Ngawhini Hill-Climb is all go
The Egmont Classic Car Register has been planning this Saturday’s biennial Ngawhini Classic HillClimb for a year.
The origins of the event are steeped with history. In the 1950s and 60s the hill-climb was part of the Motorsport Association of NZ in the Gold Star and National championship series.
Cars racing in that era were totally different from today, being home-built specials, modified exgrand prix cars such as the Ron Roycroft Bugatti Jaguar, George Smith’s Ford V8 Special and the famous Lycoming Special.
The hill-climb was removed from the national series after a new bridge was built and the road reshaped but the South Taranaki Car Club sometimes used the event in its calendar. However, it wasn’t until the ECCR, formed a few years earlier in 1992, reenacted the hill-climb as a consistent biennial event and it became a firm fixture on the local motorsport calendar.
In 1995, 35 vehicles lined up for the first Ngawhini Classic HillClimb. The main sponsor was Quirk Engineering who donated a cup for the winner and $500 prize money.
The winner on the day was Ross Calgher from Waitara, driving a Triumph TR8 in a time of
49.06 seconds over a distance of
1.1km. Calgher had vast experience in motorsport being a former crew member for the Nikki Lauder racing Formula 1 team.
Invariably there are a few mishaps, the hairpin catches out a few drivers and enthusiasm gets the better of others. One year Mike Ulenberg reformed the front end of his beautifully prepared 1960 3.8lt Jaguar. It then had to be unceremoniously carted away on a trailer but as they say in motor racing circles – ‘‘That’s racing.’’
Classic cars entering the 2019 event are mainly from Taranaki but a few drivers from further afield have entered for the competitive speed trial event.
The safety of drivers spectators is controlled and by Motorsport NZ, and ECCR officials will direct spectators to safe viewing areas while the South Taranaki Car Club will ensure that accurate times are recorded. This year’s event is scheduled for Saturday, with racing starting at 10am. Spectators are invited to attend at a cost of a gold coin donation. Food is available on site.