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Highlands Festival of Speed: the perfect family festival

3 February, 2015

The Highlands Festival of Speed, which ran for three days over January 30–February 1, was every bit as good as it was hyped up to be. The event attracted close to 150 competitors in a diverse field of racing vehicles, and thousands of spectators flocked through the gates to check it all out.

The trans-Tasman trophy is safe in Kiwi hands, thanks to Dean Perkins winning three of the five combined TCM/CMC races, including the trophy race. On Friday, January 30, Perkins set the quickest qualifying time in his Ford Falcon, with fellow CMC competitors Paul Kelly (whose Firebird we’ve got a feature on in NZV8 Issue No. 118) and Tony Galbraith completing the top three. New South Wales’s Tony Karanfilovski was the fastest Aussie, placing fourth in his 1969 Ford Mustang Fastback. Mike Sentch, Highlands’ general manager, said two-time Australian Touring Car Champion Glenn Seton, who raced a ’64 Mustang over the weekend, told him that the Highlands Festival of Speed was one of the best race meetings he’d ever been to.

A feature well enjoyed by the crowds was the Highlands Classic Motor Show, which displayed over 100 vehicles, including a huge array of classic, retro, and vintage motor vehicles. The People’s Choice award went to Trevor and Davina Mitchell, whose stunning Excalibur Phaeton roadster stole the show.

Aussie Racing Cars round winner Craig Woods. Photo: Graeme Oliver

In another trans-Tasman racing endeavour, the Aussie Racing Cars started their seven-round 2015 season at Highlands — the first time an Australian motorsport category has done so.

The Quinn family tussle, with multiple Quinn family members racing over the weekend, was taken out by Tony Quinn, who finished eighth for the weekend ahead of son Kent, and son-in-law Kynan Yu. In the Formula Libre single-seater category, Cameran Freeman from Dunedin proved to be the dominant player, winning all three races.

The vintage and historic open wheelers attracted 22 entrants, with UK-based visitor Robin Longdon in a Lotus 20/22 taking the largest points haul for the weekend. Dunedin’s Paul Coghill also snagged a win in his 1952 Jaguar Special, as did Invercargill’s David Robertson, in his 1959 Ace Buckler, and Western Australia’s Neil McCrudden in another Lotus 20/22.

Arrowtown’s Buckingham Belles. Photo: Hannah Cameron

Of course, cars weren’t the only attractions at the Highlands Festival of Speed. Highlands’ events manager, Melanie Kees, says seeing so many people really getting into the spirit of the classic festival, dressing up in clothes from many eras was another highlight — the Fashion in the Field competition attracted many entrants, and the many family-friendly entertainment options were guaranteed to keep all happy.

“We’re absolutely thrilled with the turnout, especially with so many events going on in the district this weekend. While the weather has been a mixed bag, people braved the odd shower to enjoy some amazing racing.” said Ms Kees.

Following the great feedback and excellent racing action the Highlands Festival of Speed delivered this year, you can be assured that next year will be as good as ever.

NZ Classic Car magazine, November/December 2026 issue 408, on sale now

18 October, 2026

Star status for classic Porsche
A long search ends: finding the right car
Unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 1963, the Porsche 911 heralded an iconic lineage of sports cars, known for their exceptional performance, remarkable racing reliability, and adaptability, second to none.
New Zealand Classic Car, in conjunction with Star Insure, recently conducted a photo competition to find 13 suitably impressive classics to grace the pages of the magazine’s 2027 calendar. A flood of entries showed that Kiwis recognise eye-catching designs and restorations. Many are handy with a camera, too, and have entered some outstanding results.
The choice was not straightforward, with multiple stunning entries, and Geoff Long’s immaculate 1990 Porsche 911 (964 Factory designation) took top honours. Fortunately, Geoff had Ethan Hanlon handy to take the accompanying photos while working in his office.
“I’ve got a young employee who is doing work experience in my office at the moment, and he’s a very avid photographer. So, I said, I’ll buy you breakfast and then why don’t we go and take some photos. He found the right spot, and he spent over an hour photographing.”
Originally sold new in Japan, hence the right-hand drive, the Porsche was resident there for four years before being exported to New Zealand, as Geoff recalls.
“I bought it two-and-a-half years ago, but I looked for it for over two years, because it’s just the colour scheme, interior and exterior I was after. The service file that came with it is extensive; I mean, it’s been beautifully looked after, which is what I wanted to continue, as it does get driven. It doesn’t sit in the garage.”

Classics on the green

16 October, 2026

Many pretenders vie for the title, but the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance gets my vote as the biggest thing since sliced bread.
The 71st edition of the world’s pre-eminent and best-known concours event featured 28 classes, judged by a 180-strong jury, which also chose the recipients of 26 special awards.
The size of the event, the number of visitors, and, most mind-numbingly, the sheer number of amazing cars, is almost overwhelming. There are so many quality cars to gaze upon, and so many people gazing at those cars, that it is almost impossible to cover everything.
Notable among the many attractions were the centenary celebrations of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, an elegant Talbot-Lago Grand Sport, Hermann Graber’s Swiss-bodied cabriolets and coupés, the jewels of Otto Vu Italian V8s, early Alfa Romeos, Lincoln and its centenary, and cars with unorthodox propulsion systems.