For those who couldn’t make it to the sensational NZ Festival of Motor Racing at Hampton Downs – here’s a taste of what you missed!

Many thanks to Allan Udy of the Historical Aviation Film Unit for sending us the link to this video – amazing car-to-car footage of motor racing legend, Chris Amon, track-testing an amazing Ferrari 250 GTO replica at Hampton Downs. The car may be a replica, but it’s a genuine Ferrari – so sit back, turn up the volume and watch a master at work accompanied by a V12 soundtrack.

A brief message to all our loyal subscribers – due to a glitch in our distribution system, subscriber copies of the latest, February, edition of NZ Classic Car were posted out rather later than usual. So, if your copy hasn’t arrived yet, be patient – it’s on the way!

We apologise for the delay and can assure everyone that bums have been booted on your behalf!

In keeping with the theme of the recent NZ Festival of Motor Racing celebrating BMW Motorsport, SPR Limited has provided us with an impressive model of a mid-engined BMW M1 to feature this month. It is a 1:43 Spark brand model of the #53 EMKA Productions Ltd/ Michael Cane Racing BMW M1 that raced in the Group 5 class at Le Mans in 1981. Powered by a naturally aspirated 3497cc twin-cam straight-six engine, the M1 was driven by the English pairing of David Hobbs and Steve O’Rourke, along with Irishman Eddie Jordan. It was sponsored by Hawaiian Tropic, SDC Builders and EMKA (Steve O’Rourke’s production company).
This BMW M1 model, along with the rest of the Spark range, are available from specialist hobby shops nationwide. For more information about the Spark,
Bizarre or TrueScale ranges phone John on 09 845 4551, or visit the SPR website at www.spr.co.nz to download the latest catalogue.

Go into the draw to win this Spark brand BMW M1 by answering the following question.

Steve O’Rourke wasn’t simply known as a racing driver. What was his main claim to fame?

To enter this competition, click here.
Competition closes on February 25, 2012.

The first part of this year’s NZFMR – celebrating BMW – takes place this weekend at Hampton Downs. Be there to catch two days of exciting classic car racing – including star turns from celebrated drivers such as Jim Richards, Paul Radisich and Paul Fahey – and, of course, dozens of historic and significant BMW race-cars. It’s an event not to be missed – but if you can’t make it to Hampton Downs this weekend, be sure to get there next weekend for the second part of this unique event.

Want to know more?

http://www.nzfmr.co.nz/

Goodyear’s Eagle F1 Asymmetric 2 has been awarded the Gold Medal in the latest Motor magazine tyre test, cementing its position as Australia’s ultimate performance road tyre. The accolade also gives Goodyear a hat-trick of wins in the authoritative test with the original Eagle F1 Asymmetric earning the award the two previous years.

With testing undertaken at Sydney’s Eastern Creek Raceway, V8 Supercar driver, stunt driver and driving instructor, Warren Luff, was behind the wheel of a MY12 Mitsubishi Evolution X MR, putting nine 245/40R18 size high performance road tyres through their paces. The tyres were tested in four separate challenges – Figure Eight Road Circuit, Wet Skidpan, Dry Slalom and Emergency Braking – with scores averaged across three attempts for each.

With Australian weather conditions providing a constant and varied challenge for drivers and tyres alike, performance in the Wet Skidpan is always a key performance indicator. Here the Eagle F1 Asymmetric 2 was the clear leader in what was the only wet test, with its new silica tread compound and race inspired resin creating better adhesion on the wet surfaces. The Goodyear tyre again clocked the outright fastest average time on the Figure Eight Road Circuit, highlighting the credentials of its new improved tread pattern which allows for a more stable outer tread to aid cornering. The Eagle F1 Asymmetric 2 was also equal first place in the Dry Slalom.

Overall, after taking out three of the four categories, MOTOR awarded the Eagle F1 Asymmetric 2 the Gold Medal, commenting that, “its solid performance across all categories shows its broad capabilities to cope with a diverse range of situations.”

For further information:

http://asymmetric2.goodyear-micro.co.nz/

Only a few weeks away from this year’s NZCC/Ellerslie Intermarque Concours – which is planned to take place on Sunday, 12th February.

Starting with the extremely popular Meguiar’s/MG/Mustang Fun Run on Saturday. 11th February, the show itself is expected to draw out over 600 classic cars from all over New Zealand – many of them competing for team and individual honours in the Intermarque Concours. For more information, visit: www.concours.org.nz

NZ Classic Car will, once again, be taking over the Newmarket Room at Ellerslie and we’re planning a huge display of mouth-watering classic cars – visitors will also get a chance to look at Don Packwood’s fantastic motor sport paintings, plus the chance to buy exclusive prints.

So, safe motoring over the holiday period – and we’ll catch up with you a Ellerslie!