Hooked on Honda Cup racing
Making time to go racing is important
David Harker is a busy dairy farmer and cattle breeder under the mountain at
Po¯ kuru, but he still makes time to go motor racing.
In just over a week he’ll line up in the N1 division of the Motul Honda Cup for three days of practice and racing at Manfield — the opening round of this year’s five round series.
The final rounds alternate between Pukekohe and Hampton Downs through to the end of March.
David and his wife Wendy have Westell Stud — the major sponsor of his race car.
The other major sponsor is Quip Check — the company partowned by their son Matt. They have developed an app that is an electronic check sheet for vehicles, plant and equipment in any field of business.
Wendy is well known as a breeder of Holstein Freisians and Shorthorns and made history as the first woman president of the Holstein Freisian New Zealand Association.
She is also responsible for David’s motor racing aspirations.
In 2008 she bought him a V8 drive at Taupo¯ and he was hooked.
He says he had always enjoyed watching motorpsort, but that experience on the track inspired him to give it a go.
“I spent a couple of years researching what class I should race,” says David.
“Having decided on the Honda Cup I think I fell on my feet.”
There are several classes within Honda Cup — all for Honda Civics or Integras of various years and with varying specifications.
David chose N1. It is affordable, with control tyres, engine power, brakes and safety equipment, but competitive.
“A few years back I toyed with spending a bit of money to upspec my car for more speed, but got the best advice ever from my mechanic who said to stick to N1.
“It was a great decision to follow his advice.”
His car is a 1998 Honda EK3 Civic, powered by a stock secondhand 1600cc engine from Strongs For Honda.
He basically did no engine work, but it revs out to 9000rpm in every gear through his close ratio gearbox built from a standard Honda unit by Andrew Johnson.
David does some of his own work, including finding clever ways to gain speed and doing his own wheel alignment the old fashioned way with level and string-line.
Much of his enjoyment, apart form the racing, comes from doing the research and finding ways of making his car better.
He says winning comes down to preparation, driver ability and being brave.
But more importantly, David says a weekend away racing is a ‘great weekend’.
He says the camaraderie is great — people are helpful and always at the ready with parts or advice when it is needed.
“I really fell on my feet when I found N1 motor sport for a hobby,” says David.
“It can get really busy on the farm throughout summer, but I make the time for my hobby and I’m better off for it.”
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I really fell on my feet when I found N1 motor sport for a hobby.