Simon Evans to join V8 Supercars with Super Black Racing

21 February, 2015

Super Black Racing, New Zealand’s only V8 Supercar team, has gained another driver — Simon Evans, the talented BNT NZ SuperTourer racer. Evans will soon be getting behind the wheel of another Ford Falcon, this time as part of the V8 Dunlop Development Series in Australia.

With his recent success in the local SuperTourers series, the Dunlop Development Series is the next logical step for Evans, and one he is looking forward to.

“Representing Super Black Racing as the only New Zealand team in the V8 Supercars at the moment just makes it even more exciting. It’s great to have their support, as it can be really hard for drivers to break out of New Zealand,” Evans says.

It’s not going to be a walk in the park for him, though; this will be his first time racing in Australia, other than racing kart. Evans will face the added challenge of having to learn each and every track during the allocated practice sessions.

For Super Black Racing, the opportunity to help Evans was one they couldn’t ignore.

“The [Super Black Racing] team was started to help New Zealand drivers break into different levels of motorsport, so when this became a possibility, we had to make it happen,” said Tony Lentino, Super Black Racing team owner.

Both the team and Simon Evans will be waiting for the big day of February 26, the Clipsal 500 held in Adelaide, heralding the official start of both the 2015 V8 Supercars season and the Dunlop Development Series.

Project Adder – an MGB with bite

Bill and Rae Denize have been active MG Car Club members in Wellington for nearly 32 years. They have held a variety of positions on the club committee, and now that they are both retired, they can be even more involved in the club’s activities. Bill is currently the president of the MG Car Club, Wellington Centre.
The list of cars they’ve owned over the years is testament to their passion for the brand. It includes a 1972 Midget — the round rear-wheel arch model with 1275cc motor; a three-door 2004 MG ZR; a 2005 MG ZR (five-door); and Rae’s 2005 MG TF, which they still own. Bill also raced a 1967 Morris Mini Cooper S at Manfeild for many years. That car featured in an article in the January 2013 issue of this magazine.
In April 2013, Bill sold the Cooper S and decided to buy a low mileage, freshly imported MG RV8 from Japan. He liked the idea as there were only 1983 built in the early 1990s, which, hopefully, would translate into these cars holding their value. More importantly, their bodies were galvanised, which meant fewer rust problems, although Bill and Rae didn’t escape encounters with oxidation unscathed.

One lady owner

Well, at first glimpse, as soon as the lady opened the garage doors, I knew I was going to buy it. Dark metallic blue with two-tone blue vinyl trim, with a cream American-style steering wheel — I just could not believe my eyes! The Falcon was in as new condition as you could expect from a 30-year-old car. The owner was Mrs Iama Dzenis, aged in her late 60s, at a guess. Mrs Dzenis had bought the car new in September of 1965 from the Ford agents of North Canterbury, Palmer and Doak. Their headquarters were in Rangiora, with branches in Kaiapoi and Amberley.