Author: Nikki Sim

We’re good to go for round 1 this Sunday 26th Feb kicking off the 23′ Northern Rallysprint Series.

Arcadia Road, in sunny (fingers crossed) Paparoa, hosted by Hibiscus Coast Motorsport Club, see’s us back in familiar territory. The event being run in a North to South direction brings a feeling of familiarity as driver/codriver teams tackle the 8km +/- course. The course shortened just a smidgen from prior years. The road has been on high watch by organizer’s no doubt following our recent bad weather spout. It’s held up remarkable well, good enough to get the thumbs up from the Local Council, to be issued with the ‘golden ticket‘ – an approved road closure permit. Take the time to scout your route before you leave for awareness of any ‘bad road’ sections to your destination which could cause transit delays.

Like most clubs, HCMC would have a fairly good rapport with locals and work in wherever necessary to allow this event to happen. Supporting the local Lions Club, your event entry gets you a free 2-person meal pass for a sit-down dinner post event at the Paparoa Hall right at the heart of the pits area. Please take the time if you can to partake in this, it’s really awesome seeing collaboration with local communities for our rallysprint events – fundraising from the Paparoa Lions Club goes towards local community projects.

An event with probably the best pits area you’ll get all season, slowly tour through town and out into the country to the start line for ‘go time’.

The course starts with a tight twisty downhill section towards the narrow one lane bridge, then snakes uphill opening up into higher gear sections. Sprinkled full of tight turns as far as the eye can see, follow the notes and throw her in. Good results favour the brave, crests requiring full commitment, flowing corners with favorable cambers, this road just dances left, right left …

The mid-section opens up to some decent straights, you’re running up higher in the hills at this stage, easier to gain better vantage as the roads dip and turn. One lane bridges really do rein in the speedo, but opening up into straight sections after, foot down all the way! The road flows corner to corner, right the way towards the finish line. Focus dialed right in, this is a really fun road – still the big sigh out as you cross the finish line and high five your codriver.

It’s been a while since I’ve been up there competing but watching some in-car footage gave me goosebumps and jogged the memory reminding me just how awesome our road selections are. All fair and well scouting for new roads (always in the sights of any club) but our existing roads have so much character, so many ‘moments’ had and it’s nice to return for another go at trying to beat your personal best time from years prior. Like an old friend, the roads are welcomed and enjoyed by many!

No need to fight for a good pits spot here, we look forward to seeing competing teams arrive for an excellent day’s racing.

While in the hall doing your documentation, look out for Nikki who will have the series door banner stickers. You’ll need to grab two door stickers and apply them to your car. We’ve also got Northern Rallsprint Series window stickers you can take to stick em’ somewhere to promote the series. Colour options available even to suit your car colour scheme…

Entries closed off on Wednesday so hopefully you’ve got yours in. HCMC are accepting late entries to the event, so even if you’re swearing and cursing at late couriers for parts arriving or the battle is real to get your car going in time, stop kicking her and contact the organizer’s and get an entry in. This is No. 1 for the series rounds and a good opportunity to blow out the cobwebs and see what the talents like this year if you’re in for the class battles with mates.

Sponsored by CPS & Suspension Tech, overall and class points start from here on in.

Special thanks to Neil Allport for supplying pace notes for the events. These are great for novice codrivers to jump in the silly seat and give it a go, without the stress of writing your own notes.

Racing Sunday – let’s gooo ….

 A 6-round series has been delivered. Most teams finding their rhythm and really getting into the groove as the season progressed, others can drive the pants off anything at any round in any condition, to the envy of all. For some it’s a highlight of the year, to compete in this series. After a few many years of doing the series, I used to think of it as poor man’s rallying, shorter stages, less constraint on timing requirements, a lesser entry fee and equivalent horsepower. Now, I know it as an extremely popular competitive series that branches from Northland to Otorohanga. Events with exquisite roads, people who leave lasting impressions that fly the ClubSport flag, and competition that’s every bit as fierce as any other series.

This year’s had its driver battles, competition’s been strong and healthy. We’re missing a few faces sure, but the show must go on. We’re still a bit light on Class A cars, it’s been great having Tony Young back on board – calling Simbo and Mark Bradley to the start line! Class G could do with a bit of a top up as well. The remaining classes have good, healthy numbers for battles to brew. I fly the flag for the girls out there racing so great to see Nastassia Subritzky competing and always a pleasure having Emma Gilmour grace us with her presence – irrespective of the Suzuki’s temperament on the day.

Congratulations to Charlie Evans, Series winner who drives like a bat out of hell. Honda or Mazda, doesn’t matter, he gets the very most of what he drives, and he drives hard! Also, for putting a 2WD driver back on the podium spot, impressive! Dave Strong and Colin Gibson coming in respectively in 2^nd & 3^rd places overall. Colin’s also a hard charger, extremely consistent and pulls impressive times.

The co-driver’s championship is gaining in popularity. This years deserved winner is Boots Ryan, co-driver for Derek Payne. Second on podium is Andrew So, new codriver for Hamil Pala and in third, Graeme Cockerill. Graeme getting the best of both a tarmac car and gravel car for driver Colin Cole.

At the end of a season, there always seems to be a desire for more but as summer looms we quickly realize why it’s a good idea to swap the race suit for some jandals, a cap and have a well-deserved break. Some need it, their trusty steeds looking a bit second hand. You’ve got to squeeze in preventative maintenance at some point as well, either pay the man or roll up your sleeves and get into it before you head off to the beach for the holidays (must heed own advice here).

We’ve had good commitment from the hosting clubs this year, and great to have MBOP on board as part of the series. I’ve alluded to this before, but these events do help float some of the local clubs so it’s imperative that we run them. We’re quietly missing the roads of the north though; Northland Car Club please bring us some Ruarangi magic or Glenbervie gold!

It’s been a tubulous year and times are tough. A progressive reevaluation of how we’re doing things, working smarter not harder. Covid’s been the pits, but our Kiwi resilience has shone through and we’re out there doing it again. You can sit and shake your head at the price you pay for an avocado, a block of cheese or a beer at your local pub OR just fill up the racecar and head out to your next event.

A hard charger, a conservative cruiser, a battler, a trier. Funds on tap or raiding the piggy bank to tweak your car to get a little bit more from her. Whichever you are, it’s great to have to you part of the series and it is what makes ClubSport rallying so enjoyable. For parents I’d say, get your kids into it. Driving is a fundamental skill we’re all to learn. We do it for most of our lives. If you can navigate through a tricky course with variable surfaces conditions, readjust when your lines not good, be kind to the working mechanisms beneath you and be proud of what you drive, then a bit of gravel rallying will help you become a better driver. Bonding with your kids is valuable, kids being competent drivers is imperative. Do it together, makes sense.

Calling club representatives for a Rallysprint committee meeting before the years out. Yes, another meeting is a pain, driving/commuting, talking/discussing. We’ll flesh out dates for 2023, discuss roads, maybe using new roads or running existing roads in the opposite direction to keep it fresh.

All, to bring you another year of the Northern Rallysprint Series.

We’re leading into the final round of the Northern Rallysprint Series. SACC providing a slightly different final round format in Maramarua Forest, steering away from their usual dual stage spread. 9kms of forest action, no WOF or rego rqd, easy. Bolt on a set of your best treads and prepare to race. The event is still fundamentally the James Allen Memorial Rallysprint with a well-attended prizegiving at the end of the day at the Red Fox, a refreshing way to wash away the dust.

Competitors will be looking to pin their ears back and bring home the bacon with a good result at the event contributing to the final points tallies. Whether you’re out there blowing off the cobwebs or in full race mode, its serious business when the start clock shines green. Chocolate fish racing at its best, the silver foxes, the accomplished drivers, the weekend warriors and those just set on finishing the day, all of you make up this excellent series.

Get ready to crown the series winner, Charlie Evans has set a blistering pace all year round. Hard to swallow, a 2WD trumping the field. Do take note on the overall series trophy being awarded at prizegiving, just how many 2WD drivers have accomplished this feat. Dave Strong, Colin Gibson and Derek Payne are all front runners for 2nd & 3rd overall placings, a cat’s whisker, or should I say minuet engine clearance, between them.

In class tiers, there’s nothing better than benchmarking yourself against your closest rivals. Classes A & E proving the closest of margins, also where you might end up if you push your luck too far in the forest and connect with a tree. Congratulations to Nastassia Subritzki being the only other female driver, other than our favourite Emma Gilmour, competing in the series. Competition is equally tight looking at the co-driver standings, co-drivers positioning pivoted on how well their drivers perform.

Don’t take the limelight off these guys and gals, it’s serious business. Last time I had my driver call notes to me we got to the 4th corner, some cussing then ‘go, go, go’ or ‘careful here’ replacing the intricate notes system.

The paddock pits banter, the competitor comradery, mate’s vs mate’s in clubsport’s finest racing. The northern rallysprint series has offered up a good hearty 6-round series this year with all of your favourite roads and favourite people.

It’s been a positive 2022 year, with inflation nipping at people’s heels and a variety of events to compete in, the NRSS series remains strong and has had a good following despite absences of some of the top drivers. Thus, in turn has allowed others to rise in the ranks which is enlightening to see new faces walk away with top honours. The series attendance is testament to good wholesome, cost-effective rally events, the bridging level to our clubman’s or national events.

A big thank you to series sponsors CPS & Suspension Tech. To Neil Allport for his valuable pace notes, Grant Liston for points collation and points queries. Jason Byrne for impeccable photography and website admin – on that note please support Jason with his Little Bit Sideways publications, if you like it, subscribe to it!!  There’s also Geoff Ridder and Matt Smith dotted in there on precarious corners providing fine imagery of your finest and worst moments. The convenors Dont Brunt, Wayne Sim and Grant Liston. The bread-and-butter staples for a good rallysprint recipe.

The series wraps up with prizegiving, set for October 15th, at the South Auckland Car Clubrooms. Kicking off at 5pm, catch up with mates before we roll into the night hosted by Steve Goodare and Stumpy Holmes. A recap of the 22 series sets the scene before we move into prizegiving, thanking our very loyal sponsors for their support throughout the season then general banter and competitor feedback. Join us for an evening where the timekeeping isn’t quite as critical as on raceday.