Hey’s recordbreaking run a family affair
MOSGIEL’S Chris Hey received the ultimate blessing from his son and codriver Coby (12) to give it everything before his successful attempt at breaking a 29yearold twowheeldrive (2WD) record at the Ashley Forest Rally sprint.
After the preliminary qualifying runs up and down the 1.7km North Canterbury course at the weekend, Hey checked that his boy was happy in the passenger seat and told him it was time to dial up the pace in their Toyota MR220.
‘‘He said, ‘just do whatever you have to do, dad’’’.
Hey, in the Toyota MR2, equalled Kim Austin’s 1988 record of 1min 02.45sec in the top 32 run.
In the top 16 run, Hey set a 2WD record of 1min 02.15sec.
Hey has driven the fastest 2WD at this event 10 times now and has finally got the race record.
He said it was very pleasing to break the record after many years of trying and he knew instantly he had done so after finishing the run.
‘‘There was a lot of noise at the bottom [around the finish line].
Going on to win the 2WD class for the 10th consecutive year after the toptwo final, Hey also claimed the trophy for the highestplaced Ratec Motorsport club member.
That was just the icing on the cake and involved a family celebration as Hey’s 13yearold daughter, Jorja, was also at the event, on the spanners.
She was codriving for him last year when he achieved his ninth 2WD win in a row but had to surrender her seat to her brother this time around.
Hey said they had to have turnabout.