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Friday 11 October 2013

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Friday 11 October 2013

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Friday 11 October 2013

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Weekend Sun Friday 11 OctoberThe 2013

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Friday 11 October 2013

Blue and red battle For years it has been a pinnacle on the annual motorsport calendar – bringing people together to celebrate petrolfuelled Australian V8 power at its best while simultaneously dividing them along warring lines. You were either in the blue camp or the red. There was no other option. Friends and families would gather around – often for a barbecue – the beer would come out and memories would be made (not always of the racing). This Sunday the annual Bathurst 1000 (a 1000km endurance race round Mount Panorama’s unforgiving track) is on again. But the old Holden-Ford battle has been opened up to other badges – with Nissan drivers joining in – the first time others have been able to compete for more than 15 years. Ford Muscle Club president Barry Gordon is

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Friday 11 October 2013 Ford enthusiast Mark Stretton and Holden fan Phil Potts and are both backing their rival teams to win this weekend’s Bathurst race. Photo by Tracy Hardy.

uncertain about the expanded format, saying for the first time he can remember none of the Tauranga members are putting on an official party to watch the race. “It just doesn’t have the same appeal now that they are opening it up,” says Barry. While some die-hard fans are scratching their head over the format, saying it is taking away from the traditional rivalry, they will still be cheering their badge on from the sideline. To get a sense of what drives this loyalty, Bay Driver caught up with a couple of fans who are keeping Sunday free to take in the V8 Supercars action on the screen. Tauranga painter Phil Potts is as one-eyed as they come when it comes to motorsport. Ironically, the dedicated Holden fan’s first car was a Mark 3 Cortina – before he “saw the light”. “Since then I have had six Holdens,” says Phil, who has extended his love for the badge to painting his boat Holden’s ‘red hot’

colour, naming the family dog Senator (after Holden’s special vehicles model); and having a ‘Holden Room’ at home for all his Holden memorabilia. For Phil, it all began at 17 when his father told him he was “on the right track” after bringing home a HQ Kingswood fitted with a 202 six-cylinder for a test drive. In the following years he grew into a big fan, throwing his support behind the badge in the late 1980s when the Nissan Mobil 500 was contested around Wellington’s streets. Asked why he loves Holden so much Phil says it’s simply a passion “and when you get hooked there’s no going back”. A big Holden hook for Phil was Peter Brock, who he describes as his biggest idol and “an absolute legend”. “He was one of the most talented drivers behind a steering wheel”. This Sunday will be no different for Phil than any previous Bathurst race, with him starting the day by getting into all his Holden

gear, flying Holden flags on the front fence, grabbing a few beers; then watching the race at a mate’s place with other Tauranga Holden Club members. Tauranga Ford fan Mark Stretton will enjoy the race at home, and like Phil, is right behind the increased competition. “It doesn’t take anything away from the race for me. I think they should get some more manufacturers in.” Mark, who has grown up in a ‘blue-blooded’ family, got a Mark II Escort as his first Ford. These days his garage is full with a mix of the badge’s top cars, including the iconic two-door Mark I Cortina, a Ford Ranger, XW Ford Fairmont – and his favourite – the FPV F6. Along with a group of mates, Mark is planning to see the Mount Panorama action from the roadside next year – a trip Phil would also love to take with his family. By Hamish Carter

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Friday 11 October 2013

Weekend Sun Friday 11 OctoberThe 2013

Bay Driver

Teutonic excellence As a confirmed sports hatch disciple and Audi fan – being asked to review the Audi TFSI Sports S was like a child being given the keys to a chocolate factory. By Tony Breeds

So into the chocolate factory I was happily led, where Willy Wonka (Blair at Farmer Auto Village), gave me a rundown on the tasty treat before I decided to head over the hill to Hamilton to test the A3. I have always said the secret to finding out how good a small hatch is comes down to spending time in one – so it was in touring mode that I headed out of town. The Kaimai Ranges were dispatched with ease, the seven-speed automatic system quietly going about its business with an astonishing lack of noise, hesitation or lag. I didn’t even know what gear I was actually in until I checked. The interior layout is simplistic yet unobtrusive. It has all you require and

expect; but smartly tucked away until needed. The media system, for instance, slides out of the dashboard at the touch of a button. Passing is also deceptively easy as the gearbox responds smoothly to a tricky situation, with a dab on the accelerator. While we are not talking about V8 power here, it’s more than enough to get out of a tight spot. The A3’s ride and stability are also a delight and road noise is minimal. While the entry level ‘sport’ packs reasonable pep, if you are looking for more get-up-and-go out of your Audi you’re spoilt for choice – from the 2.0 TDI offering 110kW through to the S3-A3’s top-end sport, which gives an astonishing 221kW. I have always found one of the biggest challenges with hatches to be the unfolding of oneself after a drive. Upon arrival in Hamilton, getting out of the A3 in a vertical position was going to be the litmus test on the suitability of this vehicle to a broad market. Surprise, surprise, my ancient limbs arranged themselves in a reasonable order, and I could actually stand upright.

Usually, after a journey in a small car it would take five minutes to rearrange my posture. It’s a gigantic tick for the A3 as a genuine, comfortable tourer. Leaving the ‘Tron’ in the rear vision mirror (some say that’s a good thing), I headed for the back roads around Walton and Matamata to put the ‘sports’ part of the badge through its paces. The last time I travelled these roads, I was doing the same thing I am doing now in a Fiat Abarth, and a few years later a Golf GTI – both of which I subsequently owned in the early 1980s. In those days the hills were alive with the sound of sheep, not hobbits. Before I commenced my spirited journey through the rolling hills, I took some time sorting out the electronic gear system. As I am a fairly ‘old school’ sort of guy, a gear stick is for me, not a flappy paddle thing on the steering wheel. So I set the car in sports mode. The A3 was superb. Point it into a corner and out the other end you come, under acceleration, with the chassis as flat as the Canterbury Plains. The hobbits were possibly in a state of shock, hearing an Audi under power (a joyous sound), with the driver singing and laughing as he drove by.

Honestly, I have not had this much fun in a vehicle since the days I drove the fore-mentioned marques through these same hills. Stunning. Changing gear was quick and precise, the rear discs and a system called ‘brake force recuperation’ making sure plenty of stopping power was available on demand. The seats held me tight in position, as I went from a left-hand corner straight into a right-hander – and no body roll (car or human). It was with absolute regret that time never allowed me to head to Wellington – and basically keep driving this superb car. Through Matamata, over the Kaimais – but not without one last flick of the gear system into sports mode for a blast up the hill. Simply brilliant. My big question is, how can Audi get this sort of performance from a 1.4 litre vehicle? It’s obscene. The A3 ticks all the boxes I’m looking for in a vehicle – fun, affordability, performance, safety, economy, comfortability – it even offers surprisingly generous luggage capacity. If you are looking for a vehicle that offers all the above for a small family, or a fun sports hatch, you will be hard pressed to find a better made or driveable car. Would I own one? Absolutely!

Audi A3 1.4TFSI Sport S Tronic SPECS Engine: 1395cc, four cylinder, 16 valve FSI fuel injected turbocharged engine puts out 90Kw (122hp). Torque: 200Nm from 1400-4000rpm. Transmission: Seven-speed S Tronic, with paddle shift option. Acceleration: Reaches 100km/h from standing start in 9.3 seconds. Fuel economy: five litres per 100 km. Safety: Antilock Brakes System (ABS), Electronic Brake Pressure System (EBPS) apply braking force to disc brakes on all four wheels. Active head restraints; front and side airbags. Price: Starts at $48,400. Dealer/contacts: Farmer Auto Village, Hewletts Rd, Mount Maunganui. Phone: 07 578 6017.

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Bay Driver Friday 11 October 2013

Friday 11 October 2013

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Audi intensified The new Audi A3 Sportback. Bigger, faster, lighter, stronger, better. It’s everything you’d expect from Audi, in an intensified package. It’s more striking, thanks to an athletic exterior and progressive interior design. It’s more practical with increased leg room and boot space. And it’s more agile and efficient, thanks to Audi ultra lightweight construction. The A3 Sportback, from $48,400 plus on-road costs. It’s more Audi than ever before. Why not contact Bay Prestige today and put it to the test?

Bay Prestige 116 Hewletts Road, Mount Maunganui Ph 07 578 6017 www.bayprestige.co.nz

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Friday 11 October 2013

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Friday 11 October 2013

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Friday 11 October 2013

The 2013 Weekend Sun Friday 11 October

Bay Driver

Riding thrills and chills With Halloween just around the corner, a ghoulish twilight riding event at Maddix Park will get riders and their families into the season’s spine-tingling spirit. Maddix Park manager Shelley Dean says the twilight ride on October 19 will offer ‘spooktacular family fun’ with a highlight being a scary night ride around a short trail loop for those with lights on their bikes, or themselves. “Quads, farm bikes and motorized broomsticks are all welcome,” says Shelley, listing other attractions as a Burma sisal trail, ghoul-

ish golf and a spooky treasure hunt, along with other fun non-scary activities for the young or faint-hearted. “You’ll need a black sense of humour, a love of the spine chilling [people with pacemakers, please abstain] and at least the ghost of an adventurous spirit. Survivors will be commended on their bravery.” Shelley says it will be a fun event for the whole family, but she urges people to leave their animals at home, and to come prepared with warm clothing, covered footwear and long pants, “plus a hand to hold”. Normal fees apply, with no charge for nonriders. Food will be on sale from 5.30pm. For more details contact the park on 07 544 2251 or go to: www.maddixpark.co.nz

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Friday 11 October 2013

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Diavel - unbeatable ‘powercruiser’

Tauranga motorcycle enthusiast Roger Matthews this week headed out on the Ducati Diavel to give the famed Italian manufacturer’s road bike a good once over.

After catching up with Bayride Motorcycles Tauranga owner Lindsay Beck to go over the road bike details, Roger decided to leave the city’s gorgeous weather and hit the Kaimai Ranges for a trip into cooler riding conditions. He pushed on through the Kaimai fog – riding with added caution – to be greeted by an overcast Waikato day. “Cloudy and cool, but dry – great for a test ride,” says Roger, as he descended the ranges into rural Waikato with a plan to cover 200odd clicks before arriving back at the Cameron Rd motorbike specialists. “My first impression was this is too big and bulky for me and my style of riding, but boy was I wrong,” says Roger, as he weighs up whether he’s been tempted to upgrade from his beloved 1098 Ducati. From start-up – when the engine thumped in the special tone typical of the twin Ducati, that would turn any head – the Diavel was playing “music to your ears”. From being taken in by the sound, it was soon the ride that had his attention. “Once on the move I found the Diavel to be extremely comfortable with its

SPECS

upright seating position and big seat. Overall, the ride was excellent with the only gripe being you could feel the rough surfaces a little too much for my liking.” However, the minor irritation could be easily sorted by tweaking the set-up, with the Diavel’s fully adjustable Marzocchi front shock absorbers. Recalling the ride, he was a little sceptical when he got to the top of the Kaimai Ranges, as he was unsure how it would cope on the winding downhill leg ahead. “Ten kilometres further down the road and the smile on my face tells all – wow.” Roger’s trip took him to rural Waikato, before coming out at Tahuna; then returning home through Te Aroha and the old Tauranga Rd. “With its ABS-assisted Brembo brakes, through to its innovative three engine modes for sport, touring and urban is easily selected from the left handlebar while on the move – it has lots of great features.” While cruising, Roger used touring mode, before flicking it over to sport on the winding bends. Overall, he is impressed with the power it packs – with a quick squirt of the throttle lifting it from 3800rpm at 100 km/h up to 160 km/h at 5800 rpm, showing it offers more than enough pep for a track day. The six-speed transmission is silky smooth and easy to shift; and if you ever get lost, a digital position indicator on the tank reminds you where you are, he says. “When first picking up the bike Lindsay called the Diavel a ‘powercruiser’ – and I think he hit the nail on the head. “If I was looking at upgrading my 1098 Ducati I would be tempted by this piece of art. It’s the best handling and feel of any sports bike I’ve ridden, with unbeatable comfort. Did I like it? – you bet.” With 38 years’ experience with motorcycles

since getting his first bike – then owning trail, sports and road bikes across the spectrum of brands including Yamaha, Suzuki, Honda, Kawasaki, Triumph and Ducati – it’s fair to say Roger’s opinion is worth listening to. Especially when he describes the Diavel as the best all-rounder bike he has ever ridden. The Diavel is the second cruiser-style bike made by Ducati, with the brand’s latest model powered by a 1198cc Testastretta 11 degrees – named for its 11 degree valve overlap. The cruiser-style of the bike mimics the design essence of the American bikes from the 1930s to the early 1960s. This includes those made by Harley Davidson and Indian, which have become increasingly popular in the US. Review by Roger Matthews, written by Hamish Carter.

Engine: Testrastretta 11°, L-Twin cylinder, four valve per cylinder, Desmodromic, liquid-cooled. Displacement: 1198.4 cc. Power: 119 kW (162hp) @ 9500rpm. Torque: 127.5 Nm @ 8000rpm. Fuel injection: Electronic fuel injection system, elliptical throttle bodies with RbW. Transmission: Six-speed gearbox with light action, wet, multi-plate clutch. Price: $29,990 ride away. Contact details: Lindsay at Bayride Motorcycles, Ph 07 571 3040.

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Friday 11 October 2013

Late rally not enough A series of minor mishaps in the Rally Wairarapa saw Tauranga’s Phil Campbell fall off the pace in the final round of the championship series, spelling the end to his chase for the 2WD title. Going into the final of the six-round Brian Green Property Group New Zealand Rally Championship series, Phil had held a slender three-point margin. But with 2WD rival Josh Marston nipping at his heels, Phil knew a win was vital to claim the FIA title. With the rally winner taking five more points than runner up, it was always going to be do or die in Wairarapa – where Phil was hoping his extensive car and personal preparation, along with his experience winning the round last year, would help. Phil’s race got off to a bad start with a spin on the opening special stage, but he fought back with a win on the following stage as the season-long battle resumed. However, another spin on stage six, followed up by a puncture on the next stage, put the final nail in the coffin – seeing Phil slip back to finish third in his class. “It just wasn’t our day. Josh was really fast all day and we made mistakes trying to catch him that ultimately made it really tough for us.” The two drivers, who are racing in identical ‘R2’ specification Ford Fiestas, have been battling each other all season in what was the closest duel seen in the series for many years. However, there were some celebrations in the team with co-driver Venita Fabbro taking the FIA 2WD co-drivers title. Phil is in the process of finalising some “exciting” plans for the next NZRC season, which he hopes to announce soon. Mount Maunganui driver Dave Holder finished second in class C of the rally, in what was a closely fought race he described as an “awesome end to the year”, helping him claim third spot in the 2WD championship series. “Great to finish the season on a high,” says Dave, who is selling his Fiesta with plans to go onto “bigger and better” things next year. By Hamish Carter

116 Hewletts Road Mount Maunganui, Tauranga City Tel: 07 578 6017 www.farmerautovillage.co.nz Follow us on Facebook

Friday 11 October 2013

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Bay Driver

Classic memories – restorative riding As a lad growing up in post-war England, motorcycles were about both function and fun for Lionel Reeve. It’s a combination that still holds sway for Lionel, who like most of his peers, owned a motorbike well before his first car. “When I was 16 I had a BSA 250, which I used to race around the English countryside. All my mates had motorbikes – most didn’t get their first car until they were married – it was just the way it was.” While Lionel says motorbikes were appealing because of their affordability, he also loved the sense of freedom and fun that came with riding – something that still has a strong hold over the long-standing Tauranga Classic Motorcycle Club member. “Once you’ve done it, it’s in your blood. I just love riding – it’s difficult to explain to people who haven’t done it – it’s just a real buzz.” From cutting his teeth on the BSA 250, Lionel then went through a parade of other bikes including a few AJS bikes and a Matchless CSR 650 twin. “Back in those [early] days they were obviously important for transport, but it was also about fun. In those days we used to head off to rallies; and I was a bit of a steam engine enthusiast, so I would head off to events with my girlfriend Dot.” Lionel and Dot have long since been married, and have continued to share their passion for motorbikes ever since – owning and restoring a series of bikes during the years (apart from a gap after arriving in New Zealand in 1965). It is Lionel’s love for bikes that prompted

By Hamish Carter

them yourself (as many enthusiasts now have to). These days his garage houses a handful of bikes, which he regularly takes out, including a 1958 BSA Golden Flash, a 1957 Triumph Tiger 110, late model BMW and Lionel Reeve with his Triumph Boneve. But his latest pride and beloved bike collection. joy is a 1982 Suzuki GS 850cc. While, as a traditionalist, he admits to long having Photo by Bruce Barnard. reservations about Japanese bikes, Lionel says you can’t argue with the Suzuki’s him to start a career in the Ministry of performance. Transport as a motorcycle traffic officer. But it’s not just Lionel who is a fan of “It was great, except for the riding in all his Suzuki, which he finished restoring in sorts of weather. That wasn’t so much fun.” May. The bike has since collected Tauranga Friends were soon encouraging him to join the newly formed classic club, pursuing Classic Motorcycle Club’s top award for a Japanese restoration and shares top spot a shared love of great bikes at events. Plus, as rider’s choice – honours it earned at last with helpful advice from fellow members, month’s Hawke’s Bay classic rally. he’s since completed a series of restorations. While Lionel says it is great to win awards, Lionel’s first restoration was a 1968 nothing quite beats the satisfaction of getTriumph Tiger 100, a 500cc bike named ting the bikes out on the road for a rally. for its capacity to reach 100 miles per hour. Next month, Lionel and Dot are heading Starting from a box of “bits and pieces”, he off for some “brilliant bike riding” when recalls the rebuild was relatively easy with they journey to Invercargill on the Suzuki parts for the classic bike still readily availfor the Burt Munro Challenge rally. able to buy, rather than having to engineer

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The 2013 Weekend Sun Friday 11 October

American beauties Self-professed Tauranga classic car nut John Burrell can still recall his first car he got when he was an apprentice builder. When friends couldn’t fix their two-door 1937 Chevy Coupe’s broken gearbox, they offered it to John who needed transport to his polytech classes in Wellington. After hauling it to the family farm, north of Upper Hutt, he set to work replacing the gearbox and soon had it back on the road. John’s success in the workshop began what quickly became a life-long passion. There have been plenty of great cars pass through his garage since. In fact, John proudly declares he has owned 86 cars during the years – almost all have been American classics. While he can’t remember every car, he can recall the handful of non-American cars he has had: “Two or three Japanese cars for the wife, a Ford Prefect and a couple of Morris Minors – all the rest have been American”. “A lot of the cars I’ve bought and fixed up, or restored then sold,” says John.

John Burrell is displaying his American classics in the Wheels on Mainstreet event at Labour Weekend. Photo by Tracy Hardy. These days his pride and joy inside his Mount Maunganui garage are two iconic American classics – a 1956 Ford Thunderbird and a red and white 1960 Chevy Impala convertible. “It’s just the feel about them,” says John of the cars’ appeal. “When you are cruising along in them, especially the earlier ones like my 1956 Thunderbird, you pull over into a petrol station and everyone wants to find out more about it. It just fascinates people.” John, who also used to love following the rodeo circuit and competing in horse and wild bull events, had his life thrown upside down 13 years ago when he broke his neck after falling from an avocado tree. “It’s terribly frustrating not being able to drive them myself any more, but I still go out for a ride in them every now and then.” John also has a big Chevy van with a hoist for his electric wheelchair, which he uses to frequent occasional classic car events to get his motoring fix – including ‘Waihi Wednesday’, run in the lead-up to the Beach Hop, an event he religiously attends every year. “It’s the most pleasing day of the year. There are hundreds of beautiful cars parked in the main street and I catch up with lots of people.” At Labour Weekend John is displaying his two cars at the Mount as part of the Wheels on Mainstreet By Hamish Carter classic car display.

Bay Driver

Classics on show American hot rod and classic car lovers are being urged to keep Labour Weekend free, with the return of the Wheels on Mainstreet event to downtown the Mount. National Street Rod Association Tauranga delegate Straw Lye says the event, being run in conjunction with the association’s annual national convention, will build on the success of its debut last year. “We were really happy with how it went – we got it about 95 per cent right and we’ve already got more cars [150] registered.” The Wheels on Mainstreet classic car display is from 10am-3pm on Saturday, October 26, with cars parked along Maunganui Rd and in Coronation Park at the Mount, while classic bikes will be on show along Prince Ave. Awards will be presented at 2.30pm. Straw is expecting some great entries from all around the country. The event combination is attracting cars from out of town, he says, along with top bikes in the motorcycle competition which the Bay of Plenty Coastal Cruisers club is running. Straw is excited about hosting the nationals in the Western Bay for the first time since 2004 and says organisers are focussed on building on Wheels on Mainstreet every year with an aim of establishing an iconic event. By Hamish Carter

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Bay Driver Friday 11 October 2013

Friday 11 October 2013

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-free years and driving. -free years andyears yearsof ofworry worry driving. years and years of worry-free driving.

MARQUE OF EXCELLENCE MARQUE OF EXCELLENCE

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MARQUE OF EXCELLENCE MARQUE OF EXCELLENCE

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Friday 11 October 2013

The 2013 Weekend Sun Friday 11 October

Bay Driver