downs Motorsport Park.
"It was fantastic to race beside Murph and Kayne, knowing we can race cleanly.
"Tomorrow we have two longer races - 25 and 35 laps - compared to today's 20. No one knows how these cars will go in the longer races, so it's all new for each team. I'll be working on looking after the tyres as much as possible."
Booth's team-mate fellow Auckland Andr� Heimgartner qualified strongly in the Pink Batts VE Commodore with the seventh quickest time. During the race, Heimgartner, the youngest driver in the field at 16 years of age, was penalised for making contact with another competitor. After completing the prescribed drive-through penalty, the two-time Formula Ford champion had to settle for 16th place in the 16-strong field.
Championship points are awarded for qualifying positions and race results. The top qualifier earns 70 points, the race winner 210, which makes a possible total of 400 points up for grabs at each round. This sees Booth currently third with 219 points, behind Murphy with 273 and Scott with 250 points.
Sunday's schedule sees Booth and Heimgartner on track for two further races - one of 25 laps at 11:40am and one of 35 laps at 2:45pm. Full details of the schedule and spectator options for round one at Hampton Downs is available on the website http://www.v8st.co.nz/, refer to the calendar section for each round's details.
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The drivers are primed for this weekend's opening round of the V8 SuperTourers at Hampton Downs and are hailing the introduction of the series as one of the most significant in recent New Zealand motor sport history.
There will be 16 cars on the grid for Saturday's three races at Hampton Downs with as many as eight former New Zealand Grand Prix winners including Jonny Reid, Craig Baird, Greg Murphy, Andy Booth and Andy Knight in the starting lineup.
Booth, a two-time New Zealand V8 touring car champion and former winner of the New Zealand Grand Prix, says the sheer strength of the V8SuperTourer driver line-up is a standout feature of the new series.
"It's probably the strongest field I've been in competition with," Booth said. "Everyone's got great credentials and there's a significant percentage of the field who are full-time professional racers. And with everyone in virtually identical cars, the racing is going to be incredibly tight. The difference between first and 16th is seriously going to be minimal.
"It represents everything we, as competitors, have wanted from V8 racing in this country. The cars are so impressive in terms of their performance and safety. They're also going to be cost effective to run which is going to contribute to the longevity of the series."
From Heimgartner's perspective, the 16-year-old two-time New Zealand Formula Ford champion was looking for a new challenge.
It's the same for Reid and Ant Pedersen, who are relishing the opportunity to race closer to home after years spent racing overseas.
"I certainly think it is one of the best things that has happened on the domestic motor racing scene since I have been involved," said Reid, who formerly won New Zealand Grand Prix before spearheading New Zealand's A1GP World Cup of Motorsport campaign.
The V8 SuperTourer series is based around a purpose-built chassis and 410kW (550hp) 7 litre V8 engine with manufacturer support from Ford and Holden.
The cars are similar, although by no means identical, to an Australian V8 Supercar and a far cry both in technology and lap time terms from the production-based Ford Falcons and Holden Commodores that have been the mainstay of the local tin-top motor racing scene for the past 15 years. Understandably the response from teams and drivers from all over New Zealand - and even Australia - has been overwhelmingly positive.
"Really, it's not too far away from a V8 Supercar," Reid said. "In some ways in fact, like the 18-inch wheels, it is ahead of the game and I think the appeal of it as a purpose-built race car can be seen in the level of interest that has been shown in the car and series by the likes of drivers who have driven V8 Supercars like Steven Richards and Cam McConville."
Reid makes no bones about the fact that he is in the series to win it but admits, that with such a stellar line-up of drivers in otherwise identical cars, he has a big job on his hands.
2012 V8 SuperTourers series
Rnd 1: Feb 17-19, Hampton Downs
Rnd 2: April 7-8, Ruapuna Park, Christchurch
Rnd 3: April 27-29, Manfeild, Feilding
Rnd 4: June 1-3, Hampton Downs
Rnd 5: August 10-12, Taupo Motorsport Park, Taupo
Rnd 6: September 21-23, Hampton Downs
Rnd 7: October 26-28 Ruapuna Park, Christchurch
For this article by the NZ Herald and more click here
Hampton Downs' serpentine nadgery is made all the more interesting by the fact that it's that rare bird in New Zealand: a racetrack with changes of elevation.
Thus what looks like a series of pretty regular curves in plan form requires a seriously three- dimensional understanding while driving.
Having previously driven lighter, ostensibly "sporting" cars into tyre-howling submission at Hampton Downs, the prospect of directing almost two tonnes and four doors of brand-new 552-horsepower German luxury on it gave a certain dryness to the throat and a quickening of the pulse.
Not to worry - it was a BMW M5, after all.
BMW's latest M5 is so restrained that at first it looks like a pretty stock 550i sedan, with some better wheels, blue-painted brake shoes and, of course, the famous Martini-striped letter and numeral on its bootlid.
Look a little closer and you'll note a more prominent front quarter-panel vent, quad pipes poking from a more serious rear skirt, a vestigial rear spoiler, slightly more prominent side- skirts and bigger front-intake ducts to cool both the brakes and the turbocharged engine.
Yes, turbocharged. Instead of a highly strung naturally aspirated 5.0-litre V10 behind its twin- nostrilled nose, the new F10 has a smaller 4.4-litre V8, fed via direct injection by two double-scroll Honeywell turbochargers, with all the plumbing tucked neatly between the 90-degree cylinder banks. When you see how tightly it's stuffed under the bonnet, you can see why it needs to much air.
With just over 550 horsepower (412 kilowatts in new money) available from 6000 through to 7000rpm - 10 per cent more than the old car's - the V8 also twists out 680 newton metres of torque between 1500rpm and 5750rpm. That torque figure is particularly impressive, being 30 per cent greater than the previous M5's, and available through a three- times broader portion of revs.
BMW says the new M5 is also 30 per cent more fuel efficient than the old V10 and it should easily duck under 10 litres per 100 kilometres day-to-day.
However, it won't when you're cantering around Hampton Downs, with those twin-turbos encouraging you into a hydro- carbon habit that would rivet 99 per centers even more permanently to their camping sites.
In terms of its chassis, the M5 uses electro-hydraulic power steering instead of the 5-Series' usual electro-mechanical set-up, while it's suspended by way of double wishbones at front and multi-links in the rear, but with a broader than standard track.
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Auckland entrepreneur Eddie Freeman is counting down to his attempt on the New Zealand land speed record.
He aims to run his specially prepared Lamborghini Superleggera past the 348.23km/h businessman and race driver Owen Evans set in a Porsche 911 Turbo in 1996.
The Castrol Trophy run nearly claimed Evans' life when the Porsche speared off the Hauraki Plains road and somersaulted into a paddock.
Freeman is looking at two sites for his record attempt, either Auckland airport or Ohakea air force base.
His Superleggera has spent the past three months being modified in the United States.
Among the changes to the V10 engine are custom pistons and cylinder sleeves, twin turbochargers, new high-speed gear set and a new engine management system.
Freeman believes the car is capable of around 400km/h, almost 100km/h faster than the standard Superleggera.
He says the reworked engine is producing around 1100kW at the rear wheels, enough oomph to touch on 300km/h before running out of room on the home straight at Hampton Downs. "The build is fantastic and the car still retains the qualities of a standard Lamborghini," he said.
"It is running superbly on the track and I can't wait to get out there and have a crack at the record."
Freeman, the founder of lifestyle service FreemanX, says his attempt on the record is very much in line with the philosophies underpinning the company - getting the most out of what life has to offer.
"If this attempt plays a small part in inspiring the next wave of Kiwi ambition, I feel that this is equally as rewarding as the record itself."
For this article and more by the NZ Herald click here
By NICOLA BRENNAN-TUPARA
Eddie Freeman is preparing to break New Zealand's land speed record. Waikato Times reporter Nicola Brennan-Tupara took the opportunity to do a lap with Eddie at Hampton Downs.
The last time a Kiwi beat the country's land speed record, it nearly killed him – but that doesn't faze the latest driver to take on the challenge.
Businessman Eddie Freeman seemed pretty cool, calm and collected when he spoke to the Waikato Times yesterday about getting his Lamborghini Superleggera over 348.23kmh – the current record.
That record was set in 1996 by Owen Evans, who nearly lost his life after loosing control of his Porsche 911 Turbo.
"It's never going to be risk-free," Freeman said.
"But we are pretty confident we can try to mitigate the risk as much as possible and come out on the other side – hopefully me and the car."
Freeman, the founder of FreemanX, has souped up his Superleggera (now worth well over $450,000) especially for the record attempt, which he hopes to take on in April at Auckland Airport.
At its standard specification, the car has a top speed of 315kmh, but after spending six months being modified in the United States it can now far surpass that.
"The stock standard that it puts out is 530 horse power, but we've fully rebuilt the engine and strengthened it to handle more horsepower, added a couple of turbo chargers, a whole new transmission, high speed gears and a racing clutch.
"The chassis is still the same, but now it has the capability of 1500 rear-wheel horse power."
After test driving it on America's highways he was "pretty confident" he could break the current record – but why would he want to?
"I guess sometimes it's a question of why not? [The record] has been dormant for 15 years and with the FreemanX Supercars we had the cars available so we thought `yeah, let's give it a go'."
"It's a great project and good exposure."
FreemanX has been operating in New Zealand and Australia for 10 years and offers various high-adrenaline activities – including hot laps in some of the world's fastest, most expensive cars, around the Hampton Downs Raceway.
FAST LAPS SET HEART PUMPING
Terror was one of a vast array of emotions swirling through my body as I accepted a ride in a car that could soon be the fastest in New Zealand.
But I'm not one to turn down a fast lap in one of the world's most exotic vehicles. So, after texting my husband to tell him I love him – just in case – I jumped into the souped-up Lamborghini.
While it wasn't my first time in a Lamborghini – I drove a Murcielago around Hampton Downs track a couple of years back – I never reached the speeds Freeman is aspiring to.
I managed 195kmh. The current New Zealand land speed record stands at 348.23kmh.
So I strapped on my seatbelt and hoped for the best.
"You ready?" Freeman asked before flooring it. "Wow" was the only thing I could get out of my mouth after having my head rapidly thrust back into the seat.
Faster and faster we went – gear after gear. Top speed between 260 and 270kmh.
Awesome.
Three laps later and my heart is pumping faster than it ever has – but for all that, not one swear word came out of my mouth. I'm told by one of the pit guys that I handled it better than a male radio reporter earlier that day. Apparently he screamed like a girl.
"Not me," I say. "I loved it. I want to wake up like this every day."
Freeman promises me I can have the car after the record's broken – so cross your fingers.
- © Fairfax NZ News
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By Shaun Summerfield
Lap records have been tumbling at race circuits all over the country as the controversial new V8 Supertourer hits the track. Greg Murphy has been the frontrunner in the biggest test session at Hampton Downs - the perfect way to start what will be a fast paced 2012.
At an age when many drivers hang up their helmets Murphy is set for his busiest year of racing, the 39 year old doing double duty on both sides of the Tasman.
“I wanna be a part of it, it'll be a busy year across the ditch too, I'm looking forward to how much racing we'll be doing,” he says.
Murphy was debuting his new Supertourer alongside team mate Paul Manuel.
“It’s a treat, New Zealand motorsport has been screaming out for a car like this for years,” says Manuell.
Not all the screams were in favour of the new series, which saw almost all the big names quit the New Zealand V8's, sparking a bitter battle.
“I just knew it was always going to happen. It’s a shame that there has been some negativity but I believed in it, and there was no way it wasn't going to fly,” says Murphy.
With NZV8 championship leader Angus Fogg lining up for a place in the Supertourers, it's clear which series has the drivers vote.
While Fogg is likely to change camps to Holden the Ford team has signed Bathurst winner Steven Richards - But there's no mistaking the main attraction as Murphy returns to drive in a Kiwi series for the first time in nearly 15 years.
Lap record, set today, is expected to be broken in 10 days time when all 16 Supertourers return to Hampton Downs for the series launch.
3 News
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The cars may be the stars of the MSC F5000 Tasman Cup Revival Series, but a couple of young guns are showing more seasoned campaigners the way around lately.
The cars were originally raced before Michael Lyons, 21, and Alan Dunkley, 22, were born and now the pair are fizzing them around the track like they're just off the production line.
The two youngest competitors in the field were the stars at the championship's latest round at Hampton Downs last weekend as part of the New Zealand Festival of Motor Racing.
Lyons was in the groove straight off, setting the fastest qualifying lap and then going on to win all four races in his Lola T400. Dunkley also impressed in his Class A car (for older machines), a high-wing Lola T140, built in 1968, by being the fastest.
The pair are in action again at Hampton Downs this weekend for the fourth round of the series, at the second festival meeting, and both see no reason why they can't carry on from where they left off last Sunday.
"Last year it was all a bit last-minute," said Lyons. "I hadn't really driven the car much either. This time we did most of the British championship, which I won, and we were better prepared with the car."
Lyons has benefited from his first full season driving a Ferrari 458 in the British GT championship (where he finished third) and in two rounds of the European GT3 championship, where again he managed a podium place.
Dunkley is a former North Island kart champion who moved up to Formula First single-seaters and has more recently been racing in the Suzuki Swift Cup, in which he finished fifth in the 2009/10 series.
The youngsters won't find it any easier this weekend. The man who set a new lap record in his McRae GM1, Steve Ross, will want to get one back over Lyons, and he'll be joined by defending and three-time series champion Ken Smith (in a Lola T430) and this season's Lady Wigram Trophy race winner, Jay Esterer (McRae GM1).
With several regular drivers and three visiting Americans unable to make the first festival meeting, this weekend's grid will accommodate seven extra cars, taking the total to 30.
The Americans, Seb Coppola (Lola T192), Harin DeSilva (Surtees TS8) and Scott Drnek (Lola T400), are joining veteran compatriot Eric Haga (Lola T190).
Melbourne-based expat Chris Lambden (McRae GM1) and locals David Abbott (Lola T430) and Russell Greer (Lola T332) will be on the grid, as well as visiting British driver Greg Thornton, with a new engine in his Chevron B24. Having driven a Lola T300 last weekend, compatriot Mike Whatley will be back behind the wheel of his Class A Surtees TS8.
The MSC F5000 Tasman Cup Revival Series then heads south for the penultimate round at the Skope Classic meeting at Christchurch's Ruapuna Park on February 4-5.
By Eric Thompson
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BMW is celebrating its rich history of saloon car racing in New Zealand with a display of three of its most treasured racers.
The cars are drawn from the maker's AG Classic museum in Munich, and comprise the BMW 3.0CSL, an original E30 M3 that won the German touring car championship, and the M1ProCar that raced at Le Mans.
The 3.0CSL, nicknamed the "Batmobile", won the 1973 German Touring Car Grand Prix at the Nurburgring with New Zealander Chris Amon at the wheel.
It will be on display during this weekend's Festival of Motor Racing at Hampton Downs, but it won't be seen in action on the track, unlike the M3 and M1ProCar. The 3.0CSL is the only example in the AG Classic museum and the risk of damaging it, even during a low-speed demonstration, is too great.
Race driver and BMW training specialist Mike Eady has been behind the wheel of the raucous M1ProCar at Hampton Downs, while AG Classic staffer Andreas Riehl has been punting the M3.
The five-speed gearbox in the M1ProCar has ratios set up for Le Mans-type circuits, and is too tall for the tight Hampton Downs layout.
Eadie said he took some corners in first gear and didn't get out of fourth: "The car's good for 320km/h, but not on this circuit."
German Riehl and his colleague Max Flueckiger are AG Classic specialists and travel the world with museum cars, preparing them for displays such as the NZ festival.
"Not just the cars we have brought to New Zealand but many others as well," said Riehl.
So how much are the three BMW museum pieces worth? "More than €1 million [$1.6 million]," he said.
Riehl and Flueckiger will pack up the three cars and head back to Munich after this weekend. A display in the United States is next on the schedule.
By Alastair Sloane
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The newly installed engine in Steve Ross' McRae GM1 worked a treat over the weekend, allowing the Dunedin F5000 racer to set a track lap record at the Hampton Downs circuit south of Auckland.
Heading into the F5000 Tasman Cup Revival Series meeting, the record for the 2.8km track belonged to Aucklander Ken Smith, with a fastest time of 1min.01.210sec set last year. Young English racer Michael Lyons lowered that to 1min 0.813sec in the first race on Saturday but Ross went even more quickly in the fourth and final outing on Sunday, trimming it to 1min 0.497sec on the second lap.
His top speed during the race was 268.15kmh.
Ross was quick to share the praise for his achievement.
"I've held a few class lap records but never an outright track one. All credit to the Motorsport Solutions team who prepare and run the car. They've done a brilliant job this weekend. The car was flying, absolutely flying."
Driving a Lola T400, Lyons won every race but as he has missed the series' first two rounds, it leaves Ross still in the lead with three rounds to go.
Ross chased Lyons home for second in the first and fourth races and described the 20-year-old from Essex, north of London, as a "bloody good driver".
In the second race, Ross tangled with Aucklander Clark Proctor on the first corner and wound up 16th out of 22 finishers.
"It spun us both around and I ended up at the back of the field," Ross said.
The third race was almost a non-event because of the intervention for four of the eight laps of the safety car while a bent Begg FM2 was retrieved from the safety barriers but Ross managed a fourth place.
The series continues at Hampton Downs again this weekend before moving to Ruapuna Park, Christchurch, for the penultimate meeting the following weekend.
• Kimi Raikkonen's Formula One comeback picked up speed in Valencia yesterday when the Finn, returning with Lotus, tested a grand prix car for the first time since 2009, Reuters reports.
The "Iceman", 2007 world champion with Ferrari and winner of 18 races with the Italian team and McLaren, is returning to Formula One this season after two years in the world rally championship.
Lotus, formerly Renault, said the 32-year-old aimed to drive as many laps as possible in the two days at the Spanish circuit to get acquainted with his new team and reacclimatise himself with a Formula One car.
"It was nice to get back in the car," Raikkonen, who will be one of six champions on the grid this season, said.
"It was quite a few years since I have driven last time, so of course it takes a little while to get used to it. But the main driving, braking, turning and normal things doesn't take many laps.
"Of course, to start learning about the car and the team and tyres and everything, that will take time," he said.
The season starts in Australia on March 18.
For this article please go to the Otago Daily Times or click here
Young gun Michael Lyons won all four MSC F5000 Tasman Cup revival series races at the New Zealand festival of motor racing at the Hampton Downs circuit south of Auckland over the weekend but Steve Ross added the icing on the cake with a new lap record.
Lyons showed an inkling of what he could do at the two festival of motor racing meetings last year, and went one better this year by claiming pole position in the qualifying session on Friday then leading all four races from start to finish.
"The weekend has gone pretty well, hasn't it?" the 20-year-old Brit said. "Last year we weren't quite as well prepared and it was all a bit last minute. Also, I hadn't really driven the car much that year.
"This year we did most of the British championship, which we won, so we were better prepared with the car so it's great to be able to come out here and be able to do so well."
After winning both races ion Saturday, Lyons led home a fired up Ken Smith, Clark Proctor and series point leader Ross in the rain-delayed third race just after lunch time and 15-lap feature final later in the afternoon.
While the third race was very much a non-event because of the intervention for four of the eight laps of the safety car, the 15-lap feature saw a cracking early pace, with Ross breaking the outright track lap record Lyons had set during on Saturday.
Heading into the meeting, the outright record for the 2.8 km circuit belonged to Smith, with a best time of 1.01.210. Lyons lowered that to 1.00.813 on the first race on Saturday but Ross went even quicker in the final on Sunday, trimming it to an 1.00.497 on just the second lap of the race.
When he found out the Dunedin man was literally lost for words before being quick to share the credit.
"I've held a few class lap records but never an outright track one," he said."All credit to the Motorsport Solutions team who prepare and run the car, they've done a brilliant job this weekend. The car was flying, absolutely flying."
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The icing on the cake for racing fans at the Festival of Motor Racing this weekend will be the third round of the MSC F5000 Tasman Cup Revival Series - these bellowing V8 behemoths still cause a stir when they line up on the grid and, when the red lights go out, the ground trembles as they launch towards the first corner.
The F5000 series in New Zealand is the strongest in the world by some margin and cars and drivers have once again arrived from the Americas, Britain, Europe and Australia.
It's not just the BMW and F5000 classes that will be big drawcards. In the past two years, around 150 drivers and classic racing cars from other countries have rocked up to Hampton Downs to race and be part of the event.
Canadian driver Jay Esterer epitomises many of the combatants in the F5000 class in his keenness to race at every chance.
The car Esterer started this series with was one of three badly damaged in a start-line crash at the second round at Manfeild in November 2011. And, like arch-rival and defending series champion Ken Smith, the damage was such that the Canadian has had to revert to another car for the rest of the season.
"Both front corners were knocked off, all four wheels were wrecked and the tub was smashed in and twisted," said Esterer. "It was a mess."
The 48-year-old won the Lady Wigram Trophy race in Christchurch and is sitting fifth in the 2011/12 series points. Esterer reckons he won't know how competitive he can be until the car he is air-freighting down from Canada for the remaining rounds turns a wheel.
The replacement is another McRae GM1, one that he has owned for just over a year, though one he had not intended on pressing into service quite so soon.
"It's number 10, an ex-Quicksilver Racing team car raced by ... Rodney Green in 1975, then stored in his garage until 2006 when it was sold to Paul Hoey, then James Stengel who I bought it off," said Esterer.
Though Stengel raced the car in the United States in 2008, Esterer has only had time to strip and reassemble it, then break it down again to fit into the two air-freight boxes he used to transport his damaged model back to Canada late last year.
"It'll be completely untested. That's why I don't want to make too many predictions about this weekend. I'll collect the boxes from the air-freight depot when I get to Auckland on Wednesday, then spend Thursday and Friday putting it back together at the track. After that we'll just have to see."
Despite a couple of last-minute withdrawals (including local drivers Calven Bonney and Poul Christie), there will be 27 cars on the grid and as many as 30 at the second festival meeting the weekend after.
American Eric Haga will arrive to race in New Zealand for the first time and, like Kiwi veteran racer Kenny Smith, is one of the F5000 category's originals, having raced Formula 5000 single-seaters in the US first time around in the early 1970s.
Action started yesterday with practice and qualifying, with racing across nine different classic and historic categories scheduled for today and tomorrow. Racing begins at 9.00am both days.
By Eric Thompson
For this article by the NZ Herald and more click here
Young British driver Michael Lyons (Lola T400) has made a winning return to New Zealand's MSC F5000 Tasman Cup Revival Series, dominating the first day of competition at the third round at Hampton Downs today.
In front of a large crowd gathered for the first of two New Zealand Festival of Motor Racing - celebrating BMW Motorsport meetings at the 2.8 km circuit south of Auckland the 20-year-old second-generation racer from just outside London topped the time sheets in qualifying on Friday afternoon and won both today's eight lap MSC series races, the first - in the morning - from series points leader Steve Ross (McRae GM1), defending series champion Ken Smith (Lola T430) and high-profile former NZV8 and now Targa driver Clark Proctor (March 73A), and the second from Smith, regular UK visitor Mark Dwyer (Lola T400) and Rotorua driver Brett Willis (Lola T300).
Missing, unfortunately, from the front-running pack was the driver who won all three races at the second New Zealand Festival of Motor Racing meeting last year, Canadian Jay Esterer (McRae GM1).
After a heavy startline accident at the second round of this season's MSC F5000 series at Manfeild late last year the Canadian had to strip, rebuild and air freight out his second McRae GM1 to get it here in time for this weekend's meeting but a fuel leak in practice then full-on engine fire in qualifying put paid to his efforts to re-join the fray before they had even started.
Having also damaged his own Lola T332 in the startline accident at Manfeild, three-time series champion Ken Smith was also forced to revert to another car, in this case the familiar Lola T430 he has used with such effect for the past four seasons.
Nothing he could do could get him close to Lyons, however, the young British driver - whose father Frank and mother Judy also compete in the MSC F5000 series - showing the benefit of a full season in last year's British GT Championship.
"I think everybody has moved up, " he said of the MSC F5000 series. "The level is really high this year. Three of us have already broken the lap record so far and it certainly does seem to be a big step up from last year. Kenny was quick first thing this morning but we managed to sort him out."
That said, fastest starter in both races was Dunedin's Steve Ross. He followed Lyons home in the first race but spun out of the lead of the second in the first corner.
Clark Proctor also showed quick reflexes off the start in both races, shadowing Ross through the first corner then passing him under braking for the second corner in the first race, before slowly slipping back down through the field to cross the line in fourth place when he lost third gear.
He tried the outside line again at the start of the second race only to clash with Ross as Ross and Lyons disputed the inside line. Fellow front row starter Ross got the jump on pole man Lyons off the rolling start but Lyons claimed the inside line from Ross with Proctor taking the long - and potentially quicker - way round the outside.
Unfortunately three into two didn't go with Ross spinning to a halt and Proctor three-wheeling his way back to the pits with a broken rear upright.
Behind the front-runners Roger Williams, Aaron Burson (McRae GM1), Brett Willis, Mark Dwyer, Frank Lyons (Gurney Eagle) and Michael Whatley (Lola T300) completed the top ten in the first race. A fired up Whatley made the most of the first lap contretemps in front of him in the second, however, to get as high as fifth.
Initially Michael Lyons lead Smith and Mark Dwyer and that's how the order was when the results came out, but on the track Steve Ross rejoined the race between Smith and Dwyer and circulated in third place (albeit a lap down) until the chequered flag came out.
Brett Willis then made his move, catching and passing Whatley before eking out a useful gap with Frank Lyons, John MacKinlay (March 73A) and Aaron Burson in line astern behind Whatley.
Burson then passed MacKinlay to claim seventh place with MacKinlay eighth, category stalwart Shayne Windelburn (Lola T400) ninth and former kart and Suzuki Swift Cup star Alan Dunkley doing wonders in one of the oldest cars in the field, a Class A high-wing Lola T140, in 10th.
Dunkley's debut series performance was the talk of the category, the 22-year-old, who was a karting contemporary of the likes of NZ GP winner Earl Bamber, and one of the leading lights in the Suzuki Swift Cup two years ago, putting in two smooth, fast, measured drives which showed just how quick even one of the original category cars can lap a circuit in the right hands.
"These cars certainly demand a lot more respect than say a Suzuki (Swift) or Formula First," said the young Aucklander - who spends his weekdays working as a race engineer with his father Paul Dunkley. "You can't just biff them into a corner and see what happens. They're not like other cars I've raced, either, where you're always either on the throttle or the brakes. With the Lola you have to wait and feather the throttle to see when you can get back on it."
Also having his first drive in the MSC F5000 series in a high-wing Lola was American category original Eric Haga, in the 69-year-old Seattle, Washington visitor's case, the very same Lola T190 he drove first time round in 1970.
Haga was not quite running at young gun Dunkley's pace but he was having a ball all the same.
"This is a wonderful track and the only thing better than the track are the people involved here," he said. "The competition is fierce, but it is also friendly and the drivers are very, very courteous. I had a wonderful race this afternoon (with Australian Lola T140 driver John Bryant). We both have the same attitude about it, we are here for fun and to preserve the cars and we respect each other in the turns and we don't put each other at risk.
The second race also saw the return of British visitor Greg Thornton (Chevron B24) and Aucklander Stu Lush (McRae), both men starting from the rear of the grid after new batteries failed them in the first race. Thornton ended up getting the best run through the field crossing the finish line in 11th place with Lush 12th.
MSC F5000 Tasman Cup revival Series competition continues at the New Zealand Festival of Motor Racing - celebrating BMW Motorsport meeting tomorrow with two more races, a third 8-lapper in the morning a feature 15 lap final in the afternoon.
The MSC F5000 Tasman Cup Revival Series is organised and run with the support of sponsors MSC, NZ Express Transport, Bonney's Specialized Bulk Transport, Mobil Lubricants, Pacifica, Smith & Davies, Avon Tyres and Exide.
For more information about the two NZ Festival of Motor Racing - celebrating BMW Motorsport meetings go to www.nzfmr.co.nz.
For this article and more go to voxy news or click here
BMW is the headline act at the third New Zealand Festival of Motor Racing, on today, tomorrow and next weekend at the Hampton Downs track.
The first and second festivals were dedicated to two of New Zealand's three famous Formula One drivers - Bruce McLaren and Chris Amon. Next year's will salute Denny Hulme.
The event this year celebrates the 40th anniversary of BMW Motorsport - now known as BMW M - a nameplate synonymous with motorsport in New Zealand.
"It's particularly apt that BMW is the first automobile marque to be celebrated after the two legendary racing drivers of the previous festivals," said BMW New Zealand managing director Mark Gilbert.
"BMW has had a presence in New Zealand motorsport dating back more than 40 years.
"Cars such as the 2002 Ti and M635CSi have established themselves as both winners and driver favourites, and are still raced at tracks around the country today.
"However, it is perhaps the legendary M3 which has become a perennial superstar, thanks largely to its performance, reliability, durability and all-round drivability."
The M3 boasts a race-proven heritage, having won a number of New Zealand championships as well as five Wellington 500 street races during the late 1980s and early 1990s. The Schnitzer BMW M3s dominated the event, claiming four of five titles won by BMW between 1988 and 1992. During the 1990s, BMW Motorsport NZ, a partnership between BMW NZ and International Motorsport (Lyall Williamson), won seven straight titles in the New Zealand Touring Car Championship.
Craig Baird and Brett Riley won most of the titles in the earlier years, but the 1999 and 2000 titles were won in a BMW 325i (E36) driven by the late Jason Richards. BMW has brought from its heritage division in Germany two of its celebrated racing models - the M1ProCar and the Group A M3. Both cars will appear on the track during the event. Also on show will be the original "Batmobile", the BMW 3.0CSL that Amon and German driver Hans-Joachim Stuck drove to win the 1973 European Touring Car Championship.
For this article and more by the NZ Herald click here
The third incarnation of the annual New Zealand Festival of Motor Racing at Hampton Downs this weekend is paying homage to a different sort of racing legend - a manufacturer.
BMW's rich history in saloon car racing is being acknowledged and fans will be pleased to know racing hero Chris Amon has more than just a tenuous link to one of the cars.
He and fellow tin-top legend Hans-Joachim Stuck raced the BMW 3.0CSL on display over the weekend to victory in the 1973 German Touring Car Grand Prix at the Nurburgring.
Amon had spent his racing career until then in single-seater Formula or CanAm cars, so driving a saloon car with a roof on a racetrack was a bit of an adventure for him.
"It was the only real touring car racing I ever did," Amon said. "It took me a race or two to get used to it [but] I really enjoyed it."
Although the car was built as a road-going model, the CSL Amon and Stuck won the six-hour endurance race in - affectionately known as the Batmobile - wasn't stock. "They would have had to weigh about 1000kg and looked a bit chunky but were a seriously quick piece of gear really."
The car has been brought out by BMW from its Munich motorsport museum for the launch of the new BMW 1M series. The CSL will be joined by other historic BMWs at the festival over the next two weekends.
By Eric Thompson
For this article and more by NZ Herald click here
Photo credit - Alastair Sloane
The third incarnation of the annual New Zealand Festival of Motor Racing at Hampton Downs this weekend is not honouring a Kiwi racing legend as it has done in the past.
This year it's paying homage to a different sort of racing legend - a manufacturer.
BMW's rich history in saloon car racing is being acknowledged at Hampton this time, and fans will be pleased to know a real life racing hero, Chris Amon, has more than just a tenuous link to one of the cars.
In fact, he and fellow tin top legend Hans-Joachim Stuck raced the BMW 3.0CSL on display over the weekend to victory in the 1973 German Touring Car Grand Prix at the Nurburgring.
Amon had spent his entire racing career until then in single-seater Formula or CanAm cars, so driving a saloon car with a roof over his head in anger on a race track was a bit of an adventure for him.
"It was the only real touring car racing I ever did," Amon said. "When I was approached about it, I was a bit reluctant having never driven a touring car before.
"I've got to say it look me a race or two to get used to it, because compared to a Formula One or sports racing car they roll a lot and you're very tempted to over drive them because you feel you're not going fast enough.
Once I got used to it I really enjoyed it."
Although the car was originally built as a road-going model for homologation purposes, the CSL Amon and Stuck won the six-hour endurance race in wasn't stock.
Affectionately known as the Batmobile, it had all the normal gumpf associated with a passenger car ripped out and aluminium boot, bonnet, doors and Perspex windows fitted.
Now much lighter, an aero package fitted, and a pretty handy straight-six engine developing about 250kW, the car could travel up to 280km/h. Not too shabby in the 1970s for a 3.6-litre in-line engine.
"They would have had to weight about 1000kg and looked a bit chunky but were a seriously quick piece of gear really," Amon said. "They had a totally different feel to a Formula One car. They had a lot of body movement but in a straight line, especially at Le Mans in the 24-hour [race], I'd be trundling down the straight at 280km/h. That's seriously quick."
The Kiwi suggests he and Stuck could have won a lot more races in the car had it held together longer.
"Stuck and I had a lot of races and I have to admit that we didn't finish quite a few for one reason or another. But we did win the six-hour at the Nurburgring against the Cologne Capris and they were quick. When everything was going right, we had the legs on those," said Amon.
The former works Ferrari driver still holds the Formula One lap record at Spa, as they no longer raced F1 cars on the old circuit (14.5km) after 1970.
He set a blistering 3:27.4 lap in a March 701B-Ford at an average speed of 245km/h and said the BMW wasn't far off that pace. That is some achievement considering it was a tin top with the aerodynamics of a brick compared to a Formula One car.
"In the middle of the night with the BMW in the 24-hour race, I think I lapped Spa in about 3:48 or 49secs," Amon explained. "So it was about 20-odd seconds slower than a Formula One car."
Amon is at pains to reiterate that, although the car is not a runner, it is the same car he and Stuck raced in 1973. It won't race around Hampton Downs because of the risks if it either blows up or has an altercation with a wall.
"Spares and bits are pretty thin on the ground and I guess it's the only one they have at the museum and they don't want it pounding around a circuit," Amon said. "It was great to sit in it again and it brought back some fond memories."
The car has been brought out by BMW from its motorsport museum in Munich to New Zealand for the launch of the new BMW 1M series and is complete with its original No 12 and factory livery.
The festival will be held over the next two weekends and the CSL will be joined by other historic BMW cars like the ex-Peter Brock/Jim Richards BMW Mobil M3, the ex-Denny Hulme B&H BMW M3, JPS BMW 635CSi and JPS BMW M3. There will also be a German Touring Car (DTM) on display.
For this article and more head to NZ Herald or click here
January Newsletter
Welcome to 2012 – what a year we have coming up for you!
Well over the Christmas break we have been busy on maintenance! We have been re-sealing the high wear corners, competitors will probably not notice much change at the speed they go, but every effort is made to keep the track surface at as high a standard as possible. Regular competitors may notice the slight re-profiling of the track surface coming up the front straight too.
New chip has also been laid behind the pit buildings so cars now have access from the rear of the pits and hot mix laid onto the pit lane. A lot of other improvements have been made to ensure that Hampton Downs is in the best possible shape for the coming season. Don’t forget the hedging in front of Hampton’s!
As we look out the window containers of national and overseas cars are pouring in and marquees are being erected – everything is in place for the New Zealand Festival of Motor Racing celebrating BMW Motorsport this weekend and next weekend.
Come and see the single biggest F5000 race in the world! There will be a field of thirty-eight F5000’s on the grid. Travelling from overseas for the two meetings are series regulars Greg Thornton (Chevron B24), Mark Dwyer (Lola T400), Mike Whatley (Surtees TS8 and Lola T300), and Frank (Gurney Eagle FA74-01), Judy (Lola T332) and Michael (Lola T400) Lyons from the UK, plus South Australian John Bryant (Lola T140) and Melbourne-based expat Chris Lambden (McRae GM1) from across the Tasman.It will sound like a well-orchestrated symphony!
One of the stars of the event on the driving side will be former BMW ace - and the oldest ever winner at Bathurst - the legendary Jim Richards. Jim will be in attendance at the festival over the first weekend of the event and will be reunited with one of the classic black and gold JPS branded 635 CSi cars.
Kiwi racing icon Paul Radisich will be back on the grid in New Zealand for the first time since 2008 when he races a classic Ford Mustang.
Andy Booth will race the unique McLaren M1A/B Can Am car during the second race weekend of the New Zealand Festival of Motor Racing on January 27/28/29. The car itself – owned by historic racing enthusiast Paul Halford - represents a unique slice of Kiwi motorsport history. Booth says “You can’t hide the overwhelming sense of history when driving a car like this but also just how much things have changed! Driving the M1A/B is a bit like sitting in half a 44 gallon drum with a 500+ horsepower V8 strapped to the back so you do feel more than a little vulnerable. But for sheer thrill power, there’s nothing like a CanAm.”
Evening functions at the Festival - Tickets are available for the ‘Castrol BBQ’ to be held from 6pm on Saturday 21 Jan 12 at Hampton Downs and for the ‘Beerfest to be held from 6pm on Sat 28 Jan 12. Tickets can be ordered online on www.nzfmr.co.nz
For the ‘Castrol BBQ’ tickets cost $25 each and will include a BBQ and a cash bar will be operating. In attendance will be Jim Richards, Chris Amon, Rodger Anderson, Paul Fahey, Steve Millen, Neville Crichton, Wayne Wilkinson, Kent Baigent, Neil Lowe, Graeme Crosby, Tony Lawrence, Phil Myhre (Brunei), Jim Keogh (Australia), Ludwig Finauer (Australia), Ed Lamont, Graeme Cameron, Paul Radisich, John Sax, Brett Riley, Craig Baird, Keith Sharp and Bernie Gillon.
For the Beerfest function a week later, the $25 ticket cost covers a genuine Warsteiner German beer and a small Stein – German style food can be purchased and a cash bar will also be operating. There will be a quintessential Oompah band present .The band are members of the Dalewool Auckland Brass band, who were the 2011 Band of the year at the National Championships.
Festival Shirts & Cap – Ladies and men’s ‘NZFMR BMW Motorsport Festival’ Polo or long-sleeved Cotton shirts, and the cap, can be ordered online at imagegroup.wip.co.nz/nzfmr. Order your shirt and cap online - and look smart at the Festival!
4/5 February - NZ Motor Cup and IRC
Come and watch the Toyota racing series (biggest grid ever)
11/12 February - The 2012 Summer classic motorcycle meeting
See New Zealand’s best Classic and Post Classic motorcycle racing action
18/19 February - V8 Supertourers
The brand new series is kicking off at Hampton Downs!
25/26 February - Mothers Chrome Auto Festival
Prepare for a car show in motion like no other - see hot rods,mighty V8's and sprint cars, power skids, burnout and Gymkhana!
3/4 March - Legends of Speed
Over 200 racing cars in a range of classes
17/18 March - National Superbike Championship
The best in New Zealand are back for another year!
6/7 April - D1NZ National Drifting Championship
Watch the top drifters battle it out
14/15 April - Roycroft Trophy
Vintage car racing festival
For lots of tickets to the coming racing season go to www.hdticketing.co.nz
Website tweaks – you will notice that we have updated the home page, send your thoughts and suggestions to admin@hamptondowns.com
That’s it for now – we are off to watch and hear the two BMW’s on loan from Germany – the Le Mans specification M1 Procar (making its New Zealand debut) and a German Touring Car
Championship, or DTM (Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft)
specification M3 from 1987.
NZFMR January Newsletter
Booth ready to tame unique Can-Am monster Two-time New Zealand V8 Champion Andy Booth will take a step back in time to make his Hampton Downs V8 race debut when he drives one of the country’s most important historic racing cars. Booth, who will compete in the
inaugural V8 SuperTourer series that kicks off at the Hampton Downs track in February, will race the unique McLaren M1A/B Can Am car during the second race weekend of the New Zealand Festival of Motor Racing on January 27/28/29. The first weekend blasts off this Friday.
The car itself – owned by historic racing enthusiast Paul Halford - represents a unique slice of Kiwi motorsport history. It was originally a customer car built for the American owner as an M1A. When the owner saw Bruce McLaren and Chris Amon go quicker in their M1B specification cars he asked Bruce to send him a M1B body so as he could fit it to his car and have the latest specification. When his request was declined, he crafted his own – and the body on the car today is the very same
handmade M1B aluminium copy that was built for the car and raced all those years ago.
Booth, who has never raced the car or any other Can Am, is a huge fan of the era and is relishing the prospect of taming the 500 horsepower monster. “I consider it a real honour to be invited to drive the M1A/B and very much see my role as one of demonstrating the car at pace to an audience of enthusiasts. It’s not about seeing just how fast it can go or putting anything at risk so I’ll be making sure there’s always enough real estate around me. At the same time though we’re not out there for a
Sunday drive and people want to see and hear these things in anger. It’s noise alone is spine tingling.”
Can- Am was one of the pre-eminent series of the sixties and seventies in Canada and America (hence the Can-Am abbreviation) and the cars were noted at certain circuits to be considerably faster than Formula One cars of the same period. McLaren machines, designed and built in UK by Kiwi
Bruce McLaren, were at the forefront of technical development and the championships for many years. They remain a huge draw card for generations of fans.
Amon back in unique Ferrari New Zealand Festival of Motor Racing regular and motor racing legend Chris Amon will do some demonstration laps at this year's event on Saturday 21st January. And his chosen steed will be one of the stars of the festival - A Ferrari 250GTE/O.
It may not be a numbered GTO, but the car is nevertheless all Ferrari, having been built originally as a GTE but converted by the factory to a GTO in every regard.
It is a stunning addition to the festival line up. Amon's time with Ferrari as a works driver included races in both single seater and sports racing cars from 1967 through to 1969 during which time he was an integral part of the factory's World Sportscar Championship effort.
Sensational driver line up for BMW demonstration runs The driver line up to demonstrate the unique BMW's that are on loan from the factory in Germany for the two weekends of the 2012 New Zealand
Festival of Motor Racing celebrating BMW in Motorsport is nothing short of sensational.
The two cars on loan from the factory for demo runs are a Le Mans specification M1 Procar - making its New Zealand debut - and a German Touring Car Championship, or DTM (Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft) specification M3 from 1987. This was the ultimate version of the iconic car.
Drivers over the first weekend will be Mike Eady, Jim Richards and Brett Riley (M1 Procar) and Richards, Riley and Andy Booth for the DTM M3.
Over the second weekend drivers for the M1 and M3 will be Andy Booth, Greg Murphy, John McIntyre and BMW series regular Kevin Underwood.
BMW drivers attend en masse
- Confirmed former BMW Motorsport drivers coming at some time to the Festival include Chris Amon; those who drove BMW 2002s from the 1970s such as Rodger Anderson, Steve Millen, Paul Adams and Ken Adamson a group from the 1980s that comprises Jim Richards (1st weekend only), Neville
Crichton, Kent Baigent, Wayne Wilkinson, Graeme Crosby and John Morton - who hopes to demo the very car he drove in the Wellington 500 in 2005. Also in attendance will be Phil Myhre now from Brunei, Tony Lawrence, Jim Keogh and John English from Australia.
Representing the later 1980s and 1990s will be Robbie Francevic, Paul Radisich, Ludwig Finaeur from Australia, Greg Murphy, Keith Sharp, Rod Millen, Brett Riley, Dennis
Chapman. Former BMW Motorsport drivers of the era Dennis Chapman will be racing his own BMW Supertourer at the Festival and 1986 Production Saloon Champion Graeme Cameron who will be competing in a historic Formula Ford.
Event merchandise! Want some very snazzy motorsport clothing and a bit of memorabilia from this historic event? Then get in quick and order a 2012 New Zealand Festival of Motor Racing Celebrating
BMW Motorsport shirt. Ladies or gents polo or long sleeved cotton shirt styles are available – see
imagegroup.wip.co.nz/nzfmr
For the full newsletter and more information go to www.nzfmr.co.nz
Booth ready to tame unique Can Am monster
Two-time New Zealand V8 Champion Andy Booth will take a step back in time to make his Hampton Downs V8 race debut when he drives one of the country's most important historic racing cars.
Booth, who will compete in the inaugural V8 SuperTourer series that kicks off at the Waikato track in February, will race the unique McLaren M1A/B Can Am car during the second race weekend of the New Zealand Festival of Motor Racing on January 27/28/29.
The car itself - owned by historic racing enthusiast Paul Halford - represents a unique slice of Kiwi motorsport history. It was originally a customer car built for the American owner as an M1A. When the owner saw Bruce McLaren and Chris Amon go quicker in their M1B specification cars he asked Bruce to send him a M1B body so as he could fit it to his car and have the latest specification. When his request was declined, he crafted his own - and the body on the car today is the very same handmade M1B aluminium copy that was built for the car and raced all those years ago.
Booth, who has never raced the car or any other Can-Am, is a huge fan of the era and is relishing the prospect of taming the 500 horsepower monster.
"I consider it a real honour to be invited to drive the M1A/B and very much see my role as one of demonstrating the car at pace to an audience of enthusiasts. It's not about seeing just how fast it can go or putting anything at risk so I'll be making sure there's always enough real estate around me. At the same time though we're not out there for a Sunday drive and people want to see and hear these things in anger. Its noise alone is spine tingling."
Can-Am was one of the pre-eminent series of the sixties and seventies in Canada and America (hence the Can-Am abbreviation) and the cars were noted at certain circuits to be considerably faster than Formula One cars of the same period. McLaren machines, designed and built in UK by Kiwi Bruce McLaren, were at the forefront of technical development and the championships for many years. They remain a huge drawcard for generations of fans.
"Reading about the Can-Am era as a kid always fascinated me," added Booth. "The idea of completely open rules and increasingly huge horsepower was something that I thought was just awesome. Obviously the legendary domination of the McLarens was also a major fact of my interest.
"You can't hide the overwhelming sense of history when driving a car like this but also just how much things have changed! Driving the M1A/B is a bit like sitting in half a 44 gallon drum with a 500+ horsepower V8 strapped to the back so you do feel more than a little vulnerable. But for sheer thrill power, there's nothing like a Can-Am."
The festival runs over two weekends, January 20/21/22 and 27/28/29 and has attracted more than 300 entries.
For this article and more from the NZ Herald click here
When BMW built the X6 many people said it had lost the plot by creating a niche for which there'd be no buyer. Who wants an SUV that won't go off-road, a wagon without a cavernous boot, or a high-riding sports coupe that weighs over two tonnes?
And who would want this high-performance X6M version? Mash the go pedal to the floor and you briefly take off as 680Nm slams to the tarmac and catapults you into next week, fighting whiplash, the wheel and a lightning attack of antisocial hoonery. This car isn't made for speed limits.
Which is why I'll be at Hampton Downs for the NZ Festival of Motor Racing Celebrating BMW Motorsport from January 20-22 and 27-29.
There will be an Historic Touring Car Challenge, a class for the 1980s E30 and one that outlines the history of BMW sedan racing in this country. Drivers like Jim Richards and former F1 ace Chris Amon will be on the track. And this X6M will keep them honest - it's the safety car, and it'll howl round along with the focussed racers. It can do so because it fields a 4.4-litre V8 motor with twin turbos nestled between the two cylinder rows. It boasts 408kW and the ability to hit 100kph from rest in 4.7 seconds. That's quicker than a manual M3 coupe, courtesy of a torque peak which surfs between 1500 and 5650rpm and hands over to peak power until 6000; this mighty engine delivers its all across a 4500rpm range via an impressive six-speed auto transmission.
Trouble is, though it feels unstoppable it rarely seems that fast. I'd like a bit more drama to the soundtrack from the cabin - it's a head-turner if passersby are any judge - and a touch less steering resistance at slower speeds.
Once the novelty wore off I'd also have liked a more rewarding experience on real-world roads. Thanks to sticky wide tyres, four-wheel drive and dynamic performance control that distributes power between the rear wheels to help you accelerate out of bends, you have to go truly feral to reach this car's sweet spot.
But the X6M isn't about out-racing the racers. It's about effortless driving.
Trouble is, there are more practical luxury runabouts and nimbler sports cars for the $248,000 price ($253,660 as tested). The X6M doesn't carry enough luggage to fulfil the former task. It's too OTT for the latter. And no matter how you drive it, you'll offend any eco-warrior who crosses your path.
You could try telling them this car's 16.3l/100km thirst (BMW claims 13.9) is doing them a favour. The more petrol used, the more urgent a viable alternative to fossil fuels and the earlier that low-emissions fuel-frugal future will arrive.
If the suggestion meets aggression, drive off - their eco-electro-solar-hybrid commuter won't keep up.
For this article and more fomr the NZ Herald click here
One of the stars of the event on the driving side will be former BMW ace - and the oldest ever winner at Bathurst - the legendary Jim Richards. Jim will be in attendance at the festival over the first weekend of the event and will be reunited with one of the classic black and gold JPS branded 635 CSi cars.
And Jim isn't coming just to do a few demonstration laps, he will be racing the car. In what will be a throwback to the halycon days of touring car racing in new Zealand and indeed the racing world, Richards' racer will be joined by no less than two other genuine ex-works JPS CSis including the Adrian Brady owned car pictured. The ex-Crichton/Wilkinson car now owned by Alan Drinkrow is for demo only, however.
The ex-Denny Hulme Benson and Hedges M3, which has featured heavily in the pre event promotion, is also set to race as are a number of very signiciant other BMW cars. Not only that, but festival chairman Jim Barclay has been able to assemble a presence at the event by 22 of the former 30 BMW Motorsport drivers who drove the brand in New Zealand and Australia.
In addition to having Jim Richards racing at the festival, other BMW drivers of the 70s, 80s and 90s who will be there at various times include Paul Radisich, Craig Baird, Neville Crichton, Wayne Wilkinson, Ed Lamont, Ken Baigent, Neil Lowe, Graeme Crosby, Tony Lawrence, Phil
Mhyre, John Sax, Keith Sharp, Bernie Gillon, Steve Millen, Rodger Anderson, Paul Adams, Chris Amon – and the list goes on…
FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO BUY TICKETS GO TO WWW.NZFMR.CO.NZ
During the 1960s and early 1970s, Kiwi motorsport fans were lucky enough to watch some of the best open-wheel drivers in the world battle it out on New Zealand and Australia tracks during the Tasman Series.
Many of the then current Formula One drivers, and those on the cusp of becoming one, would travel Downunder in the European racing off season to contest four races in New Zealand and four in Australia.
Some of the names who competed and adorned the various trophies up for grabs included some of New Zealand's greatest drivers; Denny Hulme, Bruce McLaren, Chris Amon and Graham McRae.
The series also attracted overseas international stars such as Jack Brabham, Jim Clark, Graham Hill, Phil Hill, Jochen Rindt, Pedro Rodriguez and Jackie Stewart.
While not directly comparable, the Toyota Racing Series, also in January and February, has attracted a bumper crop of overseas talent.
This year organiser Barry Thomlinson has enticed around 15 international drivers to contest the series, which is scheduled for five back-to-back rounds starting in Invercargill at Teretonga Park, from January 12-15.
While fans will not be turning up to watch established F1, IndyCar or GP2 drivers, they will get to see the next generation of racing royalty strut their stuff in New Zealand.
Former works Ferrari driver and the 1969 Tasman Series winner to boot, Chris Amon is very happy to see the TRS series attracting so much overseas talent to out shores.
"I'm really exited about this. I think to have such a huge international field is amazing," said Amon.
"Obviously some of them are not well known but it's tremendous and the series [TRS] goes from strength to strength.
"I can't remember there ever being so many international drivers here in New Zealand at any one time for a series. Normally it was six, eight, nine or 10.
"There was one year, however, in 1961 I think, there were 14 who came and raced."
Part of the lure for the drivers competing in the New Zealand Grand Prix, from February 9-12, is that it is one of only two GPs held outside Formula One. It is also the first Federation Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) 2012 international calendar event.
An additional attraction for the Kiwi drivers in the field is to compete against overseas pilots and use them as a benchmark for where their respective skill levels might lie.
Amon is one who still thinks being able to race nose to nose with contemporaries from other countries can only be a good thing.
"When I was racing against the big names from Europe in New Zealand it put me in good stead for when I went over there. It very much gives you something to benchmark yourself against.
"An exciting thing over the past year or so is that a number of young New Zealand drivers have been able to prove themselves against some of the good young European drivers.
"If you can do that you can go to Europe and know you're sort of going to be up there," said Amon.
"The whole profile of the series is growing and for the young Ferrari guy [Raffaele Marciello] from the elite Ferrari Driver Academy to be sent out here is great as I think he's regarded as their number two driver. I'm really excited about it all," said Amon.
Twelve countries will be represented over the five weeks of competition and three-time champion team Giles Motorsport is back to defend their 2011 trophy.
ETEC Motorsport, M2 Competition and Victory Motor Racing teams all have drivers who are expected to challenge for the championship and with grids of 20 cars, racing is sure to be fast and furious.
TRS Calendar
* Round 1: January 12-15, Teretonga Park, Invercargill - Spirit of a Nation Cup.
* Round 2: January 19-22, Timaru Raceway, Timaru - Timaru Herald Trophy.
* Round 3: January 26-29, Taupo Motorsport Park - Denny Hulme Memorial Trophy.
* Round 4: February 2-5, Hampton Downs, Auckland - New Zealand Motor Cup.
* Round 5: February 9-12, Manfeild, Feilding - New Zealand Grand Prix, Dan Higgins Trophy and Dorothy Smith Memorial Cup.
For this article and more go to the NZ Herald or click here
Kiwi Formula 1 legend Chris Amon believes New Zealand is set for a "brilliant" summer season of International single seater motor racing with the largest, and youngest field of drivers ever.
"The 2012 Toyota Racing Series has attracted a record field which is great news for New Zealand motorsport. This rivals the very best years of the old Tasman series," enthused Amon.
Racing in New Zealand's annual single seater championship, the Toyota Racing Series, the first FIA (Federation Internationale de l'Automobile) 2012 International Calendar event of the New Year starts at Teretonga in Invercargill on January 14-15 and continues through to the New Zealand Grand Prix finale at Manfeild on February 11-12.
Drivers will cover in excess of 2,500 kms of testing and racing over five consecutive events from the deep South to the North of New Zealand.
Drivers are competing to win the coveted Chris Amon Trophy, awarded to the overall winner of the 15-race season. The Amon Trophy has only ever been won by a Kiwi driver since the series inception in 2005 but the new more compact format opens up the likelihood of an International name being added to the list of champions.
The latest addition,16-year-old Russian driver Dmitry Suranovich brings the total number of overseas drivers entered to 15 which is a record number for the TRS.
As with several of the other young drivers who are entered, the teenager from Minsk is coming down under to gain valuable experience; racing against an intriguing mix of emerging talent who come from a wide range of series throughout the world.
Suranovich is a karting graduate who has competed in the Italian Formula Abarth series in 2011.
"Some of these youngsters may not be well known now, but I think we havesome very promising up and coming young drivers who we will undoubtly feature in higher level categories of the sport in the years ahead," said Amon.
He recalled previous overseas drivers that had progressed to International fame after competing in New Zealand - notably Keke Rosberg who went on to win a Formula One World Championship and Indycar Champions Danny Sullivan and Bobby Rahal.
Amon raced for Ferrari in Formula 1 between 1967 and 1969, and says he is feeling both nostalgic and delighted that Raffaele Marciello is coming to New Zealand to race in TRS. The 16-year-old Italian's career is currently being managed by the Ferrari Driver Academy.
"For the Toyota Racing management team to get the Ferrari lad down here is brilliant. Imagine what this might lead to in the future..." said Amon.
"All these overseas drivers coming here provides a good incentive for few more Kiwis to become involved in TRS. We need to be looking right now for the next generation of drivers coming through from New Zealand karting."
Chris Amon has been mentoring Auckland-based Jono Lester during his build up to his first full season in TRS, and thinks the 22 year old could be a strong contender, particularly in the early rounds.
"At 22 Jono will be almost the old man of the 2012 series but he has a good head on his shoulders and may benefit from being more consistent than some of the teenagers."
The average age of the 2012 TRS grid is 19, the oldest competitor being 24 year old Italian woman driver Michela Cerruti.
The Teams Trophy also looks like providing intense competition with all of the teams running a combination of New Zealand and international drivers.
Giles Motorsport is back to defend the trophy it has held for the past three seasons but will face stiff competition from all of the other teams; ETEC Motorsport, M2 Competition and Victory Motor Racing teams all have drivers who are expected to challenge for front running positions throughout the series.
Twelve different countries will be represented on the grid in 2012.
For more information go to www.toyotaracing.co.nz
Joining Ken Smith at the MSC NZ F5000 Tasman Cup Revival Series races at the two Hampton Downs meetings will be 36 other drivers, including Canadian Hamish Somerville (Lola T400) and - for the first time - a three-man contingent from the United States.
Somerville is the second Canadian to join the MSC series, Jay Esterer (McRae GM1) having been a regular visitor now for several years. However, bar US-based Australian driver Bruce Leeson who travelled here two years ago to compete in the inaugural New Zealand Festival of Motor Racing - Bruce McLaren meetings, US drivers have been conspicuous by their absence.
That situation has been addressed this year by three members of the group which runs a series for F5000 cars in the United States, Seb Coppola, Harin DeSilva and Eric Haga.
All three run early model (Class A) cars, Coppola a Lola T192, Haga a Lola T190 and DeSilva a Surtees TS-8.
Haga joins Ken Smith in enjoying the rare distinction of having raced F5000 single-seaters first-time round, and as well as that is bringing with him the very same car he drove in 11 races in the US in the 1970 season!
Also travelling from overseas for the two meetings are series regulars Greg Thornton (Chevron B24), Mark Dwyer (Lola T400), Mike Whatley (Surtees TS8 and Lola T300), and Frank (Gurney Eagle FA74-01), Judy (Lola T332) and Michael (Lola T400) Lyons from the UK, plus South Australian John Bryant (Lola T140) and Melbourne-based expat Chris Lambden (McRae GM1) from across the Tasman.
Joining the series for the first time this season, meanwhile, are a number of local drivers including Calven Bonney (Begg 018), Alastair Russell (McRae GM1), Kerry McIntosh (Begg FM2), Peter Sundberg (Lola T332), Warwick Mortimer (Surtees TS5) and Clark Proctor (March 73A-1).
The popular Hampton Downs meetings will also see the return of Aucklander Roger Williams, whose Lola T332 was damaged in the start-line accident at Manfeild, and the series debuts of a newly rebuilt McLaren M10B in the hands of long-time series supporter Poul Christie and a Lola T140 to be driven by former kart and Suzuki Swift Cup driver Alan Dunkley (Lola T140).
Leading the points standings heading into the two rounds is Steve Ross from Dunedin (McRae GM1), followed by Aaron Burson (McRae GM1) from Auckland, Russell Greer (Lola T332) from Blenheim, Sefton Gibb (Lola T332) from Napier, this season's Lady Wigram Trophy winner Jay Esterer (McRae GM1), 2011/12 series newcomers Dave Arrowsmith (Lotus 70) from Christchurch and David Banks (Talon MR1) from Auckland, Brett Willis (Lola T330) from Rotorua, Aaron Burson's father Peter in his McRae GM1, fellow Aucklanders Stu Lush (McRae GM1), John Mackinlay (March 73A-2) and Shayne Windelburn (Lola T400), Feilding young gun Tim Rush (McLaren M22) and Stan Redmond (Lola T332) and David Abbott (Lola T430) from Christchurch.
Jay Esterer's car was another damaged in the start-line shunt at Manfeild but the Canadian has shipped it back to his base in Edmonton for repairs and is flying out his second car (another McRae GM1) for the remaining 2011/12 MSC series rounds here in New Zealand and Australia.
For this article and more go to www.motornews.co.nz
Smith back to lead field at Hampton Downs
Racing veteran Ken Smith will head a bumper Tasman Cup Revival Series field at two New Zealand Festival of Motor Racing meetings at Hampton Downs in January.
Smith, who turned 70 this year, broke a bone in his left foot in an accident in November but is already off crutches and will be out of his moonboot just after Christmas.
Smith's Lola T332 was written off in the accident so he will revert to the later model Lola T430 he used to win the past three MSC F5000 Tasman Cup Revival Series.
In his 54 consecutive seasons of motor racing Smith has had only three what he terms "serious" accidents, and the one at Manfeild was the first in which he broke a bone.
Despite that, he will drive two cars at the two Hampton Downs meetings. "And I'll tell you what," he said this week. "I can't wait. I'm itching to get back behind the wheel."
Joining him in the MSC NZ F5000 Tasman Cup Revival Series races will be 36 other drivers, including Canadian Hamish Somerville and, for the first time, a three-man contingent from the United States.
Somerville is the second Canadian to join the MSC series after Jay Esterer, who has been a regular visitor now for several years. However, bar US-based Australian driver Bruce Leeson, American drivers have been conspicuous by their absence.
That situation has been changed this year by three members of a group which runs a series for F5000 cars in the United States - Seb Coppola, Harin DeSilva and Eric Haga.
- APNZ
For this article and more go to the NZ Herald.
Usual rules don't apply to BMW's novel pace car, says David Linklater.
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Expand The X6 M's astonishing dynamic abilities compensate for the fact that it is one of the most controversial machines in M-car history. Photo / SuppliedI'm sure you've always wondered whether a two-tonne-plus off-road vehicle could be a pace car for a motorsport series.
The answer is yes, it can - when the vehicle in question is the BMW X6 M.
It's not for the shy, but Driven spent a week in this liveried monster in the midst of the company's preparations for the New Zealand Festival of Motor Racing Celebrating BMW Motorsport, to be held at the Hampton Downs circuit on January 20-22 and 27-29.
That title is quite a mouthful, but jaws will have dropped permanently anyway once the X6 M leads the pack around the track, so it shouldn't be a problem.
It's a genuine M-car, but the X6 M is not the most exciting machine to drive on the road. It's too big, too loud - and, on those fat tyres, not really communicative enough to entertain on Kiwi backroads.
But it is outstanding on the track. I know this not from my X6 M experience, but from a previous drive around Hampton Downs in an X5 M (which is the same thing under the sheet metal).
It's the car that was outstanding on the track, mind, not me.
The combination of a 408kW/680Nm turbocharged V8, rock-solid cornering stance on smooth surfaces and a surreal amount of grip makes the biggest-ever M-car a magic machine on a circuit. Keeping the pace at Hampton Downs should be no problem.
Those astonishing dynamic abilities do compensate for the fact that the X6 and X5 models are the most controversial machines in M-car history.
Whoever thought the M division would make an off-roader (albeit one that can't really go off-road), or a car with a conventional automatic gearbox, or one with four-wheel drive?
The fact that the company reportedly chose to invest its development dollars in this rather than a proper lightweight CSL version of the current M3 made it even more of a touchy subject among the M-car faithful. Maybe some ill-feeling will linger at the festival?
You can't argue with the facts, though: 0-100km/h in 4.7 seconds will wipe that derisive smirk off your face straight away.
Even though this massive wagon struggles with rapid changes of direction, given a smooth cornering line the super-intelligent electronic systems can defy the laws of physics.
There's the clever xDrive four-wheel-drive system, which works proactively rather than reactively, Dynamic Performance Control, which distributes power side-to-side, and even an M Dynamic Mode that allows you to go a little bit wild when road space and the law allow.
What'll be behind this liveried lunacy at Hampton Downs?
The programme is very full indeed, but BMW-flavoured classes will include a Group A and Historic Touring Car Challenge, a segment dedicated to
the iconic E30 of the 1980s, and an open class spanning the history of BMW saloon-car racers in New Zealand.
Many of the marque's most famous local drivers will be on hand, including Chris Amon and Jim Richards (as featured in Driven on December 14).
Rare cars on loan from the BMW Museum include the CSL Batmobile raced by Amon and Hans Stuck, as well as an M1 Procar raced by Prince Leopold von Bayern in the 1970s.
The Prince will demonstrate the car during the second weekend of the festival.
The 2012 event will be the third festival hosted by Hampton Downs and the first to pay tribute to a brand. The first two celebrated two of New Zealand's greatest racing drivers: Bruce McLaren (2010) and Amon (2011).
By David Linklater
For this NZ Herald article and more click here
Radisich to return
Veteran kiwi racing car driver Paul Radisich will be back on the grid in New Zealand for the first time since 2008 when he races a classic Ford Mustang at the New Zealand Festival of Motor Racing at Hampton Downs in January.
Radisich, a two-time touring car World Cup champion now living in New Zealand for the first time in 25 years, has returned to become chief executive of the new V8 SuperTourer series.
A serious crash at Bathurst in 2008 brought his international racing career to a halt and he has not raced on a regular basis since, but will climb behind the wheel in the last two weekends in January.
He jumped at the chance to drive the famous Fleetwood Mustang when owner and friend Neil Tolich put the idea to him.
"I have never competed or driven at Hampton Downs so I am looking forward to that experience," he said. "All competitors have raved about the circuit so here is my chance to judge it for myself.
"I've had experience with the [Ford] Galaxie in the UK and also a V8 Cyclone and a Lotus Cortina which Roger Wills and I competed with in Europe together, so you could say I have enough experience with the old cars on the grooved tyres."
Radisich will race the car over both weekends of the event but isn't aiming to break any V8 lap records.
"It's going to be a lot of fun and they'll be fantastic back-to-back weekends of great motorsport. The key to me going fast in the Mustang will be seeing how far you can hang the car out in a power slide without losing it. That is the difference between modern and historic racing. I can enjoy some big power slides in the Mustang and it should help the times."
For this NZ Herald and more click here
For next year's New Zealand Festival of Motor Racing at Hampton Downs the organisers will put the spotlight on German manufacturer BMW.
The event, held over two weekends (January 20-22 and January 27-29), will feature some amazing cars from BMW's racing history, many of which have raced in New Zealand.
Legendary BMW racers Jim Richards and Prince Leopold von Bayern of Bavaria are already confirmed and more big names are set to join the action.
A feature class will be the Group A and Invited Touring Car Challenge where classic BMW 635CSi and BMW M3s of the 1980s will once again battle other touring cars such as the Ford Sierra Cosworth, Jaguar XJS, Holden Commodore, Rover SD1, Toyota Corolla and Toyota Corona cars.
Driven caught up with the Kiwi racing icon and V8 Supercars and Australian Motorsport Hall of Famer Richards, as he looks forward to racing back in New Zealand.
Driven: What made you decide to come back to New Zealand to have a play?
Richards: I actually own one of the BMWs I raced back in the 1980s and I was hoping to have it going to bring it over for the festival.
Unfortunately it won't be going in time, though. It's a 1987 E30 M3 that I won the 1987 Australian championship in.
D: So what will you be racing instead?
R: Festival organiser Jim Barclay has arranged for me to race a 635 (Frank Gardner-built JPS BMW Group A 635CS) that I used to race in Australia, which belongs to Peter Sturgeon and he's really keen to bring it up from Christchurch and race it at Hampton Downs.
D: How much seat time did you have in that car?
R: I used it in the 1985 Australian Touring car championship, which I won that year. I didn't use it totally but I drove that car in one of the weekends.
D: What was it like to race in?
R: Things have changed a lot over the years and cars have got better but at the time I remember it being absolutely brilliant. It was one of the best cars I've ever driven. It just did everything so well and we had just gone to the Group A regulations and BMW had a ready-made car for that series, whereas a lot of the other guys had to homologate or build Holdens or old Mustangs, Alfas and others we had over there. It was a brilliant car to have at the time.
D: What did BMW originally build the car for?
R: The car was built as a sports car back in the early 1980s and it continued on as the 635 that they raced and that was the premium BMW that Germany raced in Europe at the time. It won many, many championships throughout the world.
It won long-distance races like the Spa 24 Hour. It did everything; it was a brilliant car just right for the new regulations. I had driven for BMW since 1983 and so in 1985 it was bang - we had a ready-made car.
D: When was the last time you drove a 635?
R: I last drove the same car at the rebirth of the Dunedin street race about five years ago. I also was able to drive another 635 at the Gold Coast last year as well in a demonstration of the old Group A cars. It still felt great and went well.
D: How does it compare with the Ford you're racing in the Touring Car Masters series this year?
R: They're totally different, of course. The one I'm driving now (a 1964 Ford Falcon Sprint) has nearly twice the horsepower but the BMW is a much better handling car. However, my Ford will lap faster as it's got a lot more horsepower and as good brakes and suspension as the BMW.
D: Have you been around Hampton Downs?
R: No. I love the Kiwi circuits, though, and love coming back and being able to have a drive.
I plan to come over more often next year and bring one of my cars with me and try to do a few races over there.
If there was a series any of my cars were eligible for I'd be over and racing.
For more information and ticketing for the January event go to www.nzfmr.co.nz.
By Eric Thompson
For this article by the NZ Herlad and more click here
Hampton Downs Will Provide V8 Supercars With Long-Term Venue
Track Owners Will Put Proposition To V8 Organisers Early In New Year
Hampton Downs Raceway will table a proposal to host the 2013 New Zealand leg of the V8 Supercars with the championship organisers early next year.
“We have been working with a consortium of financial advisors, planners and investors for the past year analysing potential track operations and the future for a motor sport focused business park,” said the Managing Director of Hampton Downs, Tony Roberts.
“Based on that work we anticipate being in a position to take our proposal to the V8 Supercar organisers in the first quarter of next year.
“Hampton Downs has the potential to be the long-term future home of motorsport, and the pre-eminent motorsport park in Australasia.
“It already has a fully functioning 2.7 kilometre track with the necessary FIA category 3 standard for V8 Supercar racing, and we have resource consent to extend the track to 3.8 kilometres.
“This extension can be undertaken at any time and could be completed a full year ahead of when the track would be needed for the V8s.
“When fully completed spectators will have extensive views of the track from various vantage points.
“Our current resource consent allows us to hold events with up to 20,000 spectators and we have the land capacity to easily accommodate more than 60,000 people.
“Hampton Downs is 45 minute drive down State Highway 1 from downtown Auckland, and has a population catchment area of more than a third of New Zealand’s population within an hour’s drive, and half the population within a 3 hour drive.
“While Hampton Downs has ample room to cater for large numbers of cars and buses, we are in discussions with the local authority to develop park and ride facilities within 10 minutes of the venue, and the racetrack is located between two existing train stations within 10 minutes.
“There are 23 months between now and when the 2013 V8 event is scheduled to be held in New Zealand, which is sufficient time for Hampton Downs to be upgraded to host more than 60,000 spectators, the track extended and other infrastructure completed.
“The benefit Hampton Downs offers is that it is a dedicated, purpose built motor racing track, which means organisers are not involved in expensive set up and pack down costs that have been the downfall of one-off events.
“Our infrastructure will be used on a year-round basis and offers the V8 Supercars a long-term solution, rather than a temporary fix.
“Within what we are planning, the V8 event would form part of a total motor racing and motor sport programme, operating within a motor sport business park cluster.
“While not ready to release the details of our proposals, we are making this statement to counter the suggestion that the V8 supercar series will inevitably be lost to New Zealand.”
For further information please contact Dennis Lynch, Network PR. Tel: 09-379 3154 or 021 963 73
Robbie Bugden took victory in both F1 Superbike races on his Triple R Race Team Suzuki GSXR1000 at Hampton Downs on Saturday.
The slow starting Australian didn't have it all his own way however as defending Suzuki Tri-Series champion Andrew Stroud (Hamilton), Craig Shirriffs (Fielding) and Nick Cole (Hamilton) pushed him all the way in the opening leg.
Stroud, Bugden and Shirriffs battled hard at the front and Pole sitter Nick Cole (Kawasaki ZX-10R) was never out of the fray. Bugden snatched the lead at half race distance and was awarded the win ahead of fellow Suzuki GSXR1000 riders Shirriffs, Stroud and Red Devil Racings Cole in a shortened race.
In race two Bugden lead the field over the hill on lap one and held his position at record pace until the chequered flag. Stroud looked threatening on his David Reid Homes' Suzuki Superbike until fading towards race end to finish second. Slightly behind the leaders Cole and Shirriffs had their own scrap for third until Cole slipped down the order, and Shirriffs crashed his Shirriffs Installation Suzuki with two laps remaining.
Last year's upset winner Sloan Frost ran off track in the opening heat with traction control problems on his BMW, then came back from last to cross the line seventh. In heat two Frost, now living in Wellington, had another slow start before finding form to slice through the field and snatch third from Suzuki rider Ray Clee.
A resurgent Clee battled for fourth most of the race with James Smith while Superbike rookie Scott Moir, who crashed in race one, brought his Honda CBR1000RR home in sixth, ahead of Cole.
Bugden said after the racing, "I had a good weekend as I hadn't ridden the bike until lunchtime yesterday so we're still developing it. We lacked a bit of consistency in the first race so we made some changes and bashed out some good laps in the second race. We're back fitter, stronger and more hungry so fired a warning shot today and our focus is on winning the nationals."
With Bugden not riding at Manfield on Saturday for round two, Stroud knows he'll have to lift his game to keep his rivals at bay in order to achieve an unprecedented fourth Tri-Series title - and start earning the lion's share of the $30,000 prizemoney on offer in the richest series on the calendar.
Stroud's GSXR1000 suffered a mystery ignition cut in race one while leading but fixed it for the second leg, riding faster than ever. "I was struggling to get into the groove in the second race but my times were 1m 03.28s which is faster than I've ever been around here before! For the first half of that race I was comfortable sitting behind him but I was caught behind a backmarker at the wrong time and didn't get through then Robbie pulled a gap. I tried to catch him again but the front wheel tucked under a couple of times but Robbie is riding so well I have to be totally on top of my game to match him!"
Surprise of the series is 17 year old Jaden Hassan, who bested in both races 600 Supers favourite Glen Skachill, of Wellington, himself unbeaten during last year's series. The Aucklander started each race behind early leaders and Suzuki GSXR600 riders Skachill and Dennis Charlett (Christchurch), but valiantly fought through on his Yamaha R6, taking full advantage of his home track knowledge.
Aucklander Karl Morgan (Suzuki) and 15 year old Australian Josh McGrath (Yamaha) came home fourth and fifth respectively in each leg.
Hassan recently returned from a one-off race in Japan arranged by Kiwi legend Graeme Crosby, and Hassan attributes much of his success to Crosby's mentoring. Hassan rode with healing broken left toes yet set a new lap record, "In Japan Crosby helped me to understand what I was doing wrong on the bike with my riding and how to go around the corner rather than just go into it and out. It genuinely helped! I've been working on that over the last couple of weeks and on my throttle control trying to smooth my riding out," Hassan explains.
Hassan would be thrilled to repeat his victories at Manfield on Saturday where Skachill will be very difficult to beat. "It's going to really tough, especially with that new Suzuki and the mid-range power it has launching off the corners. My Yamaha is a least as good in the top end if not a little quicker, so we have some strengths and weaknesses but we'll play to our strengths."
Glen Williams took a pair of well earned wins in the popular Post Classic category, ahead of Eddie Kattenburg and 2010 Tri-Series class champion Sean Donnelly, on a much older Kawasaki machine. Steve Bridge rode an even older 1970s era Norton SBR750 Commando to a fine pair of fourth place finishes, ahead of a strong field of more powerful 1970s and '80 bikes.
Williams enjoyed a good day at the races after also winning both F3 Sportbike races on his modified Suzuki SVR650.
Wanganui's Adam Unsworth/Stu Dawe scored two good wins aboard their Windle Honda sidecar, ahead of the Dwayne Bishop/Dave Dennison and Darren Pate/Karl Verdellen combinations in the first heat, then Des James/Warren Miller and female racers Tracey Anderson/Jo Mickleson in the re-started second race.
The 450 Moto class provided the crowd with some exciting racing and broad-slide manoeuvres between Richard Dibben, Glen Haden, Jayden Carrick, (all Wanganui), Toby Summers (Auckland), Scott Birch (Rotorua), Casey Bullock (Taupo) and Tauranga's Duncan Hart. Summers' experience showed by taking both wins on his Yamaha YZF450 from Carrick and Haden in race one, and Haden and Carrick in race two.
Andrew Stroud's eldest son Jacob enjoyed some great racing during his second ever motorcycle event in the entry-level Ultra Lites class. Riding a low powered Suzuki RG150 the 13 year old battled with Havelock North's Tyler Lincoln (Kawasaki KR150), who is also 13, with the pair finishing both heats ahead of more experienced adults, even if down the order. Both races were won by Otaki's Sarah Elliott.
2011 Suzuki International Tri-Series results from Hampton Downs, Saturday December 10.
F1 Superbikes race 1: Robbie Bugden (Australia, Suzuki GXR1000), 1; Craig Shirriffs (Feilding, Suzuki GSXR1000), 2; Andrew Stroud (Hamilton, Suzuki GSXR1000), 3; Nick Cole (Hamilton, Kawasaki ZX10R), 4; Ray Clee (Kumeu, Suzuki GSXR 1000), 5; James Smith (Christchurch, Suzuki GSXR1000), 6.
Race 2: Bugden, 1; Stroud, 2; Frost, 3; Clee, 4; Smith 5; Scott Moir (Taupo, Honda CBR1000), 6.
Round 1 points: Robbie Bugden, 50; Andrew Stroud, 42; Sloan Frost, 34; Ray Clee, 34; Nick Cole, 33, James Smith, 31.
F2 600 Supers race 1: Jaden Hassan (Auckland, Yamaha R6), 1; Glen Skachill (Wellington, Suzuki GSXR600), 2; Dennis Charlett (Christchurch, Suzuki GSXR600), 3; Karl Morgan (Auckland, Suzuki GSXR600), 4; Josh McGrath (Australia, Yamaha R6), 5; Kenneth Jones (Hamilton, Suzuki GSXR600), 6.
Race 2: Hassan, 1; Skachill, 2; Charlett, 3; Morgan, 4; McGrath, 5; Rhys Holmes (Katikati, Yamaha R6), 6.
Round 1 points: Jaden Hassan, 50; Glen Skachill, 45; Dennis Charlett, 40; Karl Morgan, 36; Josh McGrath, 32; Rhys Holmes, 29.
450 Supermoto race 1: Toby Summers (Auckland, Yamaha YZF450), 1; Jayden Carrick (Wanganui, Suzuki RMZ450), 2; Glenn Haden (Wanganui, Honda CRF450), 3; Scott Birch (Rotorua, Aprilia SXV450), 4; Casey Bullock (Taupo, KTM 450SXF), 5; Duncan Hart (Tauranga, Husqvarna 450RR), 6 .
Race 2: Summers, 1; Haden, 2; Carrick, 3; Richard Dibben (Wanganui, Honda CRF450), 4; Bullock, 5; Birch, 6.
Round 1 points: Toby Summers, 51; Glenn Haden, 42; Jayden Carrick, 42; Scott Birch, 33; Casey Bullock, 32; Duncan Hart, 29.
F1 Sidecars race 1: Adam Unsworth/Stu Dawe (Wanganui, Windle F1 1000), 1; Dwayne Bishop/Jono Abbott (Wanganui, Yamaha R1), 2; Darren Pate/Karl Verdellen (Katikati, ZX10), 3; Des James/Warren Miller (Auckland, Suzuki Applecross), 4; Tracey Anderson/Jo Mickleson) Tauranga, Yamaha 600), 5; Corey Winter/Tim Shepherd (Wanganui, Honda CBR1000), 6.
Race 2: Unsworth/Dawe, 1; James/Miller, 2; Anderson/Mickleson, 3; Pate/Verdellen, 4; Winter/Shepherd, 5.
Round 1 points: Adam Unsworth/Stu Dawe, 51; Des James/Warren Miller, 40; Darren Pate/Karl Verdellen, 38; Tracey Anderson/Jo Mickleson, 36; Corey Winter/Tim Shepherd, 31.
Post Classic race 1: Glen Williams (Palmerston North, Bimota YB8 1000), 1; Eddie Kattenberg (Hawkes Bay, Yamaha FZR1000), 2; Sean Donnelly, (Paraparaumu, Kawasaki GPZ1100), 3; Steve Bridge (Ngaruawahia Norton SBR750), 4; Patric Nassbaum (Kerikeri, Kawasaki ZX10), 5; Michael Webster (Whitby, Kawasaki ZXR750), 6.
Race 2: Williams, 1; Kattenberg, 2; Donnelly, 3; Bridge, 4; Nassbaum, 5; Webster, 6.
Round 1 points: Williams, 51; Kattenberg, 44; Donnelly, 40; Bridge, 36; Nassbaum, 32; Webster, 30.
BEARS race 1: Rhys Holmes (Katikati, BMW S1000RR); Travis Moan (Auckland, BMW S1000RR), 2; Sloan Frost (Wellington, BMW HP2), 3; Jamie Galway (Masterton, Triumph Daytona 675), 4; Duncan Coutts (Whangarei, Aprilia RSVR1000), 5; Damian Mackie (Te Puke, Ducati 1198), 6.
Race 2: Moan, 1; Holmes, 2; Frost, 3; Coutts, 4; Galway 5; Nick Prestige (Hawera, Ducati 1098R), 6.
Round 1 points: Moan, 48; Holmes, 47; Frost, 40; Coutts, 34; Galway, 34; Mackie, 29.
F3 Sportbikes race 1: Scott Moir (Taupo, Honda RSV450), 1; Glen Williams (Palmerston North, Suzuki SVR650), 2; Terry Fitzgerald (New Plymouth, Suzuki SV650), 3; Dillon Telford (Otaki, Supermono RP650), 4; Dean Bentley (Lower Hutt, Suzuki SV650), 5; Ants Singer (Leeston, Suzuki SV650), 6.
Race 2: Williams, 1; Fitzgerald, 2; Jason Nairn (New Plymouth, Suzuki SV650), 3; Daniel Mettam (Auckland, Honda RS125GP), 4; Bentley, 5; Gavin Veltmeyer (New Windsor, Suzuki SV650), 6.
Round 1 points: Williams 48; Fitzgerald 38; Telford, 36; Bentley 32; Mettam, 32; Singer 30.
Ultralites race 1: Sarah Elliot (Otaki, Honda CBR250RR), 1; Graeme Billington (Mt Maunganui, Honda CBR250RR), 2; Sarah Rosacker (Marton, Honda CBR250RR), 3; Seth Devereux (Christchurch, Kawasaki EX250), 4; Sam Croft (Paraparaumu, Kawasaki Ninja 250R), 5; Aaron Hassan (Auckland, Kawasaki EX250), 6.
Race 2: Elliot, 1; Rosacker, 2; Devereux, 3; Croft, 4; Rob Bryson (Otaki, Kawasaki KR 150) 5; Hassan, 6.
Round 1 points: Sarah Elliot, 51; Sarah Rosacker, 42; Seth Devereux, 38; Sam Croft, 34; Graeme Billington, 30; Rob Bryson, 30.
2011 Suzuki International Tri-Series Schedule;
Rnd 2: Manfeild, December 17
Rnd 3: Wanganui Cemetery Circuit, December 26
Hampton Downs Raceway has put its hand up to host a V8 Supercars race.
Next year, New Zealand’s Hamilton street race will host its final V8 race, and finding a replacement circuit has been high on V8 Supercars priority list for 2013.
There has been investigations in recent months to move New Zealand’s event to a new venue at the Whenuapai Air Base near Auckland, or redevelop Pukekohe Park, but Hampton Down’s managing director Tony Roberts says that his venue will table a proposal to host the 2013 New Zealand leg of the V8 Supercars Championship.
“We have been working with a consortium of financial advisors, planners and investors for the past year analysing potential track operations and the future for a motor sport focused business park,” said Roberts.
“Based on that work we anticipate being in a position to take our proposal to the V8 Supercars organisers in the first quarter of next year.
An aerial view of the Hampton Downs circuit
“Hampton Downs has the potential to be the long-term future home of motorsport, and the pre-eminent motorsport park in Australasia.
“It already has a fully functioning 2.7 kilometre track with the necessary FIA Category 3 standard for V8 Supercars racing, and we have resource consent to extend the track to 3.8 kilometres.
“This extension can be undertaken at any time and could be completed a full year ahead of when the track would be needed for the V8s.
“When fully completed spectators will have extensive views of the track from various vantage points.”
V8 Supercars racing in New Zealand is one of the most attended sporting events in the country. Besides the country having a large per-capita interest in motorsport, the popularity of V8s soared in 2001 when the V8 Supercars first held a round of its championship at Pukekohe. Local hero Greg Murphy won the first three rounds at the track, cementing the category’s future in the country.
Roberts says that plans have already been made to accommodate the huge crowd that would attend the meeting.
“Our current resource consent allows us to hold events with up to 20,000 spectators,” he said.
“We have the land capacity to easily accommodate more than 60,000 people.
“Hampton Downs is 45 minute drive down State Highway 1 from downtown Auckland, and has a population catchment area of more than a third of New Zealand’s population within an hour’s drive, and half the population within a three hour drive.
“While Hampton Downs has ample room to cater for large numbers of cars and buses, we are in discussions with the local authority to develop park and ride facilities within 10 minutes of the venue, and the racetrack is located between two existing train stations within 10 minutes.
“There are 23 months between now and when the 2013 V8 event is scheduled to be held in New Zealand, which is sufficient time for Hampton Downs to be upgraded to host more than 60,000 spectators, the track extended and other infrastructure completed.”
Roberts sees the permanent facility at Hampton Downs as a long-term proposition for V8 Supercars.
“The benefit Hampton Downs offers is that it is a dedicated, purpose built motor racing track, which means organisers are not involved in expensive set up and pack down costs that have been the downfall of one-off events,” he said.
“Our infrastructure will be used on a year-round basis and offers the V8 Supercars a long-term solution, rather than a temporary fix.
“Within what we are planning, the V8 event would form part of a total motor racing and motor sport programme, operating within a motor sport business park cluster.
“While not ready to release the details of our proposals, we are making this statement to counter the suggestion that the V8 Supercar Championship will inevitably be lost to New Zealand.”
V8 Supercars first held a round of its championship in New Zealand in 2001. It has retained an event every year since then. The round was first held at Pukekohe before switching to the Hamilton street track in 2008.
For this article please click here
Three-time champ braces for top rivals
The $30,000 Suzuki International Tri-Series will kick off tomorrow at Hampton Downs and culminate on Boxing Day at Wanganui's famous Cemetery Circuit and three-time champion Andrew Stroud is still the man to beat.
Nine-times New Zealand Superbike champion, 43-year-old Stroud will be on board his Suzuki GSX-R1000 and setting the benchmark for three meetings of spectacular, high-octane action, which includes the second leg at Manfeild on December 17.
Stroud wrapped up testing his bike at Hampton Downs last weekend knowing it'll take something special to make it four straight Tri-Series titles.
"I'm looking forward to going racing again, though I have no doubt there will be some very tough competition," he said.
Last year three men were fast enough to beat him, with Kiwi Sloan Frost firing the first shot by winning the opening race at Hampton Downs on his BMW 1000RR. Australian top runner Robbie Bugden won race two for Suzuki, however, Stroud retaliated with a pair of wins at Manfeild.
But the father of eight got more competition than he expected during Wanganui's final round on Boxing Day. Stroud held off strong challenges by Nick Cole (Kawasaki) and Craig Shirriffs in race one, then Australian Dan Stauffer (Yamaha) surprised everyone by taking victory in the final race during his first visit to the Cemetery Circuit.
That wasn't enough to stop Stroud claiming the crown, with Frost in the runner-up spot - however, Stauffer also had the final say. In Wanganui's feature event, the Robert Holden Memorial race for the fastest 30 racers across categories, Stauffer claimed an exhilarating win after a long duel with Stroud.
With $30,000 prize money up for grabs, those big names will be back in action this month.
"Robbie Bugden will be in fine form coming off the back of a very competitive Australian Superbike Series plus, riding for the factory team over there, he's bound to have some new tricks up his sleeve that could be applied to his bike, which is being built here," said Stroud."Craig Shirriffs is also in good form, as is Nick Cole, Sloan Frost, Ray Clee and others."
Stroud may also feel a little pressure from one of the younger contestants - his 13-year-old son Jacob will race tomorrow at the same event as his father for the first time, riding a Suzuki RG150 in the Ultra Lites class.
Wellington's Glen Skachill was unbeaten in all six 2010 races on his Suzuki GSX-R600, and would be a strong bet to take home his second F2 600 Sport title.
International motocrosser Daryl Hurley and former NZ Superbike champ Russell Josiah will ride Suzuki RMZ450s in the 450 Moto category, won last year by Italian Davide Gozzini. It's a class where Wanganui will hope for some success with young local riders Jayden Carrick (Suzuki) and Richie Dibben (Honda) in the mix.
F1 Sidecars is always a crowd favourite and Wanganui's Adam Unsworth/Stu Dawe partnership will be a tough act to beat for the rest of the popular sidecar field.
Allan Willacy, the man organising the 59th running of the Cemetery Circuit showpiece, said entries were at the same level as last year's record.
"This is our biggest motorcycle road race series, and all the top New Zealand riders are confirmed in the premier classes," Willacy said.
"We want the Suzuki Tri-Series to continue growing and perhaps join the national series on one or two tracks next year.
"This year we have delayed TV coverage on TV1, and Sky Sport is covering all three rounds with a highlights package for Hampton Downs and Manfeild, with full coverage at Wanganui.
"We also have live streaming for a worldwide audience via our cemeterycircuit.co.nz website."
The Boxing Day extravaganza, which attracts up to 12,000 fans, will feature 18 races, and Willacy has an army of 200 volunteers geared up to make sure it runs like clockwork.
Tickets for Wanganui are available online at www.cemeterycircuit.co.nz and can also be bought at the Wanganui I-Site or at Joe Lett Ltd in Churton Street. Cost is $25 ($30 on Boxing Day).
2011 Suzuki International Tri-Series
Round 1: Hampton Downs, December 10.
Round 2: Manfeild, December 17.
Round 3: Wanganui Cemetery Circuit, December 26.
By Mark Dawson
For this article click here or go to www.wanganuichronicle.co.nz
The 2011 Suzuki International Tri-series begins tomorrow (Friday 9th of December) with Practice at Hampton Downs from 1pm. The Action starts at 9am on Saturday with Qualifying for all classes then for a full on top class day of motorcycle road race action from 11am. Price of Spectator Admission is just $20.
However if you can't get to Hampton Downs , you can still follow the action live on your computer , lap top or even mobile phone. Live
Video Stream , Live Commentary , Live Timing or if you don't have time to sit all day and watch the action you can still get regular updates on this website and of course our public
Facebook page and on
Twitter.
The series heads to Manfeild next Saturday (17th December) where entry to spectators is free and then to the Famous Wanganui Cemetery Circuit on Boxing Day 26th December where it will cost $30 for spectators.
Hampton Downs Raceway has offered its services as a long-term venue for the New Zealand V8 Supercar Championships.
With Hamilton hosting its last V8 Supercars event next April, the future for the championships looked bleak in New Zealand, with few circuits in the country up to scratch.
Championship chairman Tony Cochrane yesterday (Wed) doubted Hampton Downs would be suitable. He said the track wasn't long enough, a resource consent was needed for crowd numbers, plus there would be traffic issues at the venue which is located on State Highway 1 south of Auckland.
But Hampton Downs' managing director Tony Roberts today released a statement saying the track would be ready to host the event from 2013 onwards.
"We have been working with a consortium of financial advisors, planners and investors for the past year analysing potential track operations and the future for a motorsport-focused business park," Roberts said.
"Based on that work we anticipate being in a position to take our proposal to the V8 Supercar organisers in the first quarter of next year.
"Hampton Downs has the potential to be the long-term future home of motorsport, and the pre-eminent motorsport park in Australasia.
"It already has a fully functioning 2.7 kilometre track with the necessary FIA Category 3 standard for V8 Supercar racing, and we have resource consent to extend the track to 3.8 kilometres.
"This extension can be undertaken at any time and could be completed a full year ahead of when the track would be needed for the V8s.
"When fully completed spectators will have extensive views of the track from various vantage points.
"Our current resource consent allows us to hold events with up to 20,000 spectators and we have the land capacity to easily accommodate more than 60,000 people.
"Hampton Downs is 45 minute drive down State Highway 1 from downtown Auckland, and has a population catchment area of more than a third of New Zealand's population within an hour's drive, and half the population within a three hour drive."
Roberts suggested any traffic issues could be eased through a park and ride scheme.
"While Hampton Downs has ample room to cater for large numbers of cars and buses, we are in discussions with the local authority to develop park and ride facilities within 10 minutes of the venue, and the racetrack is located between two existing train stations within 10 minutes.
"There are 23 months between now and when the 2013 V8 event is scheduled to be held in New Zealand, which is sufficient time for Hampton Downs to be upgraded to host more than 60,000 spectators, the track extended and other infrastructure completed.
"While not ready to release the details of our proposals, we are making this statement to counter the suggestion that the V8 supercar series will inevitably be lost to New Zealand."
For this article ad more go to NZ Herald or click here
Suzuki Tri-Series: Hampton and Smith ready for series opener this weekend
Christchurch Superbike Riders Ryan Hampton and James Smith are ready to get back to top level racing this weekend at the first round of the 2011 Suzuki Tri-Series at Hampton Downs Motorsport Park near Auckland.
Hampton has been in action recently at the Greymouth Road Races and more recently at the Burt Munro Challenge where he won the Bluff Hill Climb and Road Race events. Commenting from Christchurch before making the trek north Hampton commented "I had great success down at the Burt Munro the other week, winning the New Zealand Road Hill Climb title, along with the new record time again. I won the Teretonga sprints and the Wyndham street races so was great fun down there aside from the very average weather, I'm really looking foward to the Suzuki Tri-Series and getting a chance to mix it up with the national guys again. For 2012 my Castrol Honda is feeling great and our Bridgestone tyres have shown some positive results, this year is going to be different for me, with the bike we have for the new season things couldn't be better and I'm going to give it absolutely everything I've got. I have to thank Blue Wing Honda , Castrol , Bridgestone ,Hampton Honda, Eurotred and Whites Powersports for their valuable support this season."
James Smith hasn't raced much since last season , except a one off trip to Australia for one round of the ASBK championship in Queensland and a club day at home. A tough year for James and wife Jenny , with their home damaged after the February earthquake.But the former three time New Zealand 600 championship runner up is raring to go.
"Man I cant wait to get the racing started. I have only managed one club day so far so I'm really keen and excited to get back on the steel horse. I am coming in extremely determined after last years disappointing results, and it was real hard to stay motivated last year with what was happening here with the house and earthquake and all that .I'm very lucky I've got a supportive wife and the best sponsors who are still backing me. A huge thanks to Suzuki,Red Fenton and Triple R , Metzeler Tyres, Shoei Helmets, Teknic Leathers, Five Gloves, The March Hare Rally , Whites Powersports and Forbes and Davies.Lets get this season underway!". He commented.
The Suzuki Tri-Series starts this weekend at Hampton Downs gates open 8am $20 for full days racing action. The series then moves to Manfeild on the 17th December and finally Wanganui's famous cemetery circuit on the 26th December.
For tickets go to www.hdticketing.co.nz
For more information please go to www.nzsbk.com or www.cemeterycircuit.co.nz
Champ wary of other Suzukis
Oppose yellow at your peril.
That's probably the message being read by contestants lining up for this season's two separate Tri Series and national superbike championship competitions, the first of which kicks off at Hampton Downs this weekend.
Not only will Waikato's Andrew Stroud (Suzuki GSX-R1000) return to defend both his superbike crowns - possibly making it four annual Suzuki Tri Series titles in succession as well as aiming to notch up a record 10th superbike title at the nationals - but he'll have a swarm of yellow Suzuki "wing men" to fly the brand as well.
Indeed, Stroud's biggest concern will be keeping the likes of fellow Suzuki men Robbie Bugden, of Australia, Feilding's Craig Shirriffs and Christchurch's James Smith at bay.
Of course, Stroud will also have to contend with men such as Tauranga's Sloan Frost (BMW), Hawera's Hayden Fitzgerald (Honda) and Hamilton's Nick Cole (Kawasaki).
"I have not done a great deal of riding lately, but the build-up has started now," Stroud said.
"Winning is always my aim ... nothing has changed at all," said the 43-year-old Hamilton-based father-of-eight.
"I know Robbie has been riding a lot in Australia and he'll probably be my biggest threat but I know Craig, Sloan, Hayden and Nick will be fast too."
Manawatu maestro Shirriffs (Suzuki GSX-R1000) is certainly one rider who fancies his chances of beating Stroud.
"Anyone is beatable.
"If I didn't think I could win, I wouldn't waste money by going racing," said the 38-year-old air-conditioning installer.
"I'm on the same bike as last year, identical to Andrew's, and it's a bike that won all but one race in the superbike nationals last season. I know it's good and that's why I'm riding one."
Christchurch's Dennis Charlett (Suzuki GSX-R600) could also be expected to defend his 600 Supersport title this season, despite what he would regard as the unwelcome attentions of talented riders such as Christchurch's John Ross, also now on a 600cc Suzuki, Wellington's Glen Skachill (Suzuki), Taupo's Scott Moir (Honda), Inglewood's Midge Smart (Yamaha) or Auckland's Jaden Hassan (Yamaha).
Timaru's Johnny Small (Suzuki), who has just turned 20, revealed he won't defend his Pro Twins title as he instead steps up to race the 600 superstock class this season.
The potency of Suzuki extends all the way through the other various bike categories too, with Auckland's Karl Morgan, New Plymouth's Terry Fitzgerald, Palmerston North's Glen Williams and the Wanganui sidecar pair of Steve Bron/Dennis Simonsen all likely to continue their respective title bids.
The Suzuki Tri Series kicks off at Hampton Downs, near Meremere, on Saturday and wraps up on the Cemetery Circuit, on Wanganui's public streets, on Boxing Day. The New Zealand Superbike Championships kick off at Ruapuna, Christchurch, on January 7-8.
By Andy McGechan
For this article and more go www.nzherald.co.nz
Fast and Furious action is on the cards when the Sidecars come out to play at Hampton Downs this weekend for the first battle of the 2011 Suzuki Tri-Series.
Tracey Bryan and Jo Mickleson
After a season out of racing Pahia’s Pete Goodwin, with Raetihi’s Dion Weedon doing the swinging; may just be the ‘fly in the ointment’ other teams might not expect when the hit the track on their Suzuki GSXR1000 powered machine and once they gain their old race track rythm should be at the sharp end of the field.
The evergreen Lawrance Brothers, Chris and Richard, on their Auckland designed and built Yamaha 1000cc will be there and should expect strong opposition from the Wanganui/Auckland combination of Adam Unsworth and Stu Dawes too. Anyone who witnessed Unsworth/Dawes and their total domination at Paeroa Street Circuit in February, which included a lap record, would be a brave person to bet against them taking at least one win on the Waikato track.
For tickets go to www.hdticketing.co.nz or on the gate its $20 per person. Kids under 12 are free.
For more information go to www.nzmbk.com or www.cemeterycircuit.co.nz
EVANS LEADS KIWI TRS GRAND PRIX TEAM
New Zealand drivers prepare for overseas invasion
Defending New Zealand Grand Prix winner Mitch Evans has confirmed he will be on the grid at Manfeild on February 12th , to lead a talented line up of young Kiwi drivers in the grand finale of the International Toyota Racing Series.
The winner of the 2010 and 2011 TRS Championship titles further strengthens local prospects for success in the most significant event on the New Zealand motor racing calendar.
Other New Zealand drivers who have confirmed to race in the five round 2012 TRS season are last year’s Rookie Champion and overall series runner-up Nick Cassidy, talented Southland teen Damon Leitch, former Porsche racer Jono Lester and Canterbury newcomer Chris Vlok.
At the end of his first full season racing in GP3 in Europe, Evans is home for a holiday break – and some selected summer racing in TRS. He has committed to racing at the fourth TRS round at Hampton Downs on February 2-5th as a prelude to racing the following weekend in the New Zealand Grand Prix meeting at Manfeild.
“It’s been a busy season in Europe, so it’s good to be home and to have some time to reflect on what has been an amazing year. I am now looking forward to starting 2012 by racing here in the New Zealand Grand Prix as this event is so special. It’s a title that has been won by so many of the sport’s great drivers and it would add real value to my CV if I can win it for a second time ,” says Evans.
“In 2010 I missed winning the GP. I finished second and I was gutted. My 2011 win at Manfeild gave me huge motivation for the season in Europe so I really want to win again in 2012 – I’d love to be able to do back-to-back wins in our Grand Prix,” said Evans.
“It’s going to be tough because the entry list is looking so good.”
Evans won the historic New Zealand Motor Cup, presented to the winner of the feature race at Hampton Downs, as well as the New Zealand Grand Prix, at the start of his 2011 season.
“The focus of my racing is now in Europe, as I head towards my goal of racing in Formula One; so that is where most of our energy and resources are focussed; but I’m very happy that I’m able to race in the two final rounds of the Toyota Series at Hampton Downs and Manfeild,” said Evans.
Evans will be back behind the wheel of a TRS car during a pre-season shakedown test at Manfeild next week. Also testing at Manfeild will be Nick Cassidy, Jono Lester, Chris Vlok and Malaysian driver Melvin Moh
Cassidy is back for his second TRS season having recently returned from a European visit where he completed a test at the invitation of the Ferrari Drivers Academy.
While there, the 17-year-old Aucklander also tested at the Barcelona circuit in Spain, where he impressed the Fortec 2.0 Renault team; finishing second fastest of 40 drivers in his first session, having never driven the car or circuit before.
Cassidy has his sights set on the TRS title and hopes to emulate his good friend Mitch Evans by launching his career into Europe with TRS credentials.
Jono Lester is looking to TRS to re-establish his career after intermittent appearances in the past couple of seasons and after a one off appearance at the final TRS round at Taupo last season where he showed he will be very competitive.
Chris Vlok from Darfield, near Christchurch, returns from competing in the Canadian Formula Ford series and steps up for his first taste of competition behind the wheel of a wings and slicks car.
Southland’s Damon Leitch has competed in club racing to keep himself in shape and aims to build on some very good performances in his rookie season of 2011. He will look to get a fast start to the series on his home track at Teretonga.
Leitch has opted to complete his pre-season allocation of testing on his home circuit at Teretonga in Invercargill on the Wednesday before the first round in mid-January.
“The Wednesday session before Teretonga is reserved for the overseas drivers and any New Zealander drivers that don’t take part in the Manfeild test in December,” explained TRS Category Manager Barrie Thomlinson.
“TRS organisers are looking forward to welcoming the best overseas contingent to New Zealand in the seven year history of the series. The New Zealand drivers that are already committed will be announcing their own sponsorship and team arrangements during the coming weeks.”
At a time when Kiwi drivers are doing so well in European single seater racing, it is reassuring to have such a talented New Zealand team of young drivers preparing to defend local honours.
The Toyota Series promises to be another exciting and very competitive season of open-wheeled, single seater racing.
5th December , 2011
For further information please contact:
Barrie Thomlinson
Telephone: (09) 270 2759
Mobile: 021 984 639
Murray Taylor
Telephone: (09) 445 0209
Mobile: 027 294 7930
Website: www.toyotaracing.co.nz
2012 International Toyota Racing Series
Round 1: 12-15 January Teretonga Park, Invercargill Spirit of a Nation Cup
Round 2: 19-22 January Timaru Raceway, Timaru Timaru Herald Trophy
Round 3: 26-29 January Taupo Motorsport Park Denny Hulme Memorial Trophy
Round 4: 2-5 February Hampton Downs, Auckland New Zealand Motor Cup
Round 5: 9-12 February Manfeild, Feilding New Zealand Grand Prix
(Dan Higgins Trophy and Dorothy Smith Memorial Cup)
The Public Open Day Twilight session on Friday 2nd December has SOLD OUT!
To book for Jan 13 or Feb 10 2012 go to www.hdticketing.co.nz
One of the five drivers currently being groomed for a future in Formula 1 by the elite Ferrari Driver Academy (FDA) will compete in the International Toyota Racing Series in New Zealand during January and February 2012.
Raffaele Marciello, an Italian teenager chosen by Ferrari as a potential ‘star of the future,’ is a high profile entry for New Zealand’s International racing series which, for the first time in its history, features five back-to-back racing weekends.
Marciello is the first in an exciting line-up of International drivers to be announced in the build up to the first round at the Teretonga circuit in Invercargill on January 14-15. The eighth running of the annual Toyota Racing Series looks likely to attract the largest international field as a result of this exciting new format.
“The concentrated format for the Series has proved popular with overseas teams and drivers. Confirming the driver line up takes a lot of work throughout the year so to get to this point with our first announcement is exciting and rewarding,” said TRS Category Manager Barrie Thomlinson.
“I am extremely proud to say the International entry in 2012 is shaping up to be our best and the series is starting to resemble the glory days of the Tasman series in the 1960’s when our own Chris Amon was part of Ferrari’s Formula 1 driver line up.”
“The Toyota Racing Series has earned a reputation as a high quality internationally recognised series and Raffaele Marciello is exactly the type of ambitious, talented driver we hope to attract here to compete against our best up and coming local drivers. Raffaelle was chosen for the academy after a successful karting career as a youngster and he has made a strong transition into single seater racing in Europe.” said Thomlinson.
“We have been fortunate in the past two years to have received invitations from the FDA for our young Kiwi drivers Mitch Evans and Nick Cassidy to complete individual tests in Italy and through this association both drivers have been able to demonstrate their professionalism and the competiveness that has been developed in TRS.”
Evans tested the FDA Tatuus Formula Abarth car at Italy’s Misano circuit in 2010 while just two months ago Cassidy tested and then raced under the watchful eye of the FDA engineers at the Ferrari owned Mugello circuit in Italy.
“The FDA programme was launched in 2010 and is managed by Luca Baldisserri who was Michael Schumacher’s race engineer in Formula 1 and became Chief Engineer on the Ferrari F1 project. We expect that either Luca or one of the academy’s engineers will join Raffaele in New Zealand at some point during the series.”
The five drivers currently being nurtured by the FDA are Mexican Sergio Perez who is already racing in F1 with the Sauber/Ferrari team, Frenchman Jules Bianchi who competes in GP2 and is one of Ferrari F1 reserve drivers; and three young talents that have been selected from karting – Raffaele Marciello, Brandon Maisano from France and Lance Stroll from Canada.
“Both TRS and Formula Abarth chassis are built by Tatuus in Italy and through this connection we have been introduced to the FDA programme. We are delighted that the series has been recommended by the Ferrari Driver Academy to Raffaele and he will compete here to further develop his career.”
Raffaele was born in Zurich on the Swiss border region of Italy but now lives in the Ferrari factory town of Romagna, not far from the famous marquees headquarters at Maranello, Raffaele, who will turn 17 on December 17th, is nicknamed ‘Lello’ and has an impressive racing pedigree.
Ferrari talent-spotted him in European karting and prepared him for his single seater debut in Formula Abarth in 2010. He took two wins and five podium finishes in his debut single seater season and finished third overall in the new series.
In 2011 Raffaele competed with the Prema Powerteam, driving a Dallara in the Italian Formula 3 Championship where he again claimed two outright wins and again finished third in the championship.
For the 2012 TRS season Raffaele will join an impressive lineup of young drivers who will drive for the M2 Competition team run by ex A1GP Team NZ engineers Mark Pilcher and Jonathan Moury.
28 November, 2011
For further information please contact:
Barrie Thomlinson
Telephone: (09) 270 2759
Mobile: 021 984 639
Murray Taylor
Telephone: (09) 445 0209
Mobile: 027 294 7930
Website: www.toyotaracing.co.nz
2012 International Toyota Racing Series
Round 1: 12-15 January Teretonga Park, Invercargill Spirit of a Nation Cup
Round 2: 19-22 January Timaru Raceway, Timaru Timaru Herald Trophy
Round 3: 26-29 January Taupo Motorsport Park Denny Hulme Memorial Trophy
Round 4: 2-5 February Hampton Downs, Auckland New Zealand Motor Cup
Round 5: 9-12 February Manfeild, Feilding New Zealand Grand Prix
(Dan Higgins Trophy and Dorothy Smith Memorial Cup)
The 2011 Suzuki Tri-Series begins at Hampton Downs on December 10th. This year sees the debut of a new class. Ultralites is made up of machines from the Prolite 250 , 150 Streetstock and Minilite . The Prolite 250 is the modern day 250 Production class with the Kawasaki Ninja 250 and Hyosung 250 popular choices. The 150 streetstock has been around many years now and is mainly made up of older 150 Suzuki and Kawasaki machines. The Minilite has up to now only been seen at club level racing , and is made up of 250 four cylinder machines such as Honda's CBR250 , Yamaha FZR's etc.
At the Suzuki Tri-series all the classes are mixed into one. The Prolite class will be the only class run as a national championship , which starts in Christchurch on the 7th and 8th of January.
The grid may be smaller than hoped , however the racing could still be intense. The class will see reigning New Zealand 250 Prolite champion Seth Devereux make his first hit out for the year in the North Island . Dominate in the class last year , Devereux will come up against 2011 Actrix Winter Series Prolite winner Sam Croft and will mark the start of a potential Prolite battle over the next few months. Devereux on paper has more national level experience and has won at Hampton Downs and Manfeild , but Croft rode well over the winter and at lap record pace at Manfeild when conditions allowed.
The Prolite class also sees Winter series contender Aaron Carr on his Kawasaki line up and could be in the mix. Another Aaron is Hassan , younger brother of 600 class rider Jaden will take to the track on his Kawasaki 250 , Andrew Croft will also be there on another Kawasaki along with Blair Mason on the older but still fast GPX250 Kawasaki. Connor London will be sole Hyosung 250 on the grid.
Winter series winner of the Minilite class Sarah Elliot will be a force to be reckoned with on her fast CBR250 Honda four. Elliot will be joined in Minilite ranks by Sarah Rosacker on another CBR250 from Marton and veteran racer Graeme Billington also on a CBR250 Honda.
The 150 Streetstock sees the just turned 14 year old Tyler Lincoln , who won the Actrix Winter Series Streetstock class up against Alex Hockly from New Plymouth and making his racing debut will be 13 year old Jacob Stroud who's famous dad will also line up in the F1 Superbike class for the series.
The Ultralite class starts at Hampton Downs on Saturday December 10th then moves to Manfeild December 17th for the fianl round. There will be no Ultralite class at Cemetery Circuit on the 26th of December.
To purchase your early bird tickets before 5 December go to www.hdticketing.co.nz
For more information head to www.cemeterycircuit.co.nz
November Newsletter
Well we are a month out from Christmas – how did that happen? We’ve had a busy month with lots of events like Nizfest, Taccoc, Public Open Days, IRC Race Meeting, Government Training, Audi and California Superbike School. Over the Christmas period we are closing from 20th December 2011 – 6th January 2012 for circuit maintenance. There is also a new extended sound system coming soon to Hampton Downs! We look forward to hearing it.
Holden NZ recently filmed a new advert on location at Hampton Downs. They have some good driving tips - check it out on www.insideholden.co.nz
Kiwi racing star and double world touring car champion Paul Radisich is returning to New Zealand to take on the role of chief executive for New Zealand’s newest motor racing series, the V8SuperTourers. The confirmed drivers are now Greg Murphy, Craig Baird, John McIntyre, Cameron McConville, Kayne Scott, Andy Booth, Andy Knight, Paul Manuell, Scott McLaughlin, Dominic Storey, Eddie Bell, Ant Pedersen, André Heimgartner, Richard Moore and Colin Corkery. To purchase your early bird 3 day tickets please go to www.hdticketing.co.nz
Auckland Motorcycle Club had a cracker day on 16th October for Round 1 of their series. They are back again on Sunday 4th December 2011 – pre-purchase your tickets – only $15 for the day and children under 15 are free.
On the same day – Sunday 4th December is Mudfest! The event we are hosting is a first for New Zealand in this format. We are basing our event on the same format that has been very successful in the States, and continues to draw large crowds and entrants to each event, with many vehicle owners modifying their vehicles just for this type of off-road meeting. It is not only high performance vehicles Mudfest will attract, I am sure some Kiwi bloke will have a go in the family wagon and that’s good.
Organised chaos does sum it up quite well.
- We have five acres of flat paddock, a very wet swampy paddock
- We have had great interest from the local 4WD clubs
- We have a kid’s mudslide
- A variety of trade stands
- An SUV course
- A volleyball court
Add these together and you get mud, lots and lots of mud. Come along and check it out! Spectators are $5.00 and entrants are $20.00
Suzuki International Tri Series, organised by Cemetery Circuit have their 1st round at Hampton Downs prior to Cemetery Circuit on Boxing Day. From their latest press release:
“And the biggest road race show this summer kicks off at Hampton Downs on Saturday December 10. Round two of the 2011 Suzuki International Tri-Series gets underway at Manfield a week later, followed by the 59th running of the famous Cemetery Circuit in Wanganui, on Boxing Day.
The 2010 edition eclipsed all expectations, and this year will be no different with $30,000 prizemoney up for grabs!
Heading the F1 Superbike class is defending three-time Suzuki Tri-Series champion Andrew Stroud and his Suzuki GSX-R1000. Anyone with hopes of winning this year’s Suzuki Tri-Series has to get past the nine times NZ Superbike champion, and that will be no easy task.
Yet three men were fast enough to beat Stroud last year, two from Australia, so the Hamiltonian didn’t have it all his own way. Sloan Frost fired the first shot by winning the opening race at Hampton Downs on his BMW 1000RR, and went on to claim second in the title chase. Australian top-runner Robbie Bugden won race two for Suzuki, however Stroud retaliated with a pair of wins at Manfield. But the father of eight got more competition than he expected during Wanganui’s final round on Boxing Day. Stroud held off strong challenges by Nick Cole (Kawasaki) and Craig Shirriffs in race one, then Australian Dan Stauffer (Yamaha) surprised everyone by taking victory in the final race during his first visit to the Cemetery Circuit.
Organiser Allan Willacy said rider entries are at the same level as last year’s record. “This is our biggest motorcycle road race series! All the top New Zealand riders are confirmed in the premier classes, including Robbie Bugden from Australia - who is yet to confirm he will ride at Wanganui,” Willacy says”.
This will be an excellent event – to purchase your early bird tickets - $15 per day (before 5th Dec 2011) go to www.hdticketing.co.nz
There were record numbers at the last public open day; get some laps in before Christmas on Thursday 8th December 2011. Can’t fit in a whole day? Come to our twilight sessions from 5pm – 7pm. The next day is Friday 2nd December 2011. You may have seen the advert in the latest G-Force Magazine! Numbers are limited, so pre-register on www.hdticketing.co.nz to ensure you don’t miss out.
The CannonBall Run is visiting on Saturday 7th January 2012, sounds like an awesome day they are organising. The theme this year is Hero’s and Villain’s! There are over 200 cars entered. Head to www.aucklandmotorsport.co.nz for more information and to enter.
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On Sunday 8th January there is a Motorsport Open Day – following the success in July, it’s an ideal and inexpensive introduction to Motorsport. The day is split into 2 sessions. Session One 10am-1pm- Just drive around the circuit in your own car at under 100km/h behind the safety car. This is a great way to experience driving around the circuit at a comfortable pace for $30 per car. Session Two 1pm-4pm- This part of the day will be for drivers who want to experience the track at a faster pace. Drivers will have to wear helmets and overalls (which are available for hire) to drive around Hampton Downs at a faster pace in small groups for $40 per car. There will be basic in-car instruction and advice on how to get into motorsport. For tickets head to www.hdticketing.co.nz
The biggest Historic Racing Festival – New Zealand Festival of Motor Racing celebrating BMW Motorsport is also coming up in the last two weekends of January 2012. Evening events have been announced!! On Saturday 21 January from 6pm there is the Castrol BBQ in Hampton’s pavilion. Come and join Jim Richards and other drivers he has raced against. For only $25 per person you will get a smoking BBQ buffet. There will also be a cash bar open. Please note that tickets are limited.
On Saturday 28 January from 6pm in true German tradition – come and enjoy a beerfest! Located in Hampton’s pavilion there will be a live Oompah band and we encourage traditional costumes (lederhosen and dirndls)! The ticket entry includes 500 ml stein, filled with beer - needed after a long day of racing in the heat. Once inside you can purchase a selection of European food from stalls. There will also be a cash bar and lots of stomping. Tickets are $25 per person - please note that tickets are limited.
Only 5 more days to get early bird tickets! Get in quick at www.nzfmr.co.nz
Christmas gift ideas for the hard to buy for petrol head – we have the answer! You can choose from event tickets on www.hdticketing.co.nz or drives in V8’s, Lamboghini’s, Ferraris and Aston Martins (just to name a few). There is also merchandise available, the highlight is the new Bruce McLaren Scrapbook. Head to www.hamptondowns.com for more ideas!
One of our clients is attempting the NZ Land Speed Record – see below for the latest information.
Eddie Freeman Chases 348 km/hr Dream
Kiwi businessman Eddie Freeman today announced his upcoming attempt at the New Zealand Land Speed Record that currently stands at 348.23km/hr.
The Castrol Trophy for the New Zealand Land Speed Record currently held by Owen Evans was last set in 1996, a record breaking feat that nearly claimed Evans life when he lost control of his Porsche 911 Turbo.
Eddie will attempt the record in a Lamborghini Superleggera, a supercar producing 530bhp and capable in its standard specification of a top speed of 315km/hr. The car is currently at one of the world’s leading automotive tuners in the US undergoing major modifications to prepare it for the attempt.
While the exact details remain top secret, Eddie says the finished car is expected to produce close to 1300rwhp (rear wheel horse power) once the engine has been rebuilt.
“This attempt is all about reigniting the Kiwi attitude of having a go. This record has remained untouched for 15 years and it’s something I’ve always wanted to have a crack at.”
Eddie the founder of FreemanX says this attempt is very much in line with the philosophies underpinning the entire company – namely getting the most out of what life has to offer.
“Challenging the Land Speed Record seemed a project perfectly aligned to my business and a great way to celebrate ten years of providing experiences to our customers both here and in Australia. While I hope to walk away with the trophy and the experience of a lifetime, we also aim to raise money for charity from the attempt and be able to change the lives of others,” says Eddie.
Eddie’s attempt at the Land Speed Record will take place in January 2012 once all testing has been completed and official sign off has been given by Motorsport NZ. Eddie and his team will be working closely with Motorsport NZ over the coming months to gain the necessary approvals and identify the most suitable venue for the record attempt.
“It’s an in-depth process and we’re currently working through the compliance and safety aspects to ensure the attempt is not only successful but also as safe as possible.”
The major focus is set on the 348.23km/hr Land Speed Record, however during the attempt Eddie will potentially break four further records: the Flying One Kilometre Sprint, Standing Start One Kilometre Sprint, Standing Start One Mile Sprint and the Standing Start ½ Mile Sprint.
For more information go to www.freemanX.co.nz. Follow the build-up and updates from Eddie on Facebook (FreemanX New Zealand)
Follow us on facebook for more information – simply search Hampton Downs
Fans clamour for speed
Some Facebook fans of New Zealand car companies will be feeling the need ... the need for speed because of competitions run on the social media site.
Holden New Zealand offered eight fans the chance to speed around the Hampton Downs Racetrack, with Kiwi driver Andy Booth, in the new Cruze hatchback that is about to go on sale in New Zealand.
The company ran a recruitment drive on Facebook and had 190 entries to spend December 2 learning new handling skills and driving techniques from Booth at the Waikato track. The eight winners will also find themselves TV stars.
"We will film the exploits on the day, and this footage of the test drive will appear in our television advertising campaign for Cruze Hatch, and on Facebook, YouTube and other sites," said Holden NZ's Marnie Jane Samphier.
Audi fans have the chance to zoom around Hampton Downs tomorrow with one of the company's famous ambassadors: MasterChef judge and restaurateur Simon Gault, NZ's Next Top Model judge Sara Tetro or Huffer designer Steve Dunstan.
The company has run its Quattro experience for 15 years - a chance for Audi owners to learn more about the capabilities of the cars from instructors - and decided this year to extend the day to Facebook fans.
"Our recent emergence into the social media space means we now have the potential to share some unique Audi experiences with a wide range of people," says Audi NZ's Fiona Woolley.
Participants will learn about the new technology in the German cars, plus compete in slalom, braking and skid-pad competitions. "Team Tetro has led the charge, already appointing two of her team members, but Team Dunstan and Team Gault are hard on her heels," says Woolley.
"We'll have a film crew at the event tomorrow and will be live-streaming it to Facebook for fans to follow, as well as putting footage up on experienceaudi.co.nz."
By Liz Dobson
For this article and more go to the New Zealand Herald website or click here
Radisich back in the hot seat
At the beginning of the month, former double world touring car champion Paul Radisich was handed the CEO reins of the newly launched V8 SuperTourer racing series. He replaces Mark Petch as the company's front-line executive.
Radisich has been based primarily in the United Kingdom for the past three years, running a business providing unique pit-wall solutions for race tracks around Europe.
The 48-year-old has many race and championship wins to his credit, including nine years' fulltime competition in the Australian V8 Supercar championship, the 1993 and 1994 world touring car titles and hundreds of other touring car races around the world.
His extensive international touring car experience includes racing and winning in the Australian V8 Supercar series with teams such as Dick Johnson Racing, Triple Eight Racing, TKR and Toll HSV Racing.
The inaugural V8 SuperTourer series is expected to commence at Hampton Downs in February and Driven caught up with Radisich to get his thoughts on the new series.
Driven: How did you get to be involved in the new series?
Radisich: I initially came back to New Zealand for some family business. While I was doing that I was contacted by Mark [Petch] who said I should come and have a look at the car. When I saw it I thought "what a brilliant concept". I thought it was V8 Supercars on New Zealand terms. I could see it really working, so I went back to the UK and tidied things up there and Mark put a deal together. If I was going to come back, I wanted to be involved in motorsport and it seemed a good fit.
D: What is it about the car and series you like?
R: Everything about the car I like, from the build of it all the way to the cost. You can buy a car for $180,000 ready on the track to go. The car is bullet-proof and the only major cost will be incurred if drivers run into each other. It's over-engineered for a job and it's what we need. When you're talking seasons of running, you're only looking at maintenance costs. It's got a 7-litre engine and will be faster than a V8 Supercar.
Everything's the same and the only differences will be the body shells and, of course, as time goes, hopefully other manufacturers will jump aboard.
D: There seems to be a bit of interest from across the ditch?
R: Yes, that's right, Greg Murphy has already made the decision to come back and race in the series and, just recently, Cam McConville has committed to the series. I can remember when I first started racing you had to disappear overseas because there was hardly any racing. Now there's an opportunity to race summer and winter - all year round if they so choose. Also there's the added attraction of being able to race the fastest cars in Australasia.
D: Since your contract ended recently in the UK, this opportunity must have come at the right time.
R: It keeps me involved in motorsport without having to do the hard job turning up every time and driving every day. Not that the other side of the fence is any easier, but it's something I've always been interested in and the timing has worked out perfectly.
D: You're still a relatively young bloke, but did you decide that rather than sit inside a tin-top and rubbing door handles you'd rather take more of an overview?
R: Look, if I hadn't decided to throw myself into a fence and become the Australian Supercars crash dummy then I'd still be going around and around. It's one of the things that's very hard to let go [racing] and I had let go as far as fulltime racing was concerned. In my mind I sort of had let go but was still hanging on a bit. I've never really been that keen on running a team and I wanted to get into the administration side of things and I guess this is my chance to be involved in running a series.
D: Speaking of your big crashes, how are your injuries?
R: It's taken three years to recover. I'm good now and I don't need to lie down during the day. There are certain things I have to manage but, overall, I'm as good as can be.
D: Now that you're fighting fit, do you think you'll be doing any one-off races?
R: In the UK, I got involved in the historic side of racing and I really enjoyed that and it was only for fun. I was at Goodwood and that was great. No-pressure stuff and a very short time in the seat. I can't spend a long time and hustle in the seat any more as I would like. To answer your question: yes, I'm okay for a couple of laps.
2012 Sprint Championship
Round 1 February 17-19
Hampton Downs Motorsport Park
North Waikato
Round 2 April 7-8
Powerbuilt Tools Raceway
Christchurch
Round 3 April 27-29
Manfeild Autocourse
Feilding
Round 4 June 1-3
Hampton Downs Motorsport Park
North Waikato
2012 Endurance Championship
Round 5 August 10-12
Taupo Motorsport Park
Taupo
Round 6 September 21-23
Hampton Downs Motorsport Park
North Waikato
Round 7 October 26-28
Powerbuilt Tools Raceway
Christchurch
By Eric Thompson
For this article and more go to the New Zealand Herald website or click here
2011 Suzuki International Tri-Series
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$30,000 Series Set to Sizzle
Motorcycle racing is one of the most spectacular sports of any kind. Impossibly high lean angles are matched by incredibly fast Superbike acceleration rates, and the occasional spill.
And the biggest road race show this summer kicks off at Hampton Downs on Saturday December 10. Round two of the 2011 Suzuki International Tri-Series gets underway at Manfield a week later, followed by the 59th running of the famous Cemetery Circuit in Wanganui, on Boxing Day.
The 2010 edition eclipsed all expectations, and this year will be no different with $30,000 prizemoney up for grabs!
Heading the F1 Superbike class is defending three-time Suzuki Tri-Series champion Andrew Stroud and his Suzuki GSX-R1000. Anyone with hopes of winning this year’s Suzuki Tri-Series has to get past the nine times NZ Superbike champion, and that will be no easy task.
Yet three men were fast enough to beat Stroud last year, two from Australia, so the Hamiltonian didn’t have it all his own way. Sloan Frost fired the first shot by winning the opening race at Hampton Downs on his BMW 1000RR, and went on to claim second in the title chase. Australian top-runner Robbie Bugden won race two for Suzuki, however Stroud retaliated with a pair of wins at Manfield. But the father of eight got more competition than he expected during Wanganui’s final round on Boxing Day. Stroud held off strong challenges by Nick Cole (Kawasaki) and Craig Shirriffs in race one, then Australian Dan Stauffer (Yamaha) surprised everyone by taking victory in the final race during his first visit to the Cemetery Circuit.
After a long duel with Stroud, Stauffer went on to win an exhilarating Robert Holden Memorial feature race.
This year Cole may be a real threat in his second season on a Kawasaki Superbike, and Frost is in a similar position with his BMW Superbike. Shirriffs is likely to push the boundaries at the two rounds he’s entered in, Hampton Downs and Manfield, while Hayden Fitzgerald and Ryan Hampton will certainly feature on their Honda Fireblade CBR1000RRs. Christchurch’s James Smith enjoyed some good performances on his Suzuki GSX-R1000 last summer so could be another racer heading for success.
GSX-R1000 mounted Ray Clee is seldom far from the action, but all eyes should keep a watch on rising star Scott Moir (Honda) during his debut season on a big bike. Moir has a successful motocross background, and last year won the Suzuki Tri-Series Supermoto Open title and placed a close second in F3 Sportbikes to veteran Terry Fitzgerald.
One racer out to make amends will be Darren Love, entered on a Ducati 1198. The Australian crashed out of the opening 2010 race at Hampton Downs and suffered a shoulder injury, which kept him off the grid for the series.
Wellington’s Glen Skachill was unbeaten in all six 2010 races on his Suzuki GSX-R600, and would be a strong bet to take home his second F2 600 Sport title. Racing a similar machine, current NZ 600 Supersport champion Dennis Charlett wouldn’t agree, and there’s a hoard of top liners behind that strong pair, including Karl Morgan (Suzuki). 17 year old Jadden Hassan and fellow-international rider Avalon Biddle, in her debut season in the middleweight class, will race at Hampton Downs and Manfield.
Australian Rennie Scaysbrook will ride a GSX-R600 at Wanganui and will write a first-hand story about NZ street racing for Australian Motorcycle News.
International motocrosser Daryl Hurley and former NZ Superbike champ Russell Josiah will ride Suzuki RMZ450s in the closely contested 450 Moto category, won last year by Italian Davide Gozzini. You won’t pick an easy winner in this class with the likes of Toby Summers (Yamaha), Jayden Carrick (Suzuki), Richard Dibben (Honda) and Duncan Hart on a Husqvarna 450RR in the race.
The Suzuki Tri-Series organisers are sending the three top placed 2010 Kiwis to a massive Supermoto race meeting at Reunion Island, in the Indian Ocean, on November 27.
Toby Summers, Jayden Carrick and Richard Dibben are expected to battle with the worlds best riders during the one-off event.
F1 Sidecars is always a crowd favourite and the Adam Unsworth/Stu Dawe partnership will be a tough act to beat for the rest of the large field.
All the support classes will return including F3 Sportbikes, Post Classics (which promises to be a thriller this year), BEARS, Ultra Lites at the dedicated race tracks, and Classic Sidecars at Wanganui. Look for the special moment when multi-1960s and ‘70s NZ sidecar champion Gordon Skilton and his granddaughter Maxine Skilton line up on the Wanganui grid on a 1968 Norton Commando outfit!
Organiser Allan Willacy said rider entries are at the same level as last year’s record. “This is our biggest motorcycle road race series! All the top New Zealand riders are confirmed in the premier classes, including Robbie Bugden from Australia - who is yet to confirm he will ride at Wanganui,” Willacy says. Bugden was taken out by another rider in race two last year and suffered a broken right leg (tibia and fibula), ending his title aspirations.
“We want the Suzuki Tri-Series to continue growing and perhaps join the national series on one or two tracks next year. This year we have delayed TV coverage on TV1, and Sky Sport is covering all three rounds with a highlights package for Hampton Downs and Manfield, with full coverage at Wanganui. We also have live streaming for a worldwide audience via our cemeterycircuit.co.nz website.”
2011 Suzuki International Tri-Series Schedule;
Rnd 1: Hampton Downs, December 10
Rnd 2: Manfeild, December 17
Rnd 3: Wanganui Cemetery Circuit, December 26
Kiwi rally champion Ben Hunt heads to international Fiesta shootout
Photo credit Euan Cameron.
Young Nelson rally driver Ben Hunt is currently on his way to the United Kingdom to compete in the Ford FiestaSportTrophy International Shootout.
Twenty-three year old Hunt won the 2011 New Zealand Rally Championship two-wheel-drive category, scoring maximum points in each of the five rounds. Winning this championship title also earned Hunt the 2011 New Zealand Fiesta SportTrophy (FST), the prize for which is the opportunity to travel to the United Kingdom to take on other FST winners from around the world at the prestigious international shootout.
The FST is managed in New Zealand by Neil Allport, former New Zealand rally champion and director of Neil Allport Motorsports. Rally New Zealand’s chairman Peter ‘PJ’ Johnston extends considerable support through his successful car sales operations Genuine Vehicle Imports and Auckland Ssangyong by providing the FST travel prize.
The Fiesta SportTrophy International Shootout is run by M-Sport, the team which runs the Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team, several other Ford teams and the new-this-season FIA WRC Academy. Based in Cockermouth, Cumbria, to the south-west of Carlisle in northern England, M-Sport runs the shootout from 16 to 18 November and offers the winner a year’s experience with the highly successful rally team.
Hunt says: “It will be such an amazing opportunity; just having the chance to experience a couple of days at M-Sport is a chance not to be missed. I am grateful to everyone that has made it possible for me to attend the FST International Shootout.”
Hunt notes that the FST shootout is similar to the Rally New Zealand Rising Stars Scholarship that he won in 2009.
“The shootout involves mental testing, physical testing, media interviews, driver testing in the new Ford Fiesta R2 rally car and a one-on-one interview with M-Sport managing director Malcolm Wilson. The winner is invited to spend a year working for M-Sport building rally cars and also doing testing in the cars. You would be learning all the different aspects of building and running a rally car and how a world rally team operates, so it’s really fantastic for a young rally driver like me to have the chance of winning this opportunity.”
Hunt says: “Over the last three months I have been doing a lot of work on my fitness to prepare for the challenges I am sure to face during the physical testing at the shootout.
“Former New Zealand rally champion Neil Allport is travelling to the UK with me. Neil is New Zealand’s FST co-ordinator and he will also be co-driving for me in the driving day of the competition, which is great!”
Another New Zealander, Kerikeri’s Stephen Barker, won the FST shootout in 2010 and has enjoyed a very busy year with M-Sport. Provided with accommodation on-site, Barker has been part of the crew which constructed, from scratch, 24 Ford Fiesta R2 rally cars for use in the inaugural season of the FIA WRC Academy.
“As part of my new role,” said Barker in a recent update for New Zealand rally fans, “I was also given the responsibility of shaking down each and every car prior to their first event. What is more, I helped put the Academy drivers through their paces as I helped introduce each of them to the Fiesta R2 when they attended an M-Sport training day in Cumbria prior to the 2011 Vodafone Rally de Portugal.”
Barker’s year at M-Sport is nearly complete and, during his time with the team, he has hosted VIP guests the Portuguese WRC event, drawn on his graphic design expertise to sign-write rally cars, and worked with the mechanical team to build a WRC-spec Ford Fiesta in just two weeks.
Peter Johnston notes: “Ben has several exciting days ahead of him this week and with this season’s championship-winning experience behind him, I would love to see Ben do as well as Stephen did and win the FST International Shootout. It’s clear that Stephen has done very well at M-Sport and it’s this kind of international exposure that can help our young rally stars create a successful career in this demanding sport. It’s fantastic to see Stephen’s hard work is further adding to the global reputation created by our world rally champion driver Hayden Paddon. I wish Ben, with Neil Allport beside him, all the very best.”
Scholarship Winner To Debut At Hampton Downs
SpeedSport Ltd
Albany Toyota driver, Haydn Mackenzie, was reasonably happy with the results of his first round in the BNT NZV8 Championship at Pukekohe, after he missed the testing session due to the late arrival of his re-built engine.
“We had to go straight into qualifying with no testing on the car, so we were quite happy to qualify in the top ten,” said Mackenzie. “We made some adjustments for the first race and finished eighth. In the second race, we had a windscreen wiper fall off, which dropped me down the field with vision problems in the worsening wet conditions. While frustrating, it was probably just as well, or I probably would have been caught up in all the carnage that happened with the front runners. Quite frankly, I believe that race should never have been started in those conditions, and certainly should have been halted when the rain got heavier. For the third race, a sixth place was an improvement, and at least we finished the meeting with an undamaged car!”
Mackenzie said his team intends to contest the full championship this season and is looking forward to some more opportunities to improve his car’s performance.
Mackenzie also said he was pleased to see the prototype ‘NZV8 Car of the Future’ that Derek Mitchell has built for the Albany Toyota team, out on the track during the lunch-break. “We had run it briefly at Meremere drag strip, just to check that everything was working, so to see it on the track – albeit driven fairly slowly – was great, and everyone involved with it seemed very impressed. We will need to do some more private testing etc to fully sort it out, but of course it is not eligible to compete in the NZV8s until next season’s championship (2012-2013),” he said.
For further information: Haydn Mackenzie - Mob 021 908 725
Attached are two free-to-use images, but please credit Geoff Ridder. The images show Haydn Mackenzie in action at Pukekohe, and also the ‘Car of the Future’ being driven around the circuit.
New TradeZone/SpeedSport Scholarship winner Malcolm Finch will make another debut appearance this weekend when the New Zealand Formula First championship heads to the south Auckland based Hampton Downs race circuit for the first time this season. The eight-round series is contested at the four North Island racing circuits and Finch has so far raced at both Manfeild and Taupo.
Scholarship co-founder and Sabre team owner Dennis Martin said he has been impressed with the 20-year-old Aucklander's debut performances in the TradeZone/SpeedSport car and predicts he'll be a podium contender when the racing returns to the tracks in the New Year.
"Malcolm is showing good pace so far this season and is learning quickly how to adapt to the Formula First racing cars," said Martin.
"Taupo has always been my guide as to how a driver is coping, the infield part of the circuit in particular always reveals driving short-comings and Malcolm reversed the trend of our cars being slow off turn one. His performance through the infield technical section was very good, " he added.
"Considering Malcolm didn't do our usual pre-season test at Taupo I think he did a very good job."
Two rounds down and Finch is lying sixth overall in the New Zealand series and currently ranks second-best rookie driver.
"I'm really enjoying the opportunity," said Finch. "Winning the TradeZone/SpeedSport Scholarship is a big kick-start to my racing ambitions and every weekend we race I am learning something new. Living close to Hampton Downs I've been there a few times and now I can't wait to race there for the first time this weekend."
Finch, a student at Auckland University, has just finished his first year examinations towards a Bachelor of Engineering.
For his Scholarship year, Finch receives a full-funded season racing a Formula First single-seater with Sabre Motorsport, a customised Chicane racing suit with boots and gloves, and a new Arai race helmet.
Details about the TradeZone/SpeedSport Scholarship are also available on a newly released website www.speedsportscholarship.co.nz.
Boomrock owner drives new venture
The owner of Wellington corporate retreat Boomrock has a new passion in life – making New Zealand roads safer. Jonny Eastwick talks to Catherine Harris.
A tour around Boomrock with the owner is a bit like taking inventory. Gun range? Check. Helicopter pads? Check. Racetrack?
"Hang on," says Jonny Eastwick as he accelerates his 4WD Mercedes Benz. "We're going to take this corner a little fast."
He presses the accelerator and just as the stomach starts to lurch, the vehicle's automatic stability control kicks in, bringing what seemed like an out-of-control ride right back into line.
This is obviously a showstopper for many of Boomrock's corporate visitors and the view is amazing. Eastwick observes with a smile that this is one of the few racetracks that appears to fall into the sea. It's an optical illusion, of course. Boomrock is perched atop Eastwick's family farm at the top of Ohariu Valley. To the south, Makara's windswept shores. To the north, Mana Island and Titahi Bay.
Eastwick's farm has been in his family for three generations. By all accounts, he is a very private person which is one reason why only staff can drive up there. Everyone else comes in by helicopter or bus.
"I think that we like to use it very much as a family, hence we won't put accommodation in here ... You know it's your own when no-one's here, which is really important to us as a family."
Eastwick did an agricultural degree and always figured farming would be his career. But a downturn in farming 16 years ago led him to start thinking laterally.
"I was brought up that farming was going to be [my] life and then had to fully re-educate which has been the interesting part."
His solution was a luxury retreat with the best of food and adventurous activities which were outside the daily norm. The lodge sits on a family picnic spot.
"In the early days no-one did anything up here because it was too windy, but once we broke away from that thought pattern and could actually get power in ...
"We obviously took a bit of a risk at that stage and honestly, from the day it's gone in, it's given a lot of people a lot of satisfaction."
A racetrack, designed with the help of racing driver Peter Brock, followed. Visitors can also try their hand at helicopter flying, extreme off-roading, knife throwing, archery, golf, claybird shooting, whisky tasting or cooking with celebrity chefs.
Ad Feedback However, Eastwick has always wanted Boomrock to be more than a luxury playground. His aim was to be "a brand other leading brands wanted to be a part of".
His partners are Mercedes, which uses the racetrack exclusively as a showcase for buyers and Boomrock visitors, and Beretta, which supplies the guns.
The added benefit of Boomrock for Eastwick are the guests he meets and the ideas they bring. A self-taught entrepreneur, he believes one of the benefits of not having a formal business background is that he has no restrictions. "I've always looked at things a little differently. I'm being educated all the time.
"I personally feel each and every person's got their own opportunity and you've got to make the most of it. Every person who works here is out of their comfort zone all the time.
"We're very, very open to ... investigating other opportunities, and luckily now we get a lot of opportunities put in front of us, which is fantastic."
ONE OF those opportunities, and Eastwick's most recent project, is Fleetsafe NZ, a sophisticated driver education programme.
"We were getting people coming through who were looking at buying fleets of cars and key people were jumping out saying, `Look, I want to put my whole team through here."'
Eastwick had already been thinking about driver safety and, in tandem with researchers, began developing an educational package.
"It's leading edge technology," he says, pulling out a hard black briefcase and several pieces of equipment.
One plugs into the car computer, collecting information about driver reactions, distance travelled and fuel used, as a professional driver puts the trainee through their paces.
Then, using technology from the United States and Waikato University, the trainee gets an assessment of their performance.
"You get a reading out from there whether you are low, medium or high risk. In our research [New Zealanders] are about 9 per cent low risk, so there's a huge problem here."
The next stage is a half-day practical done at racetracks around the country, with NZQA standards.
Professional drivers in Mercedes Benz cars educate the trainees, and all the information is put into a formal report which looks at both the individual driver and the company's performance.
Although Fleetsafe has largely been used by corporates, Eastwick thinks it has much wider applications.
He is about to do a pilot programme with two Wellington schools using racing driver Greg Murphy as frontsman. "What we've got to do is change the culture and you can't just do it with the older drivers, you've got to come at the front end as well."
Eventually he would like to market it to all drivers. Research in Britain has shown similar programmes have reduced crashes by up to 50 per cent and fuel usage by up to 30 per cent.
"There are $3.6 billion associated with road crashes in New Zealand, that's social costs. So we expect substantial savings. That's not just for the Government, it's for everyone. It's for you and I."
Eastwick can see a market for Fleetsafe technology overseas and he'd like to see Boomrock break further into the Australian market – "we do a lot of things which you can't do in Australia".
The Rugby World Cup gave him a helping hand in the form of two Australian film crews that served up an eyeful of Boomrock scenery on primetime TV.
With 80 per cent of Boomrock's business still domestically based, Eastwick admits the recession has had an impact.
But just as he did earlier, he sees diversifying his income as a way to overcome cyclical downturns. "The end of 2010 was definitely a lot softer for us, and we just have to diversify our clientele and we probably do a lot more private functions than we used to do."
I suggest Eastwick's farming background has something to do with his outlook, that opportunities – like land – can be pioneered.
He nods. With Fleetsafe NZ, he says, "we want to make a difference in New Zealand and with Boomrock, we want to give people an amazing lifelong memory ... Everything's about the experience."
- Fairfax Media
To view this article click here
Veteran Smith aims for five in a row
He will head to Ruapuna happy in the knowledge that last year he made a clean sweep in qualifying and set a lap record.
Before that, Smith was one of four drivers - Peter Whitehead, Jim Clark and Craig Baird are the others - to have won the trophy three times - in his case across three different decades, first in 1976 in a Lola T332 F5000, then in 1990 in a Swift Toyota Formula Pacific, and in 2009 and 2010 in a Formula 5000.
Although he has yet to properly test the car, Smith says he expects it to be competitive straight out of the box. "Barry's done the whole thing and it's absolutely beautiful."
He believes his competition this season will again come from the McRae GM1s of Ross and Esterer.
Traditionally, the MSC series entry has been supplemented by overseas drivers in January and February, but this season Esterer, Chris Lambden and British driver Greg Thornton (Chevron B24) have entered all six rounds, including the season finale at Phillip Island, Australia, in early March.
Lining up against Smith, Ross, Esterer, Lambden and Thornton this weekend will be a mix of series regulars and newcomers split fairly evenly between the North and South Islands.
The round will also see the series debut of well-known local historic category racer Dave Arrowsmith in a rare Ford-powered Lotus 78, and Aucklander David Banks in a Talon MR1/A.
The meeting is supported by Historic Touring Cars, Classic Saloons, the Open Saloon Car Association, Historic OSCA, Mini 7s, pre-65s and motorcycles.
CALENDAR
Round 1: Nov 5-6
Wigram Revival meeting
Ruapuna Park, Christchurch
Round 2: Nov 12-13
MG Classic
Manfeild, Feilding
Round 3: Jan 21-22
NZ Festival of Motor Racing
Hampton Downs
Round 4: Jan 28-29
NZ Festival of Motor Racing
Hampton Downs
Round 5: Feb 4-5
Skope Classic meeting
Ruapuna Park, Christchurch
Round 6: March 9-11
Phillip Island Classic meeting
Phillip Island, Victoria, Australia
By Eric Thompson
Head to NZ Herald for this article and more.
Drift along for smoky action
By Eric Thompson
One of the fastest-growing motorsport categories swings into action this weekend at Manfeild when the D1NZ Drifting Championship sees 55 drivers open their campaigns.
As well as vying for line honours, contestants will have an eye on the $5000 cash first prize.
"At each round this season, the winner will earn a one-off cash prize or package of $5000," said series organiser Brendon White.
"At Manfeild, the money is coming from Shred Motorsport in Lower Hutt and it's got everybody talking."
Organisers of the opening national round have received a bumper 55 entries, including defending and three-time champion Gaz Whiter (Nissan S14) from Dargaville.
He'll be battling it out with former series champion Daniel Woolhouse from Whangarei (Holden Commodore), high-profile international Mike Whiddett (Mazda RX7) from Auckland, and the winner and runner-up respectively of the Tectaloy International Drift Challenge in Sydney, Carl Whittaker (Toyota 2JZ-engined Nissan Skyline R34) and Daynom Templeman (Mazda RX7), both from Auckland.
As well as the head-to-head action between the top contenders, fans will be able to see the new D1ProAm series for 20 rookie drivers, with the newbies getting mentoring from the D1 series drivers.
A local driver to watch out for in the ProAm ranks is Wanganui's Ricki Lee, who drives a Mazda RX7.
Leading the local D1NZ line-up are Palmerston North drivers Will Cook (Toyota Supra) and Shane Rutland (Nissan S14), and Wellingtonians Carlos Walters Rangitihi (Nissan Skyline R33) and Dimitri Amos (Nissan SR20-engined Toyota Corolla).
Hawke's Bay driver Mac Kwok will also be a crowd-pleaser behind the wheel of his twin-turbocharged V8-engined Nissan S13, one of the most spectacular drift combinations in the country at the moment.
"We're a show sport," White said.
"We're entertainers.
"We do it for the fans - the people who pay good money to come and see us - as much as we do it for ourselves."
Drifting differs from conventional motor racing in that drivers do not complete a lap and there is no first past the post.
At each competition venue, a course is mapped out with specific start, finish and clipping-point areas.
The general idea is for each driver to drift (slide or oversteer) the car through each corner with the power on, the tyres smoking and with controlled precision.
Drivers are also awarded points for style.
After single-car qualifying runs through the course to establish a top 32, competitors then battle each other through two tandem runs, with each driver getting a chance to lead and follow. Judges mark drivers on line, angle of drift, speed,
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