bd 26/04/13 by SunLive

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Friday 26 April 2013

Assistant pro Blake Prior and director of golf at Fairview, Nick Wilson, check out the new Kuga’s cargo capacity.

Ford Kuga

Smart sophistication See page 4

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Friday 26 April 2013

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It is all about the Ford muscle for Dick Davis who has owned dozens of great Fords, including his latest - a 1998 Ford Mustang. Photo by Tracy Hardy.

Blue-blooded and proud of it Manchester-born and bred former union rep Dick Davis knows a thing or two about class, but he has always been blue-blooded. “They are just the best. Haven’t you driven one?” says Dick, when asked what makes him love Ford’s oval blue badge so much. Dick’s love affair with the Ford badge began at about age 15 when he got his first car, a 1934 Ford Ten which he clearly remembers squeezing eight or nine into, to go to dances. “There was a group of us boys and girls and we would all get in and head off to the rock and roll dances. We had lots of great fun. Lots of mischief as you can imagine.” He says they would often squeeze eight

or nine in the car. “I was in the group of boys and girls and we would all squeeze in to it and head off the rock and roll dances. We had lots of great fun. Lots of mischief as you can imagine.” Dick, who migrated to New Zealand in 1970, is proud to have owned dozens of Fords over the years – including many he has done up himself – saying it’s difficult to remember them all. “I’ve actually lost count of how many cars I’ve had over here but I’ve had plenty. I would probably on average change the majority of cars every six months. I do them up the way I want to and then find there is nothing else I can do so I get bored and look

for a new car. “But this car”, he says pointing to his latest purchase - a 1998 Ford Mustang – “has got to be my last car because I’m retired and I can’t afford to buy any more”. One that stands out as a favourite is a 1959 MKII Zephyr he did up and owned for about seven years before selling it. “I put a V8 into it and turned it into twodoor coupe and completely rebuilt the thing, putting in late model running gear. It was a great car. I was sorry to see it go – it brought back a lot of memories from the UK and the rock and roll era.” He laughs recalling his only foray into

Holdens, when he was doing duel sprints at the old Baypark Speedway. He lost control of his XU1 Torana at the sweeper and “the thing barrel-rolled five or six times. I’ve never driven one since”. Dick is the vice president of the Ford Muscle Car Club, which he has been involved in for 19 years. This Sunday the club is celebrating its 20th anniversary with a cruise leaving from the Street Rodders clubrooms in Cherokee Place at 10.30am, before returning for a barbecue and social gathering. He is encouraging former and current members to take part, saying they only need to bring a salad (meat supplied). Details: www.fordmusclecars.org.nz By Hamish Carter

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Crossover to adventure Cars are getting so clever these days, I’m fearing for my job. Cars have moved on from simply changing gear themselves to now parking themselves, automatically selecting all-wheel-drive when conditions dictate – and one even automatically opens the back tailgate, with a wave of your foot, when your hands are full. I fear for my job because at this rate, cars may soon write their own reviews. I could blame the Kuga. It has more features than I could have imagined and after driving it for a day, I still hadn’t discovered all its nifty little secrets. Mind you, I was far too busy actually enjoying the driving to look too closely for many of the spectacular innovations. Because the Kuga is a delight to drive – that alone has me sold long before I start exploring the magical wonders of its special features. Our test model is the top of the range Titanium 2 litre diesel. Resplendent in eye-catching “ginger ale” it looks more like an earthy green to me. That colour polarises all who see it, either loving it or hating it. Everyone has to comment about it. The Kuga looks good, even standing still. The overall size is perfectly pitched for the sophisticated crossover market. Small enough to avoid feeling daunting like a hard core 4WD, yet big enough to sensibly and comfortably take a family in

wheel and eyes on the road ahead. On the street, the 2 litre turbo diesel is peppy and smooth. The Kuga is very quick off the mark and the low down torque of the diesel is one of the best I’ve ever driven. Gear changes in the six stage auto are virtually indistinguishable and the handling is well balanced and accurate. Despite all the clever gadgetry, I simply enjoy the actual drive the most. Willing and ready, I have to constantly watch my speed as the Kuga just wants to go. It feels so secure and predictable in handling that it’s too easy to let it whizz up the dial. Active park-assist is a piece of genius for those challenged by parallel parking. It helps Simply sophisticated find a spot the car will fit, then simply parks From then, you can use the Kuga as sophisitself, with the driver using accelerator and ticatedly or as simply as you feel. It will, on brake. voice commands, operate the stereo, radio or The all-wheel-drive system cleverly adjusts, your cellphone, just by calling a name. It will in a split second, (actually every 16 millisecplay specific artists, albums or tracks – or turn onds!) to any changes in road conditions that on shuffle, with just a word from the driver, require a shift in traction between all four with hands always safely on the wheels. The rest of the time, the Kuga zips along happily in economic front-wheel-drive mode. The cruise control has some very cool features, including adjustable speed Ford limiting, which senses when a K uga T Engin vehicle in front is slowing or e itaniu Engin Type: 16V stopping. A “Forward Alert” audio m e Dis 2 L place common cylind and visual collision warning system D ment iesel e : 2.0 rail turbo Trans r lets you know when there’s threat diesel litre D missio urato Safety n: 6of another vehicle potentially being rq TD sp : Ci 4 ing sy 5 Star Eur eed Powe a problem… and as we know, this is r s o S Price tem and au NCAP sa hift autom a pretty handy feature in Tauranga. : Dies f t e a o t t y rati mati ic el Conta It went off three times on Cameron ct: Ul $54,990, c braking ng, collisi T on wa timat Road alone! e Mo itanium p rntor G e roup trol $52,9 On the highway the Kuga changes Phon e 07 5 90 + ORC its spots from the nifty around-town 79 01 80 tootler, to a lithe performer with long legs and a very purposeful attitude. I’ve always admired Ford stability and cornering, safety and style. And, big enough to feel solid and protective on the highway – and to hold a top safety rating. Sitting in the driver’s seat, the dash is loaded with controls, without being too tricky. It’s all amazingly intuitive, even at first glance. There is a lot of information and controls but they’re so well set-out that using them is second nature from the get-go. Best of all is the start button. You only need to be in possession of the fob key, put a foot on the brake and push the start button. No fumbling with ignition keys, wrestling with locked steering wheels or pushing buttons on keys. Just get in, push go.

SPEC

a unique feel of “tracking on rails”, and the Kuga has inherited those genes. Even after a short time behind the wheel, this car inspired confidence and control. Eventually I had to tear myself away from this pure sensation of driving pleasure to look deeper into the finer points.

Driver assistance

There’s driver drowsiness detection and a lane keeping aid. Front and rear parking assist sensors to help ease the Kuga into those tighter spots. Inside, the Kuga feels spacious for its size. The rear 60/40 split seats give maximum versatility for loads. A large power sunroof gives the option of fresh air, full light or completely closed. Some models have an adjustable floor height, making the space deeper, or raised, with the seats all down to create a flat load floor. There are also hidden compartments for stowing valuables out of sight. Overall, the Kuga is a great mid-sized performer with the full load of gadgetry – you can use as much or as little as required, to suit your life, adventures or mood. The important point is that the technology is very user friendly. Above all else, the Kuga is a pleasure to drive, with sure-footed power delivered all round where and when it’s needed; and economy of two wheel drive as the norm. There’s not a lot in the all-wheel-drive market for under $40,000 and the base model Kuga should really appeal to those wanting a well-priced crossover with the smart traction system. It is smart in every sense of the word – from styling to performance, and especially in its high level of development, that is not just hi-tech, but incredibly sensibly useable and intuitive, even for the most tech-challenged amongst us. By Brian Rogers

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Bay Driver Friday 26 April 2013

Friday 26 April 2013

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Friday 26 April 2013

Supercar legend educates

V8 Supercar legend Greg Murphy speaks about why young drivers need to keep safe on the roads.

As a teenager V8 Supercar legend Greg Murphy says he never really understood the importance of road safety. Now, a driving champion, Greg wants teenagers to understand the importance of driving safe. “I thought the same as most of the kids do these days. The risk was not there. I didn’t asses it as being a problem.” Greg says he made some “big errors” on the road when he was a teenager. “It was a significant one too which could have been different as a result. I rode a car off and injured someone. I mean it doesn’t get much worse.” Greg is visiting schools around the country promoting road safety messages to young drivers. On April 16 and 17 Greg visited Otumoetai College and Tauranga Girls’ College. Together the Motor Trade Association and Greg have developed a formula that makes road safety

Photos by Tracy Hardy.

interesting and digestible for secondary school students, as part of the Government’s Safer Journey’s programme. “We just want to make them give a bit more of a thought process before getting behind the wheel and also the importance of getting good training,” says Greg. In his presentations Greg shares personal stories, reasons why he is keen to improve safety performance among young drivers and what students can do to improve their safety on the roads. Greg wants to change the culture of how people perceive getting a licence and having the right to drive on the roads. “We need to understand that there’s a lot more risk associated with it. “We don’t put enough emphasis on the dangers of driving motor vehicles. There needs to be more respect given to the right to be able to get behind the wheel of a car.”

The 2013 Weekend Sun Friday 26 April

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Seasoned drivers teach young Concerns about driving standards have prompted MotorSport Bay of Plenty to launch a training programme to help young drivers finetune their skills. Club president Geoff Andrews says the group had many highly-skilled drivers who were keen to share their tips to help young drivers at its oneday training course. “We have had an interest in improving driver skills for some time and we have some talented drivers with instructing experience who are going to help.” The ‘SkillDrive’ programme was endorsed and launched by V8 legend Greg Murphy last week who commended the club and programme supporters including Sun Media, for the “exciting initiative” to help young drivers. The quarterly programme will be held at the Te Matai Motorsport area at TECT All Terrain Park to give drivers the chance to put the

training into practice in a safe environment. Geoff says the club has been exploring ways to teach better car control to unskilled drivers and believes TECT park’s motorsports area offers the perfect safe environment for members with extensive driver training experience to pass on their skills. “They will have a chance to learn skid control and we will have a car available for them to use if they don’t want to sue their own.” The programme will be run quarterly and is aimed at new drivers, but unlicenced, learner drivers can also take part. It will combine theoretical teaching, from spatial awareness to distance judgement and hazard identification, before drivers have a chance to put theory into practice over a few courses. To register for the first course go to: www.mbop.org,nz Watch Greg Murphy share his passion for young driver training and hear about some of his own errors as a young driver at: www.sunlive.co.nz

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Friday 26 April 2013

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Friday 26 April 2013

College motocross graduating Tauranga Boys’ College rider Reed Van de Leer competes at this month’s Western Heights MotoX event.

The growth in the popularity of motocross at Western Bay secondary schools has led to plans for the region’s first inter-school event later this year. Tauranga Boys’ College motocross team manager Tony Heyblom is driving plans to host a round at Pirini Motorbike Park at the end of the season. “Our problem in Tauranga is that we don’t have a track that can cater to the large numbers the event would attract. Maddix Park just couldn’t cope with the 300 odd riders and all their supporters.” Tony says work needed to be done to modify the track – which was designed for quad biking – to offer a starting line where all motocross riders could begin together. He aims to hold the inter-school event in September or October, with hopes to make it an annual event. He says motocross has become a serious sporting option at secondary schools, with riders in the individual pursuit benefitting from being part of a team – which saw Western Bay riders take part in a two-day riding camp at Pirini park in Patetonga at the start of the season in March. The camp attracted 65 riders, including 39 from the boys’ team, for training sessions with some top Tauranga-based riders. “We had Ben Townley and Nick Franklin, both world

Photo by Hayley Hawkless.

champs, join us at the camp and Dion Picard an up and coming New Zealand star, along with Niki Urwin. Not many sports, let alone school teams, can call on world champs to come along and have a play!” He says it was a great way to begin the season, with all the riders inspired by the top riders. “When Ben took to the track they were in awe. They didn’t know whether to watch him ride or follow him.” Tony says it was great to see the community get behind the sport, with generous sponsorship from many businesses. After a mixed start to the season Tauranga Boys’ motocross team – at the first inter-college event in Patetonga last month the team finished 16 out of 22 after a few bike breakdowns – the school returned to better form finishing fifth at the recent Western Heights MotoX Tournament in Rotorua. “I would have liked to have done better, but we’re getting there.” Otumoetai College, which debuted its motocross team last year, has joined Boys’ as the dominant Western Bay schools competing. The Otumoetai team did not compete at the Rotorua event, but had begun the season reasonably – finishing ahead of all other Western Bay schools at the Patetonga event (10th overall out of 22). By Hamish Carter

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Drifting off to Taupo After a successful round in Christchurch, Tauranga’s drift racing couple are turning their attention to D-Comp 2013 in Taupo next weekend – aiming for success in the national drifting event on and off the track. Both Jodie Verhulst and Drew Donovan had podium finishes in their respective fields at Ruapuna in Christchurch, in the recent fifth round of the D1NZ National Drifting Championships, in what they both described as their season’s top achievement. Jodie, who was third in the Pro-Am series for the second time this season, said it was a great result after a series of frustrations including problems with Drew’s car that forced them to share her car at the Hampton Downs round. “Wow, we had an amazing run of it,” says Jodie about their Christchurch success which saw the pair set a new record as the first team to have team members make the podium in both divisions. “We are so proud of our latest achievements and to have two new trophies to add to the collection.” Drew, who finished third in the D1NZ Pro Class to have his best performance all year, was equally ecstatic, describing his success as “huge”. Next weekend the pair will be taking both their cars to the Taupo Motorsport Park for the D-Comp event they have organised as part of the annual Diesel, Demons and Daredevils motorsport festival. The weekend of racing and displays will include racing by trucks, motards, sidecars and an all-comers saloon race class, along with the drift event that the pair are organising for the fourth year. While Jodie will be competing on the Taupo track, Drew will have to limit himself to a play in the car on Friday’s test day with his focus on running the event for his drift event company he started six years ago that mainly puts on practice events. “Interest has been growing every year. We’ve got most of the top 10 driver in the D1NZ this year so it should be a great event.” Drew believes his experience as a driver helps him put on a good event, saying you know what drivers expect and always are thinking about all the details from the driver’s perspective. “I really enjoy the promotional aspect of it. It’s great putting on a good event and showcase drifting.” Beyond Taupo, both Drew and Jodie are looking forward to competing in the final round of D1NZ series and have their fingers crossed it will be held in Pukekohe, as initially planned. Plans to hold the sixth round at Pukekohe on April 6-7 were put on hold because of resident’s concerns about the noise. A final decision on whether it will be held at Pukekohe or Taupo, in late May or early June, is expected soon.

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Friday 26 April 2013

Rat Attack races on

This weekend it is all about speed for Mike Reid. After meticulous fine-tuning of legendary 1955 Chev dragster ‘Rat Attack’, Mike is determined to set a new record at the Taupo Thunder Dragways. Mike, who splits his time between working from Omokoroa and running the family farm in Mahia Peninsula, knows he is out of the running for the national drag title but is determined to set a personal speed record in the car. “I’ve been getting my backside kicked all around the country,” says Mike, about his drag season that has seen him tailing a distant second place 104 points behind Morice McMillin, from Hamilton, in the door slammer class. Mike, who has been drag racing ‘properly’ since 1994, did win the round in Tokoroa, but annoyingly the victory did not count for group one points. “I’ve always loved V8s – as a kid I was really mechanically minded and I was racing motorbikes by the time I was six. It’s been the family thing.” This weekend’s event at Taupo, the final round in the drag racing association’s national point score series, will also be his son Clinton’s debut in the ‘Super Streets’ class, after graduating from years competing in the junior dragster class. “He’s only just racing at the nationals, this will be his first event. He’s pretty excited and pretty nervous.” Mike says Clinton, 18, is up against some people with a lot of experience, “but he’s got one of the quicker cars in that bracket so he stands as good a chance as any”. Clinton, who caught the bug off Mike, is racing the 1985 Nissan ute (7.1 Chev engine) which Mike competed in before getting the legendary ‘Rat Attack’ from

The 2013 Weekend Sun Friday 26 April

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Mike Reid with the legendary 1955 Chevy drag car ‘Rat Attack’ which he hopes to set a personal record in at the national drag series final in Taupo this weekend. Photo by Earl Edwards.

seasoned Tauranga drag racer Chris Tynan. “It’s a huge step up, but just like me going into the Chev, it’s a huge step up,” says Mike about Clinton’s transition from junior dragsters to the nitro-powered ute, which he has reached a top speed of 140 mph in, doing a 9.4 second quarter mile. Mike, who bought ‘Rat Attack’ off Tauranga drag icon Chris Tynan four years ago, says it is a “huge” privilege to be racing the Bel Air Chevy that Chris set numerous records in since its 1981 drag debut. “It’s probably the most historic active car in New Zealand now. It’s an amazing opportunity to have the car in our shed,” says Mike, who until six months ago was based full-time in Omokoroa. “At some stage or another it held a record at every track in New Zealand. It only just recently lost its mile per hour record but it still holds track record at Christchurch and Nelson.” Mike has got ‘Rat Attack’ to a speed of

170 mph, covering the quarter mile drag in 7.9 seconds, but this weekend he is determined to squeeze even more out of the methanol supercharged engine. “We plan on reducing that 7.9 second at the nationals. We are going for broke – we are going for 7.6 or a 7.7.” Ironically many of Rat Attack’s records have fallen to Chris’s replacement car – ‘Rat Attack Two’ - which is based on the same car with a true 1955 Chevy engine but with a more aerodynamic fibreglass body. “I haven’t raced him yet but once the Tauranga track is up and running I hope to have a showdown up there,” says Mike who describes Chris and his wife Colleen as family. “But I never knew when I got this car I was going to adopt another family.” Mike is also grateful for the support of sponsors to help him cover the cost of racing ‘Rat Attack’ – including West Coast Classics Ltd, Landon Motorsports, Bay Speed and Century Batteries.

April 27 Top Half Midget Series round three at ASB Baypark Speedway, with racing also by sprint, saloon, stock and mini stock car classes. Racing from 6.30pm-10pm. Details: www. asbbaypark.co.nz April 28 Ford Muscle Car Club celebrates its 20th anniversary with a cruise around the Mount followed by a social barbecue. Meet at Street Rodders Club, Cherokee Place, at 10.30am. Details: www.fordmusclecars.org.nz April 28 Ngongotaha Hillclimb round three, the final round in the series on the tarmac climb, is being held by Rotorua Car Club. May 4 Waihi Beach Dirt Track Club race day. Details: www. waihibeachdirttrackclub.co.nz May 10-12 The Targa Rotorua will see top rallying return to the central North Island, with racing in the three-day event covering 375kms of back roads from Rotorua to Tokoroa and Cambridge. Details: www.targa.co.nz

Beyond the Bay

April 26-27 NZDRA NZ Nationals final round at Taupo Thunder Dragway with racing in a range of classes from bikes to super stocks and dragsters. Details: www.taupodrags.co.nz May 4-5 Diesel, Demons and Daredevils will see motorsport enthusiasts competing across a range of events at Ricoh Taupo Motorsport Park from drifting, bikes and sidecars to drags, an all-comers class and truck racing. To submit a motorsport event for listing, please email details to: hamishcarter@thesun.co.nz at least two weeks prior to the event.

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Bay Driver Friday 26 April 2013

Friday 26 April 2013

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