Here’s a few of my favourite action shots of the many thousands we,ve taken of the series over the past few years, they are not necessarily the best in quality or action and it’s not all about the winners, it’s simply a quick look at why we are involved with the series and what great action the competitors serve up every year. The roads and the country side also help make this series what it is….A fantastic, competitive and friendly series.
Click on the image to see a larger copy and a small description.
Anthony Jones in his Millington powered Mk2 Escort at the 2019 Hibiscus Coast Motorsport Clubs Arcadia Road Rallysprint, typical Jonsey & Escort fashion, pedal to the metal and sideways!
Warwick Redfern, 2005 at the Pukekohe Car Clubs Wiakorea Valley Road. I just love the deep dense bush covered in the white dust from the rally cars. I was new to this road and had not yet discovered what was further up the road, I was struggling to get any decent action shots so just hid in the bush and stuck the lens through the twigs for a few “scenic shot’s”. Warwick went on to win the series championship on three occasions and is still a regular competitor in the series.
Lionel Flemming, 2006 at the Northland Car Clubs Glenbervie Forest event. A 5 second penalty was given to anyone who hit the markers at the beehive corner, Lionel should have got at least half an hour as he completely demolished this one! Always a competitive and exciting driver to watch as you can see!
Phil Campbell, 2007 at the Pukekohe Car Clubs Wiakorea Valley Road. Being run in the opposite direction to the more traditional way. His car control and set up in this 1300cc Starlet was absolutely spot on, a star of the future!
Scott Ogle, 2006 at the South Auckland Car Clubs Maramaru Forest event. Another exceptionally quick driver, and still is the man to beat in the 1600cc class. And no, he does not hit the sign post.
Andrew Hawekeswood, 2006 at the Tauranga Car Clubs (Now known as the Motorsport Bay of Plenty Car Club) Pinnacle Loop Road Rallysprint. Another exceptionally exciting driver to watch, seen here in his homebuilt Audi Quattro. In years to come he became the New Zealand National Rally Champion but has never won the Rallysprint series.
Steve Goodare, 2006 at the Pukekohe Car Clubs Wiakorea Valley Road. Steve is another talented and exciting driver and a past champion of the series. Seen here at what became a favourite spot of mine, it’s the entrance to a residents drive and were it meets the road this “Yump” has been worn out, it provides great pictures and often a few hairy moments for those who get the line wrong!
Graham Featherstone, 2006 at the Pukekohe Car Clubs Wiakorea Valley Road. “Feathers” has gone on to win the series six times in succession at the time of writing. Seen here servicing his apprenticeship in a very trick 1600cc Starlet, an ex Dean Sumner car.
Grant Patrick & Mike Wheatly, 2009 at the Tauranga Car Clubs Otanewainuku Road event. No, he did not roll and actually sustained very little damage, he was unable to proceed as he picked up two puncture’s. This was an event that was a little different to our normal run of the mill event as the cars raced in & out! Not very successful for the series as time always seems to run out!
Craig & Suzi Tickle, 2007 at the Pukekohe Car Clubs Bothwell Loop Road event. A regular in the series for quite some time since building this immaculate BMW 2002. Love the way he’s throwing it in.
Harvey Semmens, 2007 at the Pukekohe Car Clubs Bothwell Loop Road. Throwing in his Honda powered escort in similar fashion to the previous shot, both pictures are at the spectator point.
Jono Walker, 2014 at the Northland Car Clubs Ruarangi Road Event. Very lucky, and very brave to keep it nailed. Always looks like “Nasty “ bend, typical of Ruarangi Road with its bends & kinks over blind crests.
Steve Goodare, 2014 at the Northland Car Clubs Glenbervie forest. This was not a round of the rallysprint series, it was a separate 2wd only event but basically all the competitors were guys from the series, and it’s too good not to include. Tracy was at the radio point just down the road, she did not have clear vision of the bend but told me a few guys were struggling with this slight left, she could see from the movement of the cars roof ( Her only vision) that some were doing “Strange things” I checked it out and this happened…. A “Don’t cut” bend!
Anthony Jones, 2019 at the Hibiscus Coast Motorsport Clubs Arcadia Road event. What can you say about a shot like this? The shot was as all the others on this bend but it’s just Jonsey’s attitude to attacking the bend in true Escort style that really makes the shot.
Phil Campbell, 2019 at the Hibiscus Coast Motorsport Clubs Arcadia Road event. Compare this to his previous shot from 2007 in his Starlet, nothing has changed apart from the car, seen here setting up his Fiesta AP4 perfectly…….and yes he totally missed the bush.
Craig Marshall, 2019 at the Hibiscus Coast Motorsport Clubs Arcadia Road event. Another past series Champion, seen here ripping off the rear wheel off the Peugeot as he misses the breaking point and catches the edge of the concrete kerb that runs over the bridge. The finish line was just round the next corner, Craig spun after this, put it into first and carried on, and being FWD he made to the finish line but lost the class win!
Haydn McKenzie, 2020 at the Hibiscus Coast Motorsport Clubs Arcadia Road. I’ve had my eye on this bend for years but could never be bothered the long trek, especially in blistering heat. This year I decided to make the effort and what a great corner, although Hayden decided not to take the normal route, he was very lucky to get away with this and so was i!
Gareth Eady, 2020 at the Hibiscus Coast Motorsport Clubs Arcadia Road event. Tracy has recently been using my spare camera as the video camera has given up the ghost. This ones her shot, just a nice clear shot of a nice car in beautiful countryside, this bend is just up the road from the previous photo, we’ll be there again!
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