Targa 2008

This was deliberate... showing off big time

F355

Steve Millen

The Chequered Flag

This adventure was one of those pencil it in I AM GOING things, I WILL make the time and it WILL happen and I am so glad we did it. Ten days was ample , the whole tour was 18 days and the bit we missed would have been thru the most scenic part of the South Island but it will still be there, I relish the idea of doing that trip with Trish. Yep I have been to London, Paris, the States and many other parts of the World but it took 55 years to do the South Island, I guess I am not the only Kiwi that had not seen the South Island.... Get down there Kiwis it is Paradise.

This trip has got me thinking/dreaming of doing the same thing again and in other countries. I would do it again in a heartbeat. We met so many fantastic peoples from all walks of life brought together by that wonderful machine... the Automobile. The little Opel started so many conversations with complete strangers and the kids just loved it. It is so cool to share this passion with others.

Once the World gets back on track and business improves I will buy a Lotus Elise so if anybody is interested in doing the tour in the future there maybe a spare seat. I am looking forward to trying to catch the Black Opel..........

There are so many people to thank.
Roger Phillips for organising the Tour
Tony and the Lotus Club.
The numerous people thoughout NZ who helped us
Jez the Mad Pom for the hot laps at Manfield, I still have the pressure bruises on my arms from bracing against the seat.
The flag marshall's who gave up their day so we could use their track..they share the passion.
My dear Trish for encouraging me to do this and letting me indulge in my passion.

The biggest thanks of all goes to Lindz. Mate Thank you for sharing the car with me, your guided tour of the South Island made the whole journey more enjoyable for me. I am in awe of your organising skills something I have tried but failed to master for years. .. too bloody casual I guess?? I hope we can do more of this type of thing in the future... may the common passion we share continue for years.
Kezz

The White Flag....

This was it and like all good things it had to end. The day started with a McDonalds breakfast the taste of which lingered on long into the day. After Southwards it was Highway 1 and Auckland here we come, we stopped briefly at the Flat Hill Cafe where Lindz sampled their "Famous Lamb Burger" we are still trying to figure out what made it soooo famous?? I had for the first time in 10 days a very very healthy Chicken on Rye sandwhich, bit of a shame that temptation in the form of a large English Custard Square ruined the healthy bit.............

I must confess I did not have the same faith in the Opel fuel guage that Lindz did and I started thinking about just how long the famous Desert Road was... we gassed up at Turangi... piece of cake we had at least 2 teaspoons to spare.

The run through to Auckland was uneventful, the weather was getting better and to cap it off I was greeted by my lovely wife and my adorable grandchildern Zach and Ava

Southwards Auto Museum

Before we started our final journey home we visited the Southward Museum in Kapiti. Sir Len Southward died 4 years ago at around 99 years old and left behind a collection of over 200 cars. 100 motorcycles and many other items from New Zealands past. Lindz and I spoke at length to one of the curators who explained that Sir Len had set the museum up as a trust and it will be there forever.

I had been there about 25 years ago and I had seen Sir Len walking around shaking hands with vistors. This time I found it a spiritual place and felt quiet emotional as we walked around. There is so much in the display that brings back childhood memories and to think one man had the passion to do this. Sir Len's wife still lives in what appeared a modest home within the spacious beautifully manicured grounds. Even if you are only remotely interested in cars go and have a look, I thought the $10 entry fee was almost a joke.

WOW

Stutz

Caddy

Fiat

Maybach

Cord

So coool

The caption was "a right pair of Charlies"

This is me.....

This is actually the home of Wearable Arts and features a very very classy car museum. The building itself is worth a look. The car exhibit is due to get a lot bigger but unfortunately it was not ready for our visit.

Lap 5

At this point we were going to Timaru and the track day at Levels Raceway but we decided to start heading back towards Picton and the ferry via a night in Nelson. After a visit to the Yaldhurst Transport Museum and McDonalds Classic Cars we headed towards Nelson via Lewis Pass and again some of the most beautiful scenery imaginable. I had made a brief visit to Nelson a few years earlier when my brother Daren lived there. The weather had started to pack up a little and it was bloody freezing.

The next day we visited the WOW Car Museum, this is a must see.......then is was off to Picton via Queen Charlotte Sounds. Mate this is just stunning!!

The ferry crossing was fairly uneventful..we both slept most of the way. We were invited to stay the night with some friends of Lindz in Whitby which was delightful change from Motels. Thanx Roz and Stu .....

Yaldhurst Transport Museum

So much to restore and not much time............

Wigram

Wigram Air force Base the home of the Lady Wigram Trophy, in it's heyday the scene of many epic battles for the NZ Grandpix title. The Air Force has gone, the memories of it's time in the limelight fresh in the minds of many of the old guys who like us were given the chance to be the last cars to ever roar around the old circuit.... "by the way guys this is still a working airfield so please give way to any planes that want to land."The final words at our briefing.

As Wigram disappears into history, so many of the great names associated with World and New Zealand motorsport spring to mind, McLaren, Moss, Hulme, Clark,Bradham,Hill, Hamer, Bree and the list goes on...............

Ruapuna Park Raceway

Day 2 in Christchurch was track day at Ruapuna. We had enjoyed beautiful sunny weather up to this point but the forecasters were predicting rain. During the familiarisation laps with Lindz Ruapuna seemed quiet daunting but once you got into it, it was fast and not so scary. I did 4 laps before the rain drops appeared on the windscreen, I decided it was time to give Lindz his car back so he could have a go but before he could get in the heavens opened. Some guys stayed out but were sliding everywhere.

After the rain stopped Lindz went out and did a huge spin onto the grass on a fast corner, not too sure how it felt but shit it looked spectacular..... mud and water flying everywhere!! One of those bugger wish I had a video camera moments..............

FAZZAZ

Zach??

$127k replica??

Geeeez I am soooo glad this shop is sooo far away...it would become a dangerous addiction