Bay Driver 30 January 2015

Friday 30 January 2015 Friday 30 January 2015Friday 30 January 2015

Mercedes C200 See page 4

A splash of panacheA splash of panacheA splash of panacheA splash of panacheA splash of panacheA splash of panacheA splash of panacheA splash of panacheA splash of panacheA splash of panacheA splash of panacheA splash of panacheA splash of panacheA splash of panacheA splash of panacheA splash of panacheA splash of panacheA splash of panacheA splash of panacheA splash of panacheA splash of panacheA splash of panacheA splash of panacheA splash of panacheA splash of panacheA splash of panacheA splash of panacheA splash of panacheA splash of panacheA splash of panacheA splash of panacheA splash of panacheA splash of panacheA splash of panacheA splash of panacheA splash of panacheA splash of panacheA splash of panacheA splash of panacheA splash of panacheA splash of panacheA splash of panacheA splash of panacheA splash of panacheA splash of panacheA splash of panacheA splash of panacheA splash of panacheA splash of panacheA splash of panacheA splash of panacheA splash of panacheA splash of panacheA splash of panacheA splash of panacheA splash of panacheA splash of panacheA splash of panacheA splash of panacheA splash of panacheA splash of panacheA splash of panacheA splash of panacheA splash of panacheA splash of panacheA splash of panacheA splash of panacheA splash of panacheA splash of panacheA splash of panacheA splash of panacheA splash of panacheA splash of panacheA splash of panacheA splash of panacheA splash of panacheA splash of panacheA splash of panacheA splash of panacheA splash of panache

The Weekend Sun Bay DriverPage 2 Friday 30 January 2015 Friday 30 January 2015Friday 30 January 2015

Advertising bookings and enquiries contact Lucy Pattison on 07 578 0030email: [email protected]

For editorial and news tips email: [email protected]

phone 07 578 0030 No.1 The Strand, PO Box 240, Tauranga 3140 www.sunlive.co.nz

Home of

www.baydriver.co.nzWeekend Wheels

Bay events: January 31: Baypark Family SpeedwayGreat entertainment is promised for the whole family with all the regular classes – including saloons, super saloons, sprint cars and mini stocks – as well as seeing 30 three-quarter midgets competing at Baypark for the fi rst time. Gates open for spectators from 5pm with racing from 6.30pm. Details: www.bayparkspeedway.co.nz/eventsFebruary 1: MX track opening – TECT All Terrain ParkTauranga Motorcycle Club’s new home venue will be offi cially opened by Mayors Stuart Crosby and Ross Paterson at 9am, followed by a fun day of races from 9.30am, with sign on from 8am, on the new open and junior rider tracks. Details: www.taurangamcc.co.nz February 1: Ngongotaha hillclimbThe annual Rotorua Car Club hillclimb series, which earn points for Motorsport BOP’s championship ladders, will hold its fi rst round of the tarmac hillclimb on Febru-ary 1 with a second round on February 22. Details: www.mbop.org.nz Feb 22: Battle of the Streets – PaeroaThe country’s top motorcyclists will descend on the town to compete in the legendary 1.5km ‘hacksaw’ circuit with races ranging from sidecars and motards to Formula bikes. Details: www.battleofthestreets.co.nz

Beyond the Bay:January 31-February 1: NZ Premier Race Series – Hampton DownsThe third round of the national race championship will see top cars compete across a range of classes including Toyota TR86, Formula Ford, Toyota Racing Series and NZ Motor Cup.February 6-8: Leadfoot Festival – HaheiClassic cars, vintage motorcycles and motorsport legends will descend on Rod Millen’s Leadfoot Ranch for a series of races and displays in a celebration of all motorsports and all things automotive. Details: www.leadfootfestival.com February 20-21: D1NZ drifting - Hampton Downs Round four of the national drift series will be held in Hampton Downs, where Cole Arm-strong and other top Western Bay drivers will try to build on their success at Baypark.

To submit an event for listing, email details to [email protected] at least two weeks prior.

The Weekend Sun Bay Driver Page 3Friday 30 January 2015 Friday 30 January 2015Friday 30 January 2015


SPECS

Mercedes backs a winnerMercedes backs a winnerMercedes backs a winnerMercedes backs a winnerMercedes backs a winnerMercedes backs a winner

By Jay Burston

The new Mercedes C-Class is a winner. Not just in my view, but it’s also received 10 other awards

from ‘Judges Choice’ to ‘Car of the Year’. Which is really no

surprise! This car is a marvel of engineering. Not

just from a technical standpoint, but from the angle of engineered beauty too.

It looks like a winner, and makes you feel like a winner too. I have scuff marks on the bottom of my jaw.

Our C200 test vehicle is supposedly the entry level to the C-Class range.

Entry level? This car is so well equipped, I can only imagine that the higher spec vehicles must be moon-land-

ing capable or something.The standard features list is so long they

even had to use small print to fi t them all on to the page.

Externally it’s a stunning machine, it’s aggressive, executive and simply gushing with style and panache. It would easily take pride of place outside your favourite restaurant, or be at home in the grounds of a country estate getaway.

The standard engine doesn’t disappoint either. The 2.0 litre petrol engine has more than enough kick for its modest size.

The power is smooth and consistently delivered, thanks to its pairing with a seven-speed auto transmission.

It’s also incredibly economical, with a mere 6.0L/100km. For a car of its size, that’s very impressive.

The C-Class lets you fi ddle with performance too, with its four modes of operation – Eco, Com-fort, Sport and Sport +.

Eco uses the least fuel possible and winds off the power to save

fuel, offering a nice balance of power over cruising comfort.

Sports mode makes the car quite lively, and Sport + turns it in to a beast – it even has paddle shift gears to compliment your playful side. Bravo to Mercedes though, no ride comfort is lost in any of these modes.

Out on the road, this car is such a joy. The environment inside the cabin is a great place to be, and the ride quality is so smooth and refi ned.

It’s very well-appointed, comfortable, and highly confi gurable to suit the driver. Everything has a setting – but all so easy to use and most of it is set and forget.

The large centre screen keeps you on track with Garmin GPS built right in; this shows you where you’re going when reversing, and is the base of operations for the radio, media centre – which links to your iPhone/iPod or other USB devices – and all the other settings of the car from air conditioning to communicating with the international space station.

Okay, maybe not that last one, but you

get the idea.It’s a safety-conscious wee thing too.

Drive too close to the car in front and it lets you know about it; same when reversing too. But that’s not all – there’s tyre pressure warning, self-drying brakes, blind spot assist, as well as the usual ESPs and ASRs to keep you going in a straight line, or get you around that corner in one piece.

As if the standard options weren’t enough, there’s a smorgasbord of optional extras too. The Vision Package gets you a panoramic sunroof with roller sunblinds and heat-insulated glass, adaptive head-lights and a heads-up-display.

This option was fi tted to our test car, and made it stand out with the nearly all-black roof, taken up entirely by glass.

Internally it’s almost like a convert-ible, without the messy hair do or loss of hat. Other options include upgrades to the command console, seats, sports trim options from the infamous AMG tuning house, or the exclusive package, which adds a few more luxury points.

If you want a bit more under the hood, the C-Class is also available with a 1.6 turbo-diesel engine, C200 BlueTEC; the 2.0 litre 155kw turbo-charged engine C250 Sedan; a 2.2 litre twin-turbo diesel

C250 BlueTEC; or 2.2 litre twin-turbo diesel hybrid C300 BlueTEC.

The lineup is also available in sta-tion wagon form too.

Prices start from $71,900 plus on-road costs, and creep up to $94,900 for the C300.

So, if you’re in the market for a car that makes you feel like a winner, why not embrace a real winner from the Mercedes

C-Class range?

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Displacement: 1991cc, 135 kW

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THE MOUNTAIN’S MET ITS MATCH.

The new Range Rover Sport turns every driving experience up a notch. Climbing mountains becomes a walk in the park, while negotiating city streets has never felt more commanding.

Starting from $125,000 you’ll need to hurry to get your hands on one, so head into Duncan & Ebbett and arrange a test drive today.


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Like father, like brother, like son – success on the national speedway racing circuit has become a family

tradition in the Cowling clan.

Following in the footsteps of his racing legend father Maurice – who claimed the national super saloon championship 1NZ crown in 1996, and brother Chris, who won the saloon class title last year – it was Steve Cowling’s turn to dominate on Saturday when he claimed the saloon cham-pionship in Blenheim.

“I’m over the moon! It’s a fantastic result,” says Steve, who credits strong support and mentoring from his dad and the brothers’ competitive rivalry as a major help to reach the top.

“Dad’s been a huge help to us with his knowledge and support. He’s a big part of it.”

While Maurice helps with strategy and hard-learnt lessons from his long racing

career that also saw him reach the top as 1NZ in midget racing, he’s also the crew and helps with the car set-up.

And even though there is fi erce competi-tion between the brothers they also help each other out where they can.

“We defi nitely push each other along, but if either of us sees the other struggling – or

if we can suggest how they can improve an area of their racing – then we share it.

“It’s like having an extra pair of eyes look-ing out for you.”

In good family spirit Chris told Bay Driver even though he aimed to retain the title he’s happy to see it go to Steve.

“I couldn’t think of a better person to lose to,” laughs Chris, who also fi nished on the podium, claiming third place.

“I was stoked for him. I saw his face after crossing the line and he was beaming.

“It was so good to see,” says Chris, who along with Steve was introduced to speed-way as a lad when they’d try to help their dad at the track.

“We would always follow him around and crew for his car, now it’s the other way round,” says Steve.

The 1NZ title comes after what’s been a good season to date for Steve, which has seen him win the Bay of Plenty saloon title and the seven-round South Island DHL Saloon Speedweek series in December

where he claimed the series from his brother Chris, who’d held it for the last three years.

“Chris was the benchmark there after dominating for so long and it was extremely close; it only came down to a couple of points in it.”

After catching their breath from the national championships the pair, who originally shared a car when they fi rst began saloon racing 10 years ago, will begin preparing for the next big event in Strat-ford – the North Island Championships on February 20-21.

The brothers have come a long way since their short-lived debut season racing at ASB Baypark, when they were forced out for the season after only two weeks.

It was due to a ‘rookie mistake’ by Chris, which saw him smash into the barrier, but they know there’ll be more mistakes and more milestones to come.

“I know we will keep pushing ourselves and each other – and we’ll see how far it takes us,” says Steve.

Left: The Cowling crew - Chris, Maurice and Steve - celebrate their success at the New Zealand Saloon Champs in Blenheim on Saturday. Above: Steve Cowling (front) battles for position in the

national championships where he was crowned 1NZ. Photos by Shane Best.

In the family way

By Hamish Carter

career that also saw him reach the top as


From dirt tracks to road circuits, Tauranga motorcyclist Duncan Hart happily switches

between paths as effortlessly as he changes shoes.

“It’s just about adjusting your mindset,” says Duncan, who recently claimed the super moto class title at the Suzuki Tri Series road racing competition.

“It was such a buzz,” says Duncan about his success, which was sealed with a safe and solid ride on Wanganui’s cemetery circuit.

It was the workshop manager’s fi rst major national-level win and a success he aims to replicate in Paeroa’s upcoming Battle of the Streets.

“That’s about the only big one I haven’t won. I have been continually in the top three, so I’m determined to give it my best shot.”

Like all country boys Duncan originally rode just to get around the farm as a lad before getting into motocross when he was about 20.

“I absolutely loved it. It’s such great fun,” he says about his passion for competitive motocross, which saw him reach the top 20 nationally before giving it away for family commitments.

After a few years off he got the itch to get back on the bike sitting in his garage seven years ago. But he turned his focus to super moto racing class (also called motard) – the hybrid mix of racing a modifi ed dirt bike on seal and off-road tracks.

“The body was a bit passed getting all the knocks that come with motocross,” he laughs. While super moto is offi cially meant to be 70 per cent on seal and 30 per cent dirt, the reality is few of the super moto races run in New Zealand include an off-road component.

“I guess it comes down to the availability of combining with a dirt track,” says Duncan, who uses his mechanical talent to adjust settings on his modifi ed Yamaha YZ450F to suit the track he’s riding on.

During winter he gave his bike a major tune-up, tweaking the engine for better performance to help him match it with the other top riders.

On top of his mechanical work, he rates the key to his performance in the three-round Suzuki series being consistency.

“I didn’t fi nish any lower than third all series and that was the secret I think,” he says.

From third place at the opening round at Hampton Downs, the combination of strong riding and a fall by series leader and title holder Richard Dibben at second round Manfeild saw Duncan gain a nine-point buffer over his nearest rival.

“I knew I just needed to ride smart at Wanganui to win the series overall. I didn’t need to win the races there. I just needed to manage the risks.”

Two third-place fi nishes at Wanganui’s fi nale was enough for him to take the series outright –an achievement that’s all the sweeter after an injury prevented him from contesting the

whole series last season. “So to win the series this year was fantastic for me.”

Duncan’s immediate focus is on Paeroa on February 22, before possibly heading south for street races in Methven and Greymouth later in the year.

But there’s no question about returning for the tri-series next season, with Duncan saying he’ll defi nitely be defending his title.

“I really enjoy the competitive side of it, and there is a really good physical side too,” says Duncan, whose training combines trail riding and general fi tness.

“It’s so important to be fi t to compete at your best – there’s no room for any loss of concentration, especially on the street racing there’s no room for a mistake.”

On top of the personal challenge he also loves riding as a way of having good family fun with his two young sons, who he likes to ride with at Pirini Motorbike Park. By Hamish Carter

Duncan Hart shows his winning form at Manfeild, which helped him win the recent Suzuki Tri Series.

Photo by Andy McGechan www.bikesportnz.com

From winning at Wanganui, Tauranga competitive super moto racer Duncan Hart is

aiming for another win next at Paeroa’s Battle of the streets.

Photos by Andy McGechan. www.BikesportNZ.com

Streets ahead: Racing to

Paeroa



For Bay of Plenty Vintage Car Club captain Chris Cole, classic cars

are a family thing.

Chris, who is the proud owner of two gleam-ing vintage cars, did not directly inherit his interest in motoring from his family. But the cars he owns have come to hold an important place in his family.

Looking back the Matua man, who describes himself as “a mechanical ignoramus”, says his interest was ignited after an eventful skiing trip to Austria with a friend at age 19.

“We got lost in the mountains skiing and we came across this little village with a T-bar ski lift with the rope being powered by a 1914 Peugeot engine.”

A year after getting out of the village, with the help of the tow rope, the pair of young English men returned.

Chris’ friend convinced the village elders to sell him the engine, beginning a multi-year restoration project rebuilding the Peugeot open top tourer that was later used as Chris and wife Susie Quinn’s wedding car.

“That’s how my interest in cars started,” recalls Chris, who jokingly says the reason he married her was her MG. “She absolutely loved them, always did.”

A British army officer at the time, Chris remembers a series of mischievous incidents when he and a few friends would sneak into grand properties that were closed up after Word War II because of probate and have a closer look at the classic cars he’d spotted.

“It was a little naughty, but a whole lot of fun,” says Chris, who as a helicopter pilot kept an eye out for properties with interesting cars he’d seen flying near Middle Wallop Airfield.

A short while later Chris and Susie migrated to Christchurch, where the couple ended up having to sell the MG Susie had shipped out to pay for a deposit on their first house.

“Ten years later I bought her another one – a black 1963 Series I MGB Roadster – which was one of the first of its kind in the country.”

Recovered from a paddock in Gisborne, Chris says it was exciting to see the car come back to life in a Havelock North workshop.

If there was any doubt, the personalised number plate ‘Susie Q’ declared who the car belonged to.

Following Susie’s death in 2001 Chris had the car repainted, replacing the black with sky blue and old English white – the classic tones of an Austin Healey 100/4 he’d owned when

stationed in Germany. “I had always wanted another Austin Healey

but they were just too expensive.”A few years later the prospect of his first

daughter Sammie’s wedding prompted him to get another vintage car – a 1930 Ford Model A Phaeton.

“I just liked the look of it and thought it would be a great wedding car. But I didn’t actually know anything about it,” says Chris.

From falling for the car on TradeMe, Chris soon discovered driving the old classic was another issue.

The conventional un-synchronised gearbox was a challenge to begin with, but old tricks from learning to drive a Land Rover and a 60-tonne tank transporter just by controlling the revs came in handy from his army days.

Chris soon learned about a Hawke’s Bay Model A Club and, with a few tips from members, soon joined them on monthly runs.

Two years ago Chris and his new wife Jenny shifted to Tauranga and quickly got involved in the Bay of Plenty Vintage Car Club.

Since then they’ve been taking part in club runs and activities a couple of times a month. “It’s very social and lots of fun.”

The pair will soon be heading off with about 10 others from the Tauranga club to Wanaka for the International Model A Rally.

“The rally goes for a week then we’ll have two weeks touring around the South Island.

“They hold them every four years in New Zealand and they are always lots of fun,” says Chris.

“We’re really looking forward to it.”

Tow ropes and vintage tales

By Hamish Carter

For Matua’s Chris Cole, pictured with his 1930 Ford Model A Phaeton and 1963 MGB Roadster, a large part of the appeal of vintage cars is the social aspect.

Looks good on paper. And on the road.

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Bay Driver 30 January 2015