Hill climbing of a different sort | Taranaki Sport | Surfing, Rugby, Soccer, Football, Cricket in Taranaki

MEMBERS of the Egmont Classic Car Register (ECCR), in conjunction with the South Taranaki Car Club, are busy preparing for running their bi-annual Ngawhini Hill Climb for classic cars at Hawera.

The ECCR was formed in Hawera in 1992 and grew from a desire to form a club for motor-enthusiasts whose cars were not eligible for the older vintage car clubs or not fit for participating in the activities of other local car clubs.

In recent times, with greater interest in classic car events and racing, the activities of a wider range of car clubs have become increasingly similar, meaning that they now help and complement each other to a much greater extent.

The Ngawhini Hill Climb was first held in the 1950's and 60's, being used as part of the Motorsport Association of New Zealand (MANZ) Gold Star and National Championship events. This was an era when New Zealand motor racing was dominated by homebuilt specials or modified ex-grand prix cars such as the Ron Roycroft Bugatti Jaguar, George Smith's GeeCeeEss Ford V8 Special and the famous Lycoming Special.

Changes to the road and construction of a new bridge saw the demise of the event and it was not run for many years.

The ECCR first staged the Ngawhini Classic Hill Climb in March 1995, and has run it as a bi-annual event ever since.

All vehicles competing are pre-1990, most pre-1980, some in standard road going form and others in full motorsport Clubsport trim.

Competitors from throughout the North Island will be competing including top local entrants Denis Goble in his Ford Mustang, Darcy May with his ex Possum Bourne raced Escort V8 and Dean Goff with his Capri 3000.

Other vehicles entered include a 1927 Austin 7, Buckler sports car, Alfa Romeos, Minis, VW Golf GTI and Triumph TR7.

No doubt some competitors will be using this event as practice for the Motorsport New Zealand Clubsport Championships, which are being hosted by the South Taranaki Car Club in early March. This event will include an autocross and motorkhana at Stratford Showgrounds and a hill climb at Tiromoana Road in Eltham.

Ngawhini Road is located just north of Hawera, access being via Turuturu Road from Hawera, or Austin Road from the north.

Egmont Classic Car Club members generally hold monthly events throughout the year, including hill climbs with other car clubs from South Taranaki, Wanganui and Hawkes Bay, and an annual sprint day at the A1GP circuit in Taupo with Wellington Triumph Car Club.

Locally organised mystery trails with clues and questions, runs to places of interest and other social events cater for members not wishing to be so competitive with their classics.

The Croucher and Crowder Engineering Ngawhini Classic Hill Climb will be held on Sunday, February 15. For more information about the event, feel free to phone Lou Donnelly either at (06) 756 7640 (home) or (06) 758 2084 (work).