Saturday 31st March to Sunday 1st April – A weekend of racing at Pukekohe Parkway

On doing some preliminary research into our new community it transpired that we are close to not just one but TWO motor racing circuits.  I think Simon will be happy here!  Better than that, stage 8, the eighth and final stage of the Speed Works - Premier Motorsport Championship was to be held at Pukekohe Parkway this very Easter weekend.  Advance tickets only cost $45 each, so that was our Easter sorted!

We didn’t rush to get up on Saturday.  In fact, we couldn’t rush anywhere anyway because I was walking like I’d had an unfortunate accident.  It’s amazing how much six months of no gym classes can set you back!  I was in absolute agony in many places, but mostly down the front of my thighs, making stairs my arch nemesis, and giving me the appearance of someone tip-toeing over broken glass!  Simon thought it was hilarious.  The best thing for it, of course, would be regular movement. If I sat or lay down for any length of time I seized up, making matters worse. So, walking around a racing circuit for the day should be the perfect medicine.

Little pink MX5 with my old RSPCA collar number on... a firm favourite

It was very relaxed.  Once we’d shown our tickets to enter the parking area, we had free reign to go anywhere – walk along the pits, enter the raised viewing areas and even take ourselves around the edge of the circuit as long as we remained a safe distance from the action.  Saturday was a packed schedule.  They usually had practise on a Friday but that hadn’t happened the day before, because of Jesus dying.  So, they packed in session after session of practises for all the various categories of vehicles there.  This ranged from Formula first mini racing cars through Grand Tourers, Porsches, Utes and finally trucks:

Porsche's queuing to start racing

Suped-up ute getting weighed

Getting a thumbs-up from one of the super-truck drivers

After a thirty-minute break for lunch it was on to qualifying for each category and then the races began.  We had recced the circuit and Simon chose a spot we agreed should see the most action in the races, a series of tight bends where there should hopefully be some excitement in the form of overtaking, spins and crashes.  That was us for the rest of the afternoon. 

It was strange that no one else seemed to venture far from the catering van and toilet facilities.  We were the hardcore fans, stepping out the extra distance to get our photos and get a piece of the action. 

Formula first mini racing cars

The weather forecast had predicted a warm and sunny afternoon, so I had donned shorts. However, part way through the afternoon it clouded over and became rather chilly – not ideal for my already damaged leg muscles!  It was a long day.  The last truck race didn’t finish until 530pm after which time we slowly (and painfully) hobbled our way back to the car.  One more stop for today – we needed some camping chairs for our time in NZ, so now we have posh ‘All Blacks’ ones with a drinks holder on one side AND chiller bag under the other arm – winning!

We were exhausted from a day of fresh air and (slow) exercise.  What luck then, that the clocks went back that night.  Winter is coming.  And an extra hour in bed would do us some good, thank you.

The view from the hillside spectator area on the home straight

Sunday was a full day of racing.  It was always going to be more exciting when the drivers were competing side by side and there was an ‘end-of-term’ feel about the races today.  No one seemed averse to making contact with a competitor’s car to try and gain the upper hand and get that overtake.  There were numerous times that the safety cars were out on the track after a collision or a vehicle had spun off the track:

They varied the races.  Our favourite was when they reversed the field and gave the slowest cars a head start.  This meant that the field was spread out at the start but by the end it was anyone’s race as the fastest cars and drivers had to make the most overtaking manoeuvres in order to be victorious.

We were back in our favourite spot from yesterday, but this time fully prepared with camping chairs, drinks and an Easter chocolate supply.  No need to budge for the whole afternoon.

The climax of the weekend was the final truck race.  The season’s winner had already been decided so the drivers were just out to have fun and didn’t worry too much if any damage was caused in the process.  Look at this side by side tussle at speed:

 

Tracks-eye view of the grid (racing was finished for the day....)

The day was much shorter than Saturday’s schedule, so it was all over about 330pm.  We’d enjoyed our first experience of our nearest race circuit and went away with a flyer about how you can bring your own car for track days.  Let’s see what happens there then….

It was a lovely day, so it seemed far too early for us to head back to our abode.  I suggested we check out another beach only 30-minutes’ drive away, Karioitahi beach.  It was another large swathe of fine black sand and it seemed that it was ‘anything goes’ on Karioitahi beach.  You can swim, walk your dog, drive your car and do donuts, take a quadbike, motorbike, or ride your horse! The beach went on in both directions as far as the eye could see.  And so close to home…

The vast expanse of black sand at Karioitahi Beach

Important market research to establish beer preferences in NZ

We had passed through a small town called Waiuku on our way to the beach and on the return journey we were tempted in to the Portside Restaurant for some dinner. The restaurant is part of the Kentish Hotel, home of the longest standing liquor license in NZ, since 1853!  It was about time we celebrated selling the RV in some way! The menu was Greek-themed, so we shared a mezze for starter which was really tasty before facing a main as well.

Posing outside the Kentish Hotel

Easter greetings were sent to our families back in the UK.  We have now been here over a week and it seems strange to not be able to tell more people.  It is easier to avoid having conversations over skype or messenger because then we don’t have to ignore the question of ‘where are you now?’ or worse, lie. Not so easy at times like Easter when naturally we would have seen members of family if we were back in the UK.  We’ll pretend we’re too busy to talk to people when really, we have the least number of things to do to fill our time now than we have done for ages!  It will all become clear to the folks back home in time….