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Wait no more, Leadfoot Festival is here — watch it live on The Motorhood

5 February, 2015

While we’re gearing up to make the trip down to Leadfoot Festival in Hahei for the weekend of February 6–8, 2015, we understand not everyone has the time or budget to make the trip to Leadfoot Ranch. Lucky for those not attending the event, Rod Millen and the Leadfoot team have arranged a special live stream for you to enjoy the action from the comfort of your own home for as low as USD$20 — and we’ve got it right here for you to watch:

Although the festival is perceived as having mostly vintage and classic racers from the golden era, there will be plenty of up and comers to keep us turbocharged petrolheads enthused. For starters, Sloan Cox will be contesting the driveway in his Mitsubishi Evo VIII, which is built on a custom tube frame and sports a 600kW+ 4G63 mated to a Hollinger six-speed sequential gearbox. The centre diff ratios have also been changed which should suit the driveway perfectly allowing for an extremely competitive package and one to look out for.

Three times Pro7 (RX-7) champion and SS2000 champion Andy Duffin will be bringing along his 20B-powered Mazda RX-7 FD, which was on the cover of Issue No. 214 of NZ Performance Car. With a measly 1000kg of weight, a wild 10,000rpm 20B engine, an Elite Racing six-speed sequential gearbox, and some serious driving talent, Andy Duffin should be able to pilot the RX-7 at a competitive rate during the festival.

Host Rod Millen will be contesting three vehicles during the festival, first of which is his Toyota Celica, which he used to break the famous Pikes Peak hill-climb record back in 1994.The Celica is powered by a 671kW (899hp) four-cylinder engine and runs a staggering 45psi of boost. It’s not just the engine that makes it go fast however, the body is made from carbon and the aero is still impressive even by today’s standards. The second is his 2000 Toyota Tundra off-road truck, which was designed and built for competition to support the launch of the vehicle at the time. An extremely light and nimble vehicle, this should be exciting to watch. Rod’s third car that we’ll get to see is his 1973 Mazda RX-3, which he used to win the New Zealand Rally 1975–1977 — a great piece of history.

A swag of competitive drifters will be in attendance including several of New Zealand’s best. ‘Mad Mike’ Whiddett will be bringing along MADBUL, Cole Armstrong will be bringing the Nissan 250GT, ‘Fanga Dan’ Woolhouse in his Holden Commodore VE, Curt Whittaker in his Nissan Skyline R34, Shane Allen in his Ford Falcon, and Jodie Verhulst in her 1993 Toyota Supra.

Project Adder – an MGB with bite

21 November, 2025

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.