HERO CONTRIBUTOR

Being the hero contributor for this month is a great joy. Photography has taken a step back for me for the past two years while helping raise my small family, but a very understanding wife — thanks, babe — has allowed me to continue to pursue my true passion. It feels great to have achieved this, too.

Over a decade ago, when the D1NZ cars were still in their infancy, I started my career as a photographer by standing trackside. Thanks to my photography, I landed me the position of media manager for Choice Events, which organises events such as REunion, Auto Atsumaru, and Street Fighters, to name a few. With REunion being my most recent experience — you can read about the event in full in this issue — I do advise that, if you have the opportunity, you check it out. Whether or not you have an interest in rotary, it’s a wild show.

I’ve had the opportunity to cover some of New Zealand’s biggest events as a member of the media, and I’ve visited many motorsport events over the years, with the Summernats and World Time Attack in Australia being my most treasured occasions.

I’ve always had a passion for fast cars, and over the years I’ve owned a few fantastic ones, including a 4AGZEconverted AE101 Corolla, B18CR EG Civic Sedan, Stage 2 Golf GTi, and one I still possess today, an RB25DET Nissan Stagea — although it’s about to be sold. I’ve upgraded to a Skoda Superb, which I refer to as the ‘Dad wag’, because I’m older and, as previously indicated, have a young family.

I find it heartening that I can still see the performance vehicle culture very much alive and well while driving to events in my Dad wag. Once you join the family of performance cars, you’re in it for life, and I see my young family loving it just as much as I have over the years. So, to the younger generation in the car culture: look out for the young Woods in a few years. As for me, I’ll try to keep up with them!