Bay Driver 20 June

Friday 20 June 2014

Friday 20 June 2014

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Friday 20 June 2014

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www.baydriver.co.nz Advertising bookings and enquiries contact Lucy Pattison on 07 578 0030 email: lucy@thesun.co.nz For editorial and news tips email: hamish@thesun.co.nz

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ECOSPORT

Weekend Sun Friday 20 JuneThe 2014

Weekend Wheels Bay of Plenty: June 20-22: Bay Rodders’ Winter Blast 2014 Hot rod enthusiasts from around the central North Island will descend on Tauranga this weekend for Bay Rodders’ annual ‘Winter Blast’ weekend, featuring a mystery run and dinner on Saturday and a display and swap meet on Sunday at the Spring St carpark building from 9am-2pm.

The display will cover muscle cars, hot rods and race cars to street cars and motorcycles.

Entry $5 per adult, $12 per family. For details, call Dean Andersen 0274 992 947 or visit www.bayrodders.co.nz June 28: Battle of the Clubs: Taupo Motorcycle Club Top motocross riders from around the country will descend on Taupo to represent their club – including two teams from Tauranga Motorcycle Club – in the annual ‘Battle of the Club’s contest for club bragging rights. Details: www.taupomcc.co.nz June 29: Tarmac Bent Sprint: Rotorua Car Club Drivers can put their skills to the test on the 3.6km bent sprint course at Apirana Rd, Horohoro.

Entry is open on the day, with documentation from 8.30-9.30am.

For details call Lorraine Williams on 021 251 3454 or email rotoruacarclub@gmail.com

July 6: Autocross and Motorkhana: Baypark The perfect opportunity to test your driving skills is being held at ASB Baypark’s pits on July 6, with Motorsport Bay of Plenty’s Motorkhana and Autocross series. The day-long event offers newcomers to motorsport a chance to try the events out with the use of Ford Laser supplied by Te Puke Partsworld ($10 fee). For details call Linda Loughlin 07 578 0479 or visit www.mbop.org.nz

Beyond the Bay: June 28: Rallying action: Wairarapa The challenging gravel roads around Wairarapa will host the 40th annual Rally Wairarapa with drivers in the New Zealand Rally Championship – including Tauranga’s Phil Campbell and Dave Holder – contesting the fourth round of the series. It will also host the second round of the Rally Extreme Series, where Tauranga’s Wayne Pittams will be wanting to make up for a poor start.

June 28: Winter Drag Wars: Meremere Dragway SMART If you can’t wait until Labour Weekend for the return of the sights and sounds of dragsters and burning rubber, then Meremere’s Winter Drag Wars could be just what you need. This fun event is open to SUSTAINABILITY streetSMART legal cars (WOF and vehicle registration needed) and motorbikes. For details, visit: www.framautolitedragway.co.nz

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With the All-New EcoSport the urban style of a small car is neatly combined with all the fun and versatility of an SUV. From the intuitive technology of SYNC® along with EcoSport’s welcoming interior, to the impressive 550mm of waterwading and the acres of space inside, you’ll see right away why this small SUV really lets you play big.

The Weekend Sun

Bay Driver Friday 20 June 2014

Friday 20 June 2014

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Friday 20 June 2014

Rev-head’s American revival Photos by Tracy Hardy.

Classic car-lover Keith Sawyer knew it was time to trade in his Nissan R34 Skyline when the boy racers started to look at him strangely.

“I got my first Skyline when I was 22, in my boy racer days, and I’d held onto them,” says the Te Puna hot rod enthusiast.

“But when people started looking at me like this strange old guy, and asking how I had learned to drive them, I realised it was time for a change.”

Returning home from the Beach Hop five years ago, after cruising around with mates for the third year running, he knew he needed to get his own piece of American motoring history.

“It was so much fun I just wanted to get my own car to really be a part of it,” says Keith, who’d loved the American classics for years and remembers telling himself he’d build his own hot rod when he got older.

On his 40th birthday he fulfilled his dream, firing up the 1937 Pontiac

Silver Streak he’d rebuilt.

He’s still pleased with the choice of the Silver Streak he found on TradeMe, saying after five years he’s still yet to see another similar righthand-drive New Zealand-new Silver Streak anywhere.

“It’s good having something that’s just a bit different”.

This weekend Keith and the Silver Streak will be joining fellow American classic fans from around the North Island for the annual Bay Rodders’ Winter Blast weekend.

The event boasts a mystery run on Saturday and the annual swap meet and car display at the Spring St carpark building on Sunday from 9am-2pm. For details, call Dean Andersen 0274 992 947 or email www.bayrodders.co.nz “It’s a fun weekend to look forward to over winter. There’s always so much on over summer with runs and car shows almost every weekend, but that quiets right down.”

When it comes to his love for the R34 Skyline, Keith chuckles when recalling the reaction he got from fellow Bay Rodders

members about the Japanese classic.

“The old hot rod boys gave me a bit of stick about it, but that’s all part of the fun.”

Keith worked hard during weekends and evenings to get the Pontiac back on the road within 10 months, surprising many ST who FROM warned him it would take three years.

Starting with a cracked block, the $ rebuild ST FROM included replacing the Ford engine with a Chevy, installing a new radiator, brakes, $ and rewiring brake and fuel lines, new gauges throughout. ST FROM “I’m the kind of guy who doesn’t like+ORC to leave things longer than necessary, so I just got $ stuck in to get it going.”

But the satisfaction was short-lived with the gear box blowing within two years, prompting a full restoration.

“It just started out as a repair job, but because we had to take the whole front end

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off to get the engine and gear box out we decided to do the whole thing at the same time.”

After stripping the car back to bare metal, friend Shaun Fletcher, of Shirly’s Kustom Car Painters, gave the Silver Streak an impressive ‘flame’ paint job.

Action Upholstery’s new seats helped revive the interior to give a brand new look – and the revamped Silver Streak has won high praise, +ORC including best paint job award at the 2013 Coastal Cruisers Car Show and best pre-1960s +ORC classic at the 2012 All USA Day Car Show.

Ti ON RUNOU For the rest of winter, Keith will focus on his latest project – a partially-restored $ Ti ON1947 RUNOUT FROM Chevy Coupe he bought a fortnight ago.

“I wasn’t looking for anything, $ but when you come across a project like that what can you do?”

Ti ON RUNOUT FROM With the engine, gear box and chassis +ORC reconditioned, his $ main focus is on painting and priming, and assembling the body and

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Weekend Sun Friday 20 JuneThe 2014

Bay Driver

Zoom zoom to the future

In a top secret laboratory in an unknown location – probably somewhere in Japan and quite possibly with a large Mazda sign outside – some very clever people have developed the new Mazda 3. Phwoar!

This hot, hot, hot little hatch is really quite something. My cherry red, SP25 Limited Edition, with its growly 2.5 litre petrol engine, was dressed to impress. Climbing inside the beast, you are instantly hit with the space-age console laid out in front of you. Don’t let space-age frighten you though, this has been well thought-out, and is very simple to operate.

This model even has a very funky HeadsUp Display on top of the dials, which projects the speed and distance from the car in front on to a see-through display – great for lessening distraction from the road ahead.

Externally, the new Mazda 3 grabs atten-

tion. Its sporty styling will no doubt prove popular, and the gaping grille is prepared to eat anything that gets in its way.

Its 18-inch boots keep it firmly on the road, and add to its overall presence. Internally, the cabin is very modern, spacious and friendly, and extremely comfortable. There’s an air of quality all around, giving prestige feel for a Mazda price. Mazda has certainly done themselves proud here. This model has full, heated leather seats with electronic adjustment, and would adapt to any driver’s preference.

The four-cylinder, 2.5 litre petrol, mated with its six-speed SKYACTIV-Drive automatic (with manual mode) gets the power down, or cruises along in style.

Plus, the 138kw of raging bulls have no issues getting you moving.

An interesting feature of driving this car is the cruise control. Not only does it keep your speed where you set it, it will slow you down when going down hills. It also detects if you are too close to an object in front, and slows

the car right down. comfort and style. And toys, lots of toys!

What more could you want from a hot But what impressed me is it varies your hatch? And all this, starting from $39,895. speed in traffic – so if the car in front is It’s the deal of the decade.

By Jay Burston going slower than your set speed, it reduces your speed to match until they move out of your way. I’ve never seen this feature in cruise control before, and it works exceptionally well.

All the bells and whistles are packed into this car. Superb satellite navigation with a map so clear and easy to read it only takes a quick glance to see where you are. It has er, petrol Engine: Four-cylind a CD player, dual zone climate cc, 138 kW control, HUD and steering wheel Displacement: 2488 d SKYACTIVwith controls Knight Rider would ansmission: Six-speemanual mode Tr have died for. Everything is just so th Drive automatic wi thoughtfully laid-out, within easy wheel drive Drive System: Front reach and nothing is complicated to understand – even for the technicallyPrice From: $39,895 or Group, 150 challenged.

Dealer: Ultimate MotMaunganui. Call 07 nt All in all, I was impressed. Smooth, Hewletts Rd, Mou w.umg.co.nz ww powerful ride, excellent handling, it: vis or 80 01 9 57

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The Weekend Sun

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Weekend Sun Friday 20 JuneThe 2014

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Weekend Sun Friday 20 JuneThe 2014

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The Weekend Sun

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The 2014 Weekend Sun Friday 20 June

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Off-road obstacles – banking on support A $20,000 shortfall in funding is threatening to derail rising Mount Maunganui rally driver Dave Holder’s national series chances with the 24-year-old driver needing to find the money in the next week to compete at Rally Wairarapa.

“I’m still doing everything I need to do to prepare the car, but the reality is if I can’t get the funding I won’t be able to go,” says Dave.

He thanks all of his partners for their support, making the season to date possible, but says campaign costs in the top 4WD class double that of the 2WD class he competed

in last year sees him left short.

“It costs about $80,000 to run one of these cars, and we are probably spending less than most; and some of the top guys are spending quite a bit more.”

Dave says in 2013 he’d got by with some sponsorship and topping his campaign up out of his own pocket, but this season the gap is too large to cover by himself.

“I’d be tempted to put it on the credit card, so I can do the next round, but with unforeseen expenses like the engine that’s just not achievable.”

In the final few stages of the Lone Star Rally of Canterbury on June 1 Dave’s crew started to hear engine noises in the Stadium Cars Mitsubishi Evo 8, which turned out to be a problem with the bearings.

“We’ve managed to save the engine, but it’s

another $1500-$2000 in extra unforeseen expenses.”

Dave finished second overall at Rally Otago in May, taking him to fourth place overall in the series – a place he held in the Canterbury rally earlier this month where he finished third.

But he risks losing any advantage if he forfeits the fourth round of the series at Rally Wairarapa on June 28, before returning to race the last two rounds in August and September.

“We’ve been very fortunate and we’ve had a lot of support to help us get to where we are, but if we miss this round that’s pretty much it for the season – unless there are some big upsets.”

Doing a lot better than he expected in the first half of the series, Dave says he still had

“heaps” to learn before he could pick up his pace to challenge the top drivers for the lead.

“We are definitely happy that we are getting results, but Richard [Mason] and Ben [Hunt] are going quite a bit faster – so one of the next things we need to work on is doing our own pace notes rather than using someone else’s notes.”

A good relationship is developing between Dave new co-driver Ben Hawkins, and their focus on a ‘no-nonsense, steady as she goes’ approach is paying off.

As result, Dave hopes the strengthening partnership allows them to up their pace in coming rounds. Dave is keen to discuss sponsorship options with anyone interested and urges them to contact him at dave.a.holder@gmail.com or on

By Hamish Carter 027 370 2316.

Dave Holder’s safe and steady driving at the Canterbury rally earned him third place in the latest round of the national series.

Photo by Euan Cameron.

s nks all hi Dave tha or support: f , sponsors uel, VINZ

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Mount Maunganui driver Dave Holder is determined a funding challenge won’t make him miss next weekend’s Rally Wairarapa, after his successful 4WD series season debut.

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The Weekend Sun

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eron M pictured a cCaskie, Country’s M t north King o in Otoroha torcycle Club round ng Motorcycle a, is a Tauranga C heading to lub MX1 rider Taupo’s Ju ne 28 Battle of th e Clubs.

Club battle beckons The city’s top motocross riders are training hard for June 28’s Battle of the Clubs in Taupo, determined to reclaim the top club title Tauranga Motorcycle Club last held two years ago.

Club event coordinator and Battle of the Clubs competition captain Bridgette Tolfrey says Tauranga is entering two six-member teams for the first time.

As result, everyone is fired up to give it their best shot at Taupo Motorcycle Club’s Digger McEwen Motorcycle Track next Saturday, with added determination to win

coming from the tragic death of club member Trent Hayward, 14, at a May 31 motocross competition in North Canterbury.

“They are all out to win. They really want to do it for Trent,” says Bridgette, who says strong support from sponsors has prompted their decision to double the club’s teams.

A clash with the Australian national motocross series means the club’s two top riders Cody Cooper and Rhys Carter had to pull out of the team, creating a chance for other talented riders to compete.

“They are such strong riders; they are always number one and two, which means a lot of other good riders don’t get a chance so it’s good

to see Cameron McCaskie and Sam Lutes riding in their MX1 spots.”

Cameron is excited to be back in the team. He was a junior 250cc rider two years ago when the junior’s team came second.

Cameron says riding with Cody and Rhys, as part of the MX1 and MX2 rider teams in 2012, was “a great experience” and he’s looking forward to competing on the Taupo track again.

The individual sport of motocross competing as part of a team is something different, says Cameron.

“It’s a great event and awesome fun.”

Bridgette is excited to send two teams of strong players – named

the Dukes and the Lords because they are “of similar strength”.

“They are all great riders. There’s definitely no A and B team – and they are all going to give it their best.”

The Dukes team is Paul Burgess (Vets open rider), Cameron McCaskie (MX1), Matt Kenyon (MX2), Jovhann Phillips (Junior 250), Simon Atkinson (Junior 125) and Chris Merriman (Junior 85).

The Lords are Keith Patterson (Vets), Sam Lutes (MX1) Eric Morris (MX2), Josh Tredinnick (Junior 125), Reece Garrett (Junior 85), while Trent Hayward was originally picked to ride Junior 250.

Out of respect for Trent’s family, his parents were asked whether they wanted him to be replaced in the team, and by which rider, or to leave the Junior 250 spot vacant.

“They know all the other top Junior 250 riders so it’s good to leave it with them. We don’t want to make that decision.”

Bridgette thanks the club’s sponsors for support which makes it possible to send two teams, including Bayride Motorcycles, Makz Gear, Coastline Honda, Prestige Motorcycles, Action Equipment, JT Racing, Page Macrae Engineering, Financial Independence, Forever Suntanz and Sparklewhite Teeth Whitening Tauranga.

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The 2014 Weekend Sun Friday 20 June

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Cruze in control Shady driving warning Western Bay motorists are being urged to pull out the shades to help keep safe this winter.

The Automobile Association and the New Zealand Transport Agency are reminding drivers sunstrike and wet weather pose major seasonal challenges even the most experienced motorists need to be wary of.

AA motoring affairs general manager Mike Noon says a hazard drivers often forget at this time of year is sunstrike – when the sun is low in the sky creating glare on the windscreen, which is very hard for drivers to see through.

Mike says the problem is worst on winter mornings and afternoons, with about two killed and 200 injured per year when a driver is blinded by dazzling sunlight.

“From now through to August is when drivers need to be extra careful,” says Mike.

The most common types of crashes

involving sunstrike are people pulling out from a side street or driveway into the path of another vehicle they didn’t see, or rear-ending a vehicle that has stopped in front of them.

Sunstrike also adds risks for cyclists, pedestrians and motorcyclists on the road, as they can be hidden in the glare due to their smaller size.

“On sunny mornings and afternoons everyone needs to be extra cautious at intersections and not assume a driver has seen them,” says Mike.

Specsavers recommends drivers wear polarised sunglasses in sunny conditions, so only the right light is let in, while bad light is kept out, eliminating distractions and impairments caused by reflections from shiny surfaces.

To minimise sunstrike risks AA recommends motorists drive with headlights on so their vehicle is easier to see, keep windscreens clean, wear sunglasses when anticipating sunstrike – and if hit by sunstrike slow down and be extra cautious while driving.

Refinements to Holden’s popular Cruze small car line-up in its new Z-Series and Sri Z-Series (pictured), aim to build on the small car’s popularity.

Holden is aiming to build ing manager Marnie Samphier says and reverse camera and parking sensors. the new Z-Series models provide on the popularity of its The sportier SRi Z-Series, which yet more options to an already Cruze in the small car replaces SRi-V models, is available great small car and built on its in both hatch and sedan models reputation as offering great value market with a range of and comes standard with a 1.6 for money. refinements in its new litre turbo engine, satellite navigaThe Z-Series, which replaces Z-Series and Sri Z-Series. tion, sports body kit and sports Cruze CDX models, is available suspension. as a sedan with a 1.8 litre engine, Ebbett Tauranga dealer principal “High-end features mean the comes standard with a MyLink Craig Innes says the new line-up, Z-Series will ensure Cruze contininfotainment system, seven which began arriving this month, ues to be a standout in this highly inch colour touchscreen, Voice is striking a chord with Tauranga competitive small car market,” Recognition with Siri, leatherbuyers and they’d already sold a says Marnie. few. Holden New Zealand market- appointed seats, push-button start

Commercial vehicles driving sales surge A recovery of vehicle sales in New Zealand is continuing to set new records, with commercial vehicle sales hitting a new record for May. Motor Industry Association CEO David Crawford says sales of 10,064 new passenger and commercial vehicles “reflects the current strong economic conditions as sales records continue to fall”.

The 3262 registrations of new commercial vehicles is the highest figure for May sales since the association began collecting records for commercial vehicles.

There were 6802 passenger vehicles sold during May, up 455 units on May 2013. Year-to-date regis-

trations of passenger vehicles is up 11 per cent (3574 units) ahead of 2013, while commercial registrations are up by 20 per cent on the same period last year.

Toyota is the overall market leader for the month of May with 19.2 per cent market share (1931 units) with Ford second on 11.1 per cent (1118) and Holden just behind on 10.8 per cent (1090).

The top-selling passenger modesl are Suzuki Swift (272), Toyota Corolla (241) and the Mazda CX-5 (230). Top commercials were Toyota Hilux (566), Ford Ranger (503), then Toyota Hiace (348 units).

Sports utility vehicles grew to 30 per cent of all sales.

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