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Targa New Zealand: Targa teams tested

29 October, 2015

Wet weather and winding roads have proven to be the great equalizer during the closed special stages on day three of Targa New Zealand (Wednesday, October 28) as the top 10 competitors shuffle for position on the leaderboard.

Still leading the field, last year’s 20th anniversary winners Glenn Inkster and Spencer Winn (Mitsubishi Evo 8) are in front of five-time former event-winner Tony Quinn and co-driver Naomi Tillett (Nissan GT-R35) at the head of the 60-strong field despite the the tight, slippery back roads of New Zealand’s energy province.    

The 21st annual Targa New Zealand event now heads east to Palmerston North on Thursday, October 29, then on to Havelock North on Friday, October 30, before returning west for the finish at Palmerston North (at The Square) on Saturday ,October 31.

Information on both the main (six-day) 2015 Targa New Zealand and two-day Targa Regional Rally events is available in the latest copy of New Zealand Classic Car magazine.

Results:

Andrew Simms Allcomers 4WD

  1. Glenn Inkster / Spencer Winn (2003 Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 8) 02:41:50
  2. Tony Quinn / Naomi Tillett (2008 Nissan GTR) 02:46:28
  3. Brian Green / Fleur Pedersen (2010 Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X RS) 02:57:53
  4. David Rogers / Aidan Kelly (2009 Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X RS) 02:59:18
  5. Graeme  Wong / Kim Blatchley (1998 Subaru Impreza Type R) 03:10:21
  6. Jeff McCandless / Marcella Mumm (2010 Subaru WRX STi) 03:11:53

Metalman Classic

  1. Bevan Claridge / Campbell Tannock (1992 Holden Commodore) 02:56:08
  2. Mark and Chris Kirk-Burnnand (1987 BMW M3) 02:56:34
  3. Keith Callinan / Mary Anne Callinan (1977 Ford Escort) 03:03:41
  4. Ashton Wood / Chris Lancaster (1976 Ford Escort RS1800) 03:03:58
  5. Bruce Farley / Glen Warner (1986 BMW 325i) 03:08:42
  6. Andy Mygind / Anthony Baker (1972 Datsun 240Z) 03:11:17

Instra.com Modern 2WD

  1. Martin Dippie / Jona Grant (2007 Porsche GT3 RS) 02:53:51
  2. Steven Kirk-Burnnand / Mick Hay (1994 BMW 318ti) 02:56:12
  3. Grant Aitken / Caroline Cullimore (2013 Toyota 86 RC) 02:58:03
  4. Robert Darrington / David Abetz (2002 BMW M3) 02:58:22
  5. Matt Todd / Dan Reichenbach (2008 BMW M3) 02:59:11
  6. Chris Lewis / Kieran Anstis (2013 Toyota TR86) 02:59:58

Overall

  1. Glenn Inkster / Spencer Winn 02:41:50       
  2. Tony Quinn / Naomi Tillett +00:04:38
  3. Martin Dippie / Jona Grant+00:12:01
  4. Bevan Claridge / Campbell Tannock +00:14:18
  5. Steven Kirk-Burnnand / Mick Hay 00:14:22
  6. Mark and Chris Kirk-Burnnand 00:14:44
  7.  Brian Green / Fleur Pedersen +00:16:03
  8. Grant Aitken / Caroline Cullimore 00:16:13
  9. Robert Darrington / Dave Abetz 00:16:32
  10. Matt Todd / Dan Reichenbach 00:17:21

Defending Targa New Zealand title-holders Glenn Inkster and Spencer Winn (Mitsubishi Evo 8) continued to extend their lead

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Steven Kirk-Burnnand and Mick Hay (BMW Compact 318T1), Bevan Claridge and Campbell Tannock (Holden Commodore), and Grant Aitken and Caroline Cullimore (Toyota 86) move up the class and event standings.

Photo credit: Fast Company / ProShotz

Coaching from the bench: Casting plastic knobs and rubber parts

16 July, 2026

Casting rubber items is simple if you have a good original to work with. The item doesn’t have to be perfect. You can use plasticine to smooth out cracks, and you can even make whole prototypes out of low-fire modelling clay available from craft stores if you need to. Prototypes can also be made of wood or metal.
You will need mould dams to contain the liquid urethane moulding solution until it cures. You can build boxes out of strips of wood, but I have found that small plastic boxes and bowls such as those you would use for leftovers in your fridge work well if you spray them with a mould release agent.
Temperature is important to the chemical processes involved, so work in an area that can be maintained at around 20 degrees. You will also need adequate ventilation because the fumes can be dangerous to breathe. And you will want to wear latex gloves to protect your hands.

Fraser Cars – low flying into the fourth decade

10 July, 2026

With almost three and a half decades under its belt, Fraser Cars is one of New Zealand’s longest-surviving car manufacturers. The company first opened its doors for business in 1988, during the boom time for kit manufacturers. During the ’80s, around 40 different companies were building kits and turnkey cars for this niche market. Of those, only Fraser and Almac Cars (established 1981) are still in business today.
Most of the new kit car companies were killed off in the cradle by the threat of new legislation that never eventuated and definitively by the sudden availability of high-performance Japanese cars when the floodgates to second-hand imports were opened. The now long-retired founder of the company, Neil Fraser, first came across Lotus Seven replicas while racing Lotus Cortinas in the early ’80s. He regularly found himself racing against a little Caterham, a Lotus Seven–styled car built in England. He was very impressed by its simplicity and handling. In 1986 Fraser built his own Lotus Seven–type car, using the knowledge he had gained from several close looks at the Caterham.