Rotaries ready to rev and roll
A handful of North Island feature cars and the introduction of ‘‘roll racing’’ are two new features for the hundreds of car enthusiasts attending the annual 4 and Rotary South Island champs in Timaru.
The three-day event, which starts with a rotary and pre-2000s events today at Levels Raceway, is followed by a show and shine tomorrow at the Southern Trust Events Centre and a night cruise.
The event concludes with the ‘‘ultimate track day’’ on Sunday back at Levels.
‘‘There are about 500 cars entered, [I am] very, very happy and have already exceeded the numbers from our last event which was in 2020,’’ organiser Azhar Bhamji said.
‘‘It is amazing.’’
Police are expecting a busy weekend and have confirmed a ‘‘visible presence to ensure the community is safe and feels safe’’.
‘‘We have plans in place to police the events that are happening, and we’ve rostered on additional staff,’’ Senior Sergeant Antony Callon said.
He added there is likely to be an increase in vehicle congestion in Timaru and along State Highway 1, and police ask motorists to be patient with other road users.
Bhamji said an addition to the event is ‘‘a few feature cars from the North Island’’.
‘‘The transport truck left on Wednesday with four or five vehicles on them, and we’ll be seeing them here, and it will be a first-time trip in the south for them.’’
He said everyone should look for the ‘‘Mitsi Mirage’’ coming on the transporter.
‘‘It is one of the fastest Mirages in the country by far. It does a nine-second quarter mile, and it is here for the roll race events which is a fast-growing section in motorsport here in New Zealand.’’
Roll racing is like a quarter-mile drag but with cars having a rolling side by side start.
‘‘It is a sport we pretty much introduced about a year ago.
‘‘It has really taken off because it is not as hard on the drivetrain of the vehicles.’’
Bhamji predicts a boom holiday weekend for many businesses in the Timaru area from service stations to food and accommodation providers and there are no plans to move the event.
‘‘We plan for Timaru to have the event for at least another three or four years.
‘‘I’ve signed the deal for the next three years. It is a cool venue, a cool place to be at.
‘‘Our team, who travel from the North Island, love to come to Timaru and [there is] great support from the council and Venture Timaru.’’
Automotive businesses have also been busy in the lead up with Chris Thompson, part-owner of Rapid Performance, saying ‘‘everything ramps up’’ in the six to eight weeks before.
‘‘The work is a bit of everything, but there has been a huge demand for wiring, after market computer work this year so that’s been occupying a lot of time.
‘‘Computer work is basically to optimise the new engine set up or modifications to the engine that might have been done.
‘‘We’ve done lots of modifications leading up to this weekend, lots of engine mods and suspension mods.’’
‘‘I think it [the weekend] is a good opportunity for people all around the South Island to just get out on the track,’’ Thompson said.
‘‘There is so much track time available to them on the day and it’s a really good excuse to get out and use their cars in a safe environment.’’