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A day of fast-paced fun at the Metalman Targa Rally Sprint

14 February, 2015

The Targa NZ series is the country’s most well-known road rally series, attracting a vast and varied line-up of cars and competitors — from granny wagons hotted up in the backyard, to cutting-edge racing weapons. There is now a Targa event to appeal to new competitors — the 2015 Metalman Targa Rally Sprint.

The one-day event, to be held on Sunday, March 8 at Ardmore Airport, does not form part of the Sanction Series, making it appealing to a wider audience. To race in the event, you will need a minimum of an M-grade licence, but co-drivers do not need to be licence holders — great for taking sponsors, service crews, friends, and family for a flat-out blast through the countryside!

Multiple stages will be run amidst the picturesque Papakura and Clevedon areas in South Auckland, allowing for alterations to the set-up and testing of competitor cars.

The course follows Monument Road from Clevedon to Hunua, and Ardmore Quarry Road from Hunua to Ardmore. These stretches of road will be repeated four times, with approximately 80km of Special Stage in total. The roads are typical of Targa event stages, making them a great introduction for the Targa Bambina and Targa NZ events held later in the year. The Targa Rally Sprint also gives the opportunity to get acquainted with standard rally safety notes, route books, time cards, and general rally protocol — a great introduction to the Targa experience.

The event has been designed to be family friendly, promising a day of entertainment, and a BBQ in the afternoon. Entry is limited, so you’ll need to head over to Targa NZ’s site to register now.

Photo captured by Owen de Mooy.

 

Lunch with… Jim Palmer

16 April, 2025

In the 1960s, Hamilton’s Jim Palmer won the prestigious ‘Gold Star’ four times and was the first resident New Zealander home in the New Zealand Grand Prix on five consecutive occasions. He shared the podium with Stirling Moss, Jack Brabham, Bruce McLaren, Graham Hill, Jim Clark, Denny Hulme, Jackie Stewart, and Chris Amon. The extent of his domination of the open-wheeler scene in New Zealand will probably never be matched or exceeded. Yet he’s always been modest about his achievements.

NZ Classic Car magazine, May/June 2025 issue 399, on sale now

13 April, 2025

Who would have thought it would become such a worldwide motorsport star when Ford introduced the humble Escort in 1967?
Its popularity, particularly in Mark 1 form, is now of iconic status. Our cover story for this issue is on a 1968 Ford Escort Mark 1, Alan Mann Racing Tribute. We talked with the owner of this very special Escort, finished in tribute also to the owner’s father.
“Most children love speed, and motorsport typically comes courtesy of a parent, and Elliott is no different. His engineer father, Mark, had a love for motorcycles and going fast; however, when children came along, he swapped two wheels for four, in the form of two Ford Escorts.
Little did Mark know it at the time, but the humble Escort was about to weave its way into the family fabric once and for all.
After emigrating from London to New Zealand, Elliott recalled one evening when he was 14 being invited to tag along by his father, helping a friend convert an Escort road car into a racing car. This was the pivotal moment when Elliott remembers the motorsport bug taking over. He knew he had to have his own one.”