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Race to the Sky returns — win the money-can’t-buy experience

25 February, 2015

The Repco Race to the Sky is set to make a welcome return to the event calendar on April 17–19 at Cardrona Valley.

Returning for the first time since 2007, the event is set to see more than 100 cars, bikes, and buggies tackle the world’s longest gravel hill climb. It’s a 14.km course with 135 turns, climbing from 450 metres to 1500 metres above sea level.

If you want to be in amongst the action, Repco has organized a great prize package, giving you the chance to have a money-can’t-buy VIP experience at the event. To enter, all you need to do is spend $50 in store at any Repco branch before March 31 and text your receipt number and name to 244.

The two winners will be drawn on April 1, and will receive two return flights to Queenstown (departing Auckland, Wellington, or Christchurch), three nights accommodation at Novotel Queenstown, two VIP hospitality days at Repco Race to the Sky, two passenger rides in the Repco Race to the Sky car, and, to top it off, two tickets for afternoon entry to Highlands Motorsport Park.

A tradesman’s estate — the Cortina GT Estate

22 April, 2026

The owner of our featured car, Rod Peat, used to rally a Cortina GT back when the words ‘rally’ and ‘trial’ were interchangeable. In times after that he could also be seen beside Mal Clark in various Targa NZ rallies, getting the famous Rover V8 or Lotus Cortina in spirited fashion around and over the various special stages that make up those events. After children, houses, and career, Rod decided it was time to own a GT again.
A search on the various systems available turned up a car Rod and probably most of us didn’t even know existed: a genuine Ford factory Cortina Estate GT.

For the love of cars

20 April, 2026

Passion, Pride & Joy:
A new chapter for New Zealand’s classic car custodians
In the world of classic and collector cars, continuity matters. Not just of ownership or
provenance, but of care shaped by skilled hands, patience, and deep respect for the machines themselves.
Since 1973, Auto Restorations has existed for this purpose: to ensure these cars live
on, not as relics, but as working expressions of design and engineering. Over more than five decades, we have restored and returned countless vehicles to the road and racetrack, and in recent years expanded our service offering to keep them
performing at their best.
Today, we are proud to introduce the next step in that journey: This is not a reinvention, but a natural evolution. A name that reflects the full scope of what we now offer, while staying true to the standards and values that have always defined us.