Call for volunteers for the ITM500

8 April, 2015

Have you ever wanted to get involved behind the scenes at a race meeting? How about one of the biggest V8 race meetings of the year? Well here’s your chance — ITM500 is being held this November and they need around 450 volunteers to make the day a success.

The ITM500 takes place at Pukekohe Park Raceway on November 6–8 and will see several iconic Kiwi drivers make the trip home, including Shane Van Gisbergen, Fabian Coulthard, and Scott McLaughlin. Vital championship points are up for grabs along with the chance to battle some international drivers right here on the most iconic race circuit in New Zealand.

Deborah Day, the event volunteer coordinator, says, “Every year our volunteers have a ball. They embody the spirit of this iconic event and we’re looking forward to having a blast alongside our Supercar teams this year.”

Don’t worry if you feel that you don’t have the necessary skills to be a volunteer — every applicant will receive proper training prior to the event. Volunteers will also receive free entry and a volunteer pack, which is exclusively for the volunteer crew.

All new and returning ITM500 volunteers can register their interest now at themotorsportclub.com. Applications close July 31.

Image credit: Matthew Hansen

Luxury by design

How do you define luxury? To some it is being blinded with all manner of technological wizardry, from massaging heated seats to being able to activate everything with your voice, be it the driver’s side window or the next track on Spotify. To others, the most exorbitant price tag will dictate how luxurious a car is.
For me, true automotive luxury comes from being transported in unparalleled comfort, refinement, and smoothness of power under complete control. Forget millions of technological toys; if one can be transported here and there without the sensation of moving at all, that is luxury — something that is perfectly encapsulated by the original Lexus LS400. It was the first truly global luxury car from Toyota, and one that made the big luxury brands take notice.

NZ Classic Car magazine, January/February 2026 issue 403, on sale now

Morris’ ground-breaking, world-beating, Minor
It was Britain’s biggest small car, and it got Britain mobile again.       Morris Motors celebrated its millionth Minor in December 1960, a car that defined the British motor industry, and was in production for 10 years alongside the iconic Mini of 1959.
Whakatane dentist John Twaddle has a passion for Morris Minors going back to 1982, and he still has his first example. There are now three ‘Morries’ in his garage. One, however, is quite special, a rare ‘Minor-Million’. 
One of just 350 made commemorating the millionth Morris Minor produced, the first British car to hit a million units, the well-rounded little Brit’ would end production in 1971with a tally of over 1.6 million units.
John finished his Minor Million six years ago, resplendent in lilac, its official factory colour. He calls it his ‘Minor Resurrection’, and it has won numerous awards.
This summer edition also comes with our annual FREE classic car calendar, a must for every garage wall.
Every issue comes with our FREE huge wall poster; this issue, our poster is of a couple of garage mates, a 1957 Ford Ranchero and a 1968 Lincoln Continental.