Timm cruises New Zealand in style

For some, marking a milestone is a three-course meal at your favourite restaurant, a nostalgic reflection with loved ones or an excuse to let loose and get a bit rowdy.

For Timm Scholz, selfproclaimed former car collector, celebrating a milestone involves shipping his ‘‘favourite toy’’ to the other side of the world for a fivemonth cruise, which he admits is a little ‘‘crazy’’.

The German tourist has been coming to New Zealand for 10 years, but this time wanted to cel- ebrate the milestone trip in his 1971 E-Type Jaguar.

‘‘I decided it has to be something special for the 10th trip,’’ he said.

Scholz normally travelled around New Zealand in a rental car, but decided to splash out this time.

Scholz was parked up at a campsite in Linkwater, Marlborough last week with everything he needed for his visit to New Zealand stowed securely in the boot of his car. But getting the car here wasn’t all smooth sailing. His car had to pass a warrant of fitness.

Scholz’s E-Type vehicle arrived in New Zealand on November 1 last year while he followed three days later.

Shipping the car from Germany to New Zealand took about a week.

His first visit to New Zealand was in 1983, and he fell head-overheels for the country and the friendly Kiwis he met along the way.

‘‘I love this country,’’ he said. ‘‘I loved it from the beginning.’’

His plan was to stay in the country until April and spend all of February touring around Fiordland.

He didn’t have any plans after that. Scholz sometimes reported for the weekend edition of German newspaper Dingolfinger Anzeiger about his travels and how his car was going.

He thought about 20 per cent of the paper’s readership was interested in his travels, 40 per cent were jealous of his trip and the remaining 40 per cent thought he was mad.

Although Germany was a producer of cars, (and Scholz had owned a Volkswagon) he said German cars did not touch his heart like British vehicles.

‘‘I’ve always like the British cars more,’’ he said.

Scholz started collecting cars in the 1980s and had purchased many vehicles including a Range Rover and a Spitfire.

He recently sold 90 per cent of his car collection but kept his British-made limited edition Jaguar; his all-time favourite.

The vehicle could reach a maximum speed of 240kmh, although Scholz stressed he had no intention of speeding on New Zealand roads.

Scholz enjoyed driving in New Zealand and thought New Zealanders were good drivers.

‘‘I am really content with New Zealand drivers,’’ he said.

SCOTT HAMMOND/ STUFF Timm Scholz is celebrating his 10th trip to New Zealand by driving around in his ‘‘favourite toy’’.