Back in 2009 I posted images from another off-roading adventure in Rotorua.

Sunday at rugged West Coast Makara Beach

More on my Flickr account here

If you’re involved in the sport you’ll know that this figure isn’t the be-all end-all. It’s more about high average stage speeds and quick acceleration. However, since this would take a long time to explain and because the cars I used to drive were small-engined front-wheel-drive cars, I usually this one example.

In 2009 I co-drove for an Otorohanga driver, Lindsay Meredith, in a Mitsubishi Evolution VI on the notoriously fast, Taranaki Tarmac rally. There’s one particularly fast stage with a straight of 800m over crests or ‘yumps’ a small corner and then another straight of 500m or so (from memory – co-drivers are welcome to correct me here). In this particular stage, in Lindsay’s 10-year-old Evo, the speedo was right off the clock – faster than 180kph.

During the weekend I found out that I’m not the only one that gets asked these kind of questions. One of the New Zealand Fiesta Sporting Trophy drivers said his answer is very easy – the Ford Fiestas are speed-limited to 166kph.

On Sunday we all got out to spectate and with the help of some plastic horns, made a lot of noise!

Ministry of Dirt was formed by a couple of keen Motorsport and music fans who want to promote their sport to the masses. We worship at the altar of Ken Block, Travis Pastrana and the Ministry of Sound. www.ministryofdirt.com

“This is how we roll.”

This year’s Photographer of the Year, one cheeky Lee Howell, decided that as he couldn’t make it the the Awards and I was the one that encouraged (bugged) him to enter, that I should be the one to accept his award on his behalf. Public speaking is a nightmare to do even on the best of days, but I’m happy to report that I pulled this one off! No mistakes, not ‘ummms’ and no speaking ridiculously fast. I’d say the glass of champagne helped, but I also want to think that I’m getting the hang of it.

Unfortunately I was unable to attend the awards due to other commitments but Sarah Byles was good enough to collect the award on my behalf.  Apparently she did an awesome speech and is a lot better looking (as someone pointed out).

Check out Lee’s blog and winning portfolio.

The Premier Awards itself was a ritzy black-tie affair held in the main level one foyer of Te Papa. All the premier class winners were commended as well as some important people behind the scenes, who received service awards and recognition.

Press release here.

My new 50mm lens arrived today.I’m really looking forward to challenging myself to do everything manually and think about composition in 50mm.

Spent the day at Te Papa for the MotorSport NZ AGCM, but I managed to take my usual trip to level 3 to look at the Britten bike.

Something I’ve wanted to do for quite some time now is visit (and photograph or drive) a number of the iconic rally stages around the world. Last weekend I ticked off the picturesque Whaanga Coast in Raglan.

My aunty and uncle actually live on this road, they own a large beef and sheep unit inland near the start of the 29km stage. I’ve been a spectator here a number of times, but until now I hadn’t made it to this specific corner where each year (WRC) dozens of foreign photographers jostle for ‘the shot’.

The Whaanga Coast is a rally decider. This stage has seen rallies won and lost. In recent years we’ve seen Jari Matti Latvala triumph over Sebastien Ogier (2010), Latvala and Mikko Hirvonen lose out to Sebastien Loeb (2008), Loeb and Gronholm battle over this penultimate stage to the (at the time) closest (0.3sec) WRC finish in history (2007). This year Dean Sumner fell to his rally demise on the same corner as the late Colin McRae did many years ago.

2011

2007

2005

• Whaanga Coast
• Bunnings “Mineshaft”
• Sweet Lamb
• Col de Turini
• Ouninpohja
• Germany’s Hinkelsteins
• Sardinia’s Wind Turbines

In the weekend I headed up to Hamilton/Auckland for the 2011 non-WRC Rally New Zealand.

Though I wasn’t working in any capacity for this event, I was still blown away by the generosity of people I hadn’t had much to do with before and am extremely grateful that there are still people around like that.

Motorsport is a very cut-throat world sometimes and paired with New Zealand’s ‘Tall Poppy Syndrome‘ it can be hard for people to gain support to get ahead. With Hayden Paddon rising so expertly through the world rally ranks, I hope that more people will be positive about our competitors gaining acclaim.

Check out these shots I captured in the weekend.

Clearly I haven’t – for many reasons it seems – none of which are holding me back tonight.

‘Hot-lap’ with 2010 New Zealand Rally Champion Dean Sumner – October 2010

After the NZRC season wrapped up last year, I got a little offer to jump into the championship-winning ITM Mitsubishi Evolution IX at a clubman’s hillclimb in the forest in Rotorua. Who was I to say no?

It’s very hard to describe what it was like, I’ve done it too much! Dean is a very smooth driver, so as a passenger you don’t move around much in the car and apart from the road coming at you quickly, it’s very hard to tell just how fast you’re going. There was a small moment at the top of the hill where he flicked the car sideways through the last corner and the rear end came close to the bank on my side – but that’s all that really stands out.

We set the second fastest time of the day on that first run, Dean only bettered the time by just over a second later in the day with a young girl beside him.

I told him what I thought too – don’t you worry. As a passenger the really exciting parts are where the road is tight and twisty, and the driver is constantly flicking the car backwards and forwards, rather than just flat-out speed. This particular piece of road was mainly a flat-out sojourn up the hill, where majority of corners were sixes and sevens, with a couple of fives thrown in. When Dean asked what I thought, I said it was boring – acknowledged that it was quick and (relatively) tidy, but boring for me none-the-less. He told me I needed to go for a ride with someone like Patrick Malley, another New Zealand driver mate, who has a looser (though not necessarily faster) driving style.

The above images thanks to Geoff Ridder – Photographer extraordinaire.

Jumping in the Malley’s Fiesta ST at the forest – Maramarua, March 2011

Fast-forward about five months and that’s exactly what I did. During one of my long-haul trips up to the Waikato recently, Piran Pigneguy (another NZ driver and road-trip buddy) and I made a stop in at Rally Drive NZ’s Rally School, which takes place in a section of Maramarua Forest. Talented co-driver (grease!) Malcolm Read works for the school as a mechanic and trainer, and Patrick Malley pops in to lend a hand training sometimes as well.

Paddy and his parents Linzi and Dermott had their Group N Ford Fiesta ST150 with them this particular time.

I’ve always been very fond of the Fiesta Sporting Trophy formula – it’s tightly fought rallying and a great training ground for young drivers both due to the cheaper entry point and the chance to build the 2WD skills most need to be successful in 4WD rallying.

Anyway, I jumped in with Paddy and had a blast – the up-and-down crazy roller-coaster nature of the section of forest, along with Paddy’s driving commentary, had me giggling the whole time. The Fiestas are quick and nimble – able to match the 4WDs through the tight and twisty stuff – but, as Paddy pointed out when we made our way up a long straight, lack the turbo boost (he called it ‘gutless’). As we jumped over the blind crest and slid round the muddy corners, Paddy was pointing out the differences from the Fiesta to his Evo IX – the harder to reach hand brake for example – and oh a certain corner that he hadn’t gotten right all day… but this time… nailed it. Ever the salesman, he knows full well that I’ve been thinking over getting into the series myself.

Almost straight after I jumped into the little blue wonder again – this time to try my hand at reading Linzi’s notes for Dermott. The ride was a bit slower, but I was too busy trying to read the notes to worry about that. It’s been a long time since I last read pace notes at speed – the last time was in 2009 when I co-drove the Taranaki Tarmac Rally for Otorohanga driver Lindsay Meredith (13th overall). Needless to say, I was a little rusty.

Unfortunately the Fiesta was to have its last run for the day then…

But there you have it – speed isn’t necessarily the most fun as a passenger. It’s all about who you’re in the car with and their driving style.

Slightly related: A walk down memory rally stage

If you’ve been following rallying for quite a few years, you may remember when Rally New Zealand had a day based at Te Kauwhata and included stages run through Maramarua Forest. I can just remember being about 12-years-old following my Dad around the service park in Te Kauwhata. This was one of the last rallies I went to where Possum Bourne was competing, it was also the time of Tommi Makkinen and Carlos Sainz. Marcus Gronholm won the rally and Dad brought me an ice cream while we were walking around service. I also got some signed posters from local drivers like Stumpy Holmes.

Hopefully not the last

I feel like this blog might get flowing again. When I sat down tonight, four months of news in one post seemed like a good idea but two hours later and I’ve just covered off one or two topics. BUT, I’ve jotted down plenty more to come. Fingers crossed aye.

What I’m reading at the moment:

WRC Behind the stages - Antony Warmbold’s privateer experience in the WRC from 2003-2005. Seriously good read about the technical, political and downright dirty side of the top of the sport. Start from the beginning and work your way up to the current post. Beneficial if you’re involved in the sport or have quite a good base level understanding of how everything works.

Howick gets its close-up and actor William McInnes (Look Both Ways) nails the can-do, get-ahead, ever-loving barbecue dad (with rocks in his head) in Brendon Donovan’s affectionate comedy-drama.

The hopes and dreams of political success that cleaning contractor Gazza Snell trumpets as the movie gets underway turn out to be a typical, expensive and short-lived caprice. He’s committed to the long haul only when it comes to making motorsport heroes out of his kart-racing teenage sons, confident 17-year-old Marc and 14-year-old Ed, repeatedly incited by the sensitive Gazza to surpass his older brother. He’s borrowed a fortune to make it all happen — and you may wish to take a skillet to him when you see the wounded expression that crosses his face as his regularly dismayed wife (Robyn Malcolm) confronts him with evidence of myriad unpaid household bills. (Source: New Zealand International Film Festival).

This looks like it will be a great watch, can’t wait for it to come out. Hopefully it will be a good insight into what some motorsport families go through.

There’s no choosing. Both I never tire of.

Dancing to this live at Big Day Out in 2006 = epic. Never fails to make me want to dance.

Makes me happy.