First Impressions of Driving at Pukekohe

Hi ... I thought it about time I wrote.

I purchaced a 1987 MKI SC targa top auto in late 1997 as a second vehicle. To enable my youngest son to drive safely and to compete in a number of events I joined a car club. I have now competed in gymkhanas which are a lot of fun and recommended for everyone to try, expecially on grass. I entered a bent sprint, the first one being on route P in Tauranga on the afternoon after the targa cars had been through. My top speed on the day was recorded (by police radar) at 185 km/h. At Meremere my 1/4 mile was 16.22 seconds, at Taupo my best time was 53.5 seconds, and at Pukekoh my best time was 1 minute 21 seconds. In a hill climb in Rotorua my car came 1st in the family class in a time of 1 minute 10 seconds.

It has been good to meet up with Steve, Adrienne, Brad and Malcolm at the different tracks as the first time I went to Pukekohe, Steve jumped into my car and showed me how he went around the track. The practice was a bit nerve racking and a big learning curve of what the best speed was for each corner. For the 3 laps with a standing start my times were 4 minutes 26 seconds and 4 minutes 20 seconds.

I was then put in a group of 8 cars with similar times and we were let off 2 at a time and about 10 seconds apart.

The last two sessions on the track I was up against Brad who was driving Steve and Adrienne’s race car (for the first time at Pukekohe too). Brad had the advantage at the first corner and this helped me to find the queckest way around the track. After 3 laps from a astanding start my best time was 4 minutes 13.68 seconds, Brads best time was 4:09:03 (Steve’s best was 4:03:28, Ade’s 4:09:02. Best lap times: Don 1:21:72; Brad 1:20:29; Ade 1:18:48; Steve 1:17:84 (and Ade, Steve and Brad carried passengers most of the times - Ed). I thougth my car was not bad for an auto.

For those who haven’t been around Pukekohe this is my experience of one lap:
The flag drops and so does my right foot. At the first right hand corner the car is on the correct lines at 140km. The "S" bends are coming up at a great speed, time to slow down. At 120km I go down to 2nd and make a bee line and power through the "S"s and break again for Castrol corner. I line the car up and plant foot, the car sledges left but I get through to the back straight - time to look around, no cars behind me (I must be going fast), check instruments, air conditioning off, fan off, radio off, speedo and revs still climbing.

At 150 meters befor the hairpin (the car was reving just over 4500 and the speedo just past 180km/h) I brake hard and down to 2nd gear @ 120km. The car slows just in time to take the corner at about 60 km/h and flat out to the next two sweeping bends, the first one at 120km/h and into 3rd. This brings us under the "tyre" bridge and ready to line up the last corner a over mobil hill at 140 km/h for the dash past the bumpy starting grid and over the finishing line @ 160km/h.

As I cruised home to Te Puke at normal speeds I was able to reflect on the days activities. Yes it was worth it for the experience and confidence I had for my car for what I can do, if required.

59KB
Don in his car at Meremere Drag Racing strip

I hope to do it again soon with better tyres, brakes and suspension upgrade. Since Pukekohe my thanks go to Trevor of New Lynn Auto Dismantlers for the set of backing plates and John from MasterParts for the clubsport mintex brake pads. The car stops much faster now from a high speed with no fading.

Thanks guys

Donel Svendsen