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| "Firstly, I think you're all mad!" Quite a welcome to the annual night trial. A huge plus was that the showers held off while all were assembling outside the NZ Bloodstock Centre in Karaka, meaning Gary and Catherine completed their pre trial briefing keeping us all dry, if a little chilly. With the formalities out of the way mileages were recorded, navigators turned on torches, and the cars were set off at 60 sec intervals. 2 km down the road the rain started up again so the timing had been impeccable. We were joined by members of the Datsun Z Club and I was a little concerned to see a fully sponsored, obviously trial prepared, West Auckland Mini at the start - the significance of this event is increasing year by year and the Westies were out to hijack this event from the South! |
Gary and Catherine delivering the all important pre-start briefing.
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Stage 1 was through the long straights and sweeping curves of the rural Karaka countryside out through Patumahoe, to Paerata and Ramarama, across the motorway. The questions kept minds on the job as a couple of the reserves were in darkness and quite easy to 'flash by' and not see. Missing them could be a very easy thing to do. A couple of cars flashed past me quite quickly, (I was only in touring mode so I'm sure they were below the speed limit!). And still the showers came down. Although not an official 'stage 1', crossing the motorway divided this trial up into 2 neat packages, although a number of cars missed the first instruction after this!
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The long undulating Charles Rd in picturesque Karaka, seen through rear windscreen at 99.5 kmph.
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From the long straits of Karaka to the Bombay Hills meant a huge change in driving style and concentration. Gone was the laid back tour to be replaced by maximum concentration on the road ahead. With standard Lucas headlights, this vigilance was essential as we climbed and twisted our way through the Bombays to Pokeno via Pinnacle Hill Rd. Corners seemed to come up fast with little indication of where they were going until you were through. State Highway 2 came up very quickly and quite a few sets of brakes lost a few millimetres of lining there. And still the showers came.
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Highway 2 provided the fleet with a chance to stretch its legs, being able to get up to 99.9kmph and stay at a constant speed for a few kilometres. This gave overworked brakes a chance to cool down before begining the next section back through the Paparimu Hills towards the finish. There was one place where we had to decide whether to turn right and follow the road we were on, or go straight ahead. A few might come unstuck here and go right. The subsequent directions would be taking you away from the finish if you turned right here! And still the showers came - this time very heavy.
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The route took us back across the motorway at Ramarama, and here the sponsored race car retired due to turning right at the above place and headed up the motorway to the finish in time for dinner.
The trickiest question came into play here - "What was the name of Henry Flay's wife? OMG! Stop and look at every letterbox - no joy. Pass a little country church and cemetary and arrive at the kennels - the answer to the next question. I wonder.... So, back to the church and look knowingly at the maze of headstones standing eerily in the night. And still the showers came. "Ivy Myrtle" - I'll never forget her!
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Wandering amongst the headstones, searching for Henry's wife.
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| And so on to the finish. I had not looked at my watch throughout and was surprised to see it was 8:45pm. Over 2 hours of motoring through some of the most scenic roads in Franklin (if only we could have seen the countryside) and over a selection of roads to make all drivers smile!
This was another cracker of a run and a credit to the experience of Gary and Catherine who never come up with a 'crook one'. And still the showers came.
Results:
1st Luke Martin & Mark Thompson.....Mini
2nd Alan & Shelagh Murie...................Mini
3rd Gavin Agnew..............................Mini
4th Kelvin Healy & Imogen Hewlett....Zed
5th David & Janice Turner..................Zed
6th Luke & Rachel Pascoe.................Zed
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