Round Two – Ruapuna Park, Christchurch
28th and 29th November 2009
After going over everything there is to go over after Pukekohe, we load up and head south to Christchurch.
We stay the first night at my brother Terry’s place; only a short three hour drive to the ferry in the morning. Mangaweka is a small country town on the main road south, with a lot of history. In the 6 o’clock closing days a group of us racers would head off to the Levin race track and whoever got to Taihape first lined up the jugs prior to the pub closing. At around 6:30p.m. we would stage a race from Taihape to Mangaweka over some amazing hilly roads with lots of first gear corners; sadly all gone now to modern straight roads with passing lanes.
On one occasion negotiating a steep first gear turn to the left I am confronted by a large truck (for then) coming down the hill. Big trouble, as we both won’t make it and the truck’s brakes would be glowing by then. I notice a large tree to my left with a driveway to a farm to the tree’s left, and I have no option but to make a diversion, heading for the farmer’s gate and letter box. Lucky for me I notice a bit of a path, probably caused by the mail man. This went around behind the tree and back out on to the road I just left, and I never lost a place in the race!
Just prior to Hunterville more trouble; a cop in a PA Vauxhall has the road blocked. He had been tipped off about a convoy of old Ford and Chev. Coupes heading his way. He stopped all eight of us. After a good old fashioned telling off we were on the road again. Bit of useless information, but after doing the trip for the past 40 years; a similar story comes to mind as we pass each town!
That was then; this is now.
We arrived at Strait Shipping in Wellington for the 1.00p.m. sailing. The crossing was calm and the food on board is better than most restaurants. Off at Picton and arrived at the Raceway Motel (horses that is…) in Christchurch by 9.30p.m. Set up day at the track on Friday with testing Saturday morning, with qualifying in the afternoon.
We were at the top of the time sheets in each session and qualify on the front row in dry conditions. Sunday we have three televised races, none on Saturday now. It decided to rain on race day, the rain turning the dirty, dusty pit area into a bog; not very pleasant.
Race one was a good event and we took the lead briefly, but settled for 2nd in a good clean battle.
Race two; on the front row again only to lose 5 places due to wheel spin at the start. Some good racing and passing to get back to 2nd again, but “Fish and Chips” had well cleared out by then.
The main event; 22 laps in a reverse grid format. We start second to last in terrible conditions, really dangerous but the show must go on. We have TV deadlines you know…
During the race we had several yellow flag areas and no passing zones. One team member who had appointed himself as “race director” was so busy poncing up and down the pit road telling other teams that their drivers had passed under the yellow flags, only to get back to his own outfit and find his car missing! Then a red flag and the race is stopped, and we are about 11th from 23rd, having passed 4 cars on the previous lap.
At the restart the grid format is from the previous lap, so we go back 4 places. Now we have to pass the same people again, still in the pouring rain. We need to keep McIntyre behind us by 5 cars to win the day and this was going well. Then, some cars behind us go off and we lose our advantage, eventually finishing 2nd for the round by one point; a great effort.
We have moved from 7th after Pukekohe to 2nd in the championship. Roll on Invercargill next year!
In summary, it was an excellent weekend. We know we must collect points and keep the pressure on. The class has several good drivers that have not enjoyed good equipment in the past and with changes in personnel and cars, they are now up front chipping away. Our package is good; we are all working well and Mark Pedersen is back helping run the team, taking some pressure off the others. Now that we have three races per day, analysing all the data in time for the next race is paramount.
The biggest disappointment is the reluctance of our programme organisers to find their way clear to stage a support race between the Porsche event and the NZV8's , both held one after the other. Craig has no gap between our race and his Porsche race; a big ask; hardly time for a drink and no time to change overalls. The decals are quite different between the tyre manufacturers for instance, and other sponsors.
Craig brings some glamour to NZV8's and we all want to do well, and a wee breather between races is not a big ask. We have four or so other support categories that could be repositioned to give breathing space.
We don’t seek special treatment but after the efforts by “US” over the years, the support of United Video (over one million dollars now), the in-store motorsport competitions – over 32,000 entrants in one I remember, the show cars, shop window displays and website hits, create interest in NZ motorsport that gives a spin off effect to all categories. We would welcome a rethink on the race schedule.
Otherwise, its that great the organisers have created an area for teams to display equipment and/or merchandise away from the busy pit area, the café area is magnificent, really up- market with good size TV’s, clean comfortable seating and of course real coffee; a place to take customers and sponsors to with pride.
All back at the workshop and unloaded now after a two day drive, and start all over.
We commence with a major clean up, off with all the doors, front guards, head lights, front windscreen, front and rear bumpers, radiator and ducting, and the R/H rear ¼ panel which is quite a job and needs to be unpicked around the door boot and tail lamp areas.
We detect at least six “HITS” judging by the different colours embedded into our rear bumper, rear ¼ panel and rear door.
The rear ¼ panel could be repaired, but not nicely plus the hit was so good the boot floor is also bent all the way into the fuel tank.
At least the front is good and unmarked. Our car set up allows Craig to use his skills to set up the car safely for fast and the slower turns and complete moves without incident.
Craig’s braking is second to none most people that try to out brake us end up locking their brakes and crashing into our car, or going off and blame us!!
That is racing, and this is Auckland and naturally still raining.
Maybe a motor bike ride on Sunday if it stops and the Rego runs out, looks like being expensive!.....
That will do for now gotta go an help take the fuel tank out,
Thank you all for the support and interest,
Garry, Patrick, Gazza and the Team…………